Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Concordia Unified School District 333 Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled school board meeting at 6 p.m. on March 10, 2025.
All board members were present.
In action items, the board heard discussion regarding a waiver of conflict of interest to KASB surrounding the upcoming discussions of the dissolution of USD 334/ Southern Cloud.
This waiver allows the five surrounding districts to enter this discussion together as options for the students of Southern Cloud are discussed.
This discussion is ongoing and remains undecided.
Potentially, Southern Cloud may still choose to remain open in the 2025-2026 school year and can review the options until Aug. 2025.
In other action items, the board also voted to accept the bid for two new vans from Ford for approximately $60,000 per vehicle. The fleet would then be reorganized to move current vehicles down to preschool routes and services vehicles, phasing two out for sale on Purple Wave later this year.
The board also voted for the purchase of sixty-one new teacher laptops for the district and nine for LCKCN from Dell for approximately $56,000.
The board voted to accept the proposal of Fisher, Patterson, Sayler and Smith to serve as board counsel and a motion was made to authorize President Brad Berk and Vice President Mike Cleveland to employ this firm as needed.
The board rounded out its action items with a vote to accept a request for early graduation.
In facilities, much discussion was held about the beginning of a process to take bids for the upgrade of the holding area and hallway outside the library at the high school.
It’s been proposed that this area be investigated as a location for a new Hall of Fame for student activities, athletics, and academics.
It would highlight the history of the school and its achievements.
It would include a bid for shelving, an information kiosk/touch screen technology, and new noise cancelling/ high traffic carpeting.
The project would likely also include new railing and new lighting.
In reports from the schools, Principal Ashley Blain reported on the recent visit from the high school’s FFA in a day program with the younger kids and Mrs. Rothfuss’s recent “Unplug Day” and the positive feedback from these programs.
Blain also introduced the elementary school’s MTSS teachers, Hannah Koester and Joy Traughber, who discussed the science of reading and expanded on how reading is being taught for grades K-4.
In reports from the middle school, Principal Noon reported on upcoming testing that will occur after spring break.
Noon also highlighted the presence of K-State Extension at the science fair and in classrooms and the recent Ag Olympics.
He also highlighted the high attendance at recent parent-teacher conferences, at 94 % attendance by parents.
Noon also discussed the potential change for sixth grade from compartment classroom learning to team teaching. In the fifth grade, team teaching is already implemented and this change is being considered for the 2025-2026 school year.
In reports from the high school, Principal Chad Eshbaugh highlighted the recent achievements of Max Johnson for winning the judges’ and people’s choice award for the Youth Entrepreneur Challenge held last week.
Johnson’s project was for a dirt work business that would work with dirt, leveling, demolition, digging ponds, and completing other types of dirt work.
Dirtwork by Max and Marly’s business plan and presentation was judged against other students from neighboring districts.
In other recognition, Eshbaugh recognized Taylor McDaniel for receiving the prestigious Rudd Scholarship for $100,000 in undergraduate studies.
McDaniel plans to attend Kansas State University majoring in speech and language pathology.
In upcoming events for the high school, Eshbaugh discussed the musical, debuting this week on Thurs., Fri. and Sat., “The Addams Family," and reminded everyone that prom is also coming up on March 29.
In Foundation reports, Kim Muff talked about the Donor Advised Fund from the Community Foundation.
The Community Foundation has recently assisted the Foundation to create a “Field of Interest” fund. The new fund is called the USD 333 Endowed Education Fund and was able to take advantage of the $2,000 incentive from the Community Foundation.
These funds will be for long-term change in the district and not for more immediate usage, says Muff.
The Community Foundation released $4,600 for kindergarten book carts and $250 for playground balls.
Also highlighted was the donation of J.P. and Gina Metzler, of $2,700 for math curriculum.
Other donations highlighted in the recent past include $5,000 for preschool resources, $5,000 for the middle school recreation field and $1,400 for the Panther Den (a middle school student accessed regulation area).
In other facilities updates, remodeling in the LCNCK area was also discussed. LCNCK moved to the adjoining office to the school board office in 2014.
Additional work being done on HVAC, electrical, flooring and new walls are in process to improve LCNCK’s usage and access.
Bids are in process on the CES cafeteria tables. The tables have suffered hinge and wheel damage and some no longer fold or slide back into the walls since their installation in 1995.
While not a safety issue currently, it has been difficult to source parts and new solutions are being sought.
Bids are currently in process for the 30-year-old CES roof, to deal with roof drainage issues that have posed a current problem. Membrane and metal roof options are being considered, as they apply to the issues with internal drainage.
The board also voted to approve the following changes: The resignation of Kayla Garst as 7-12th Physical Education teacher, the hiring of Leah Reyner as CJSHS mathematics teacher, the hiring of Rebecca Willoughby as CJSHS Spanish teacher and the hiring of Ciara Kearn as the LCNCK Speech Language Pathologist, in addition to the transfers of Krystal Richard from CES Librarian to CJSHS Librarian, Alexis Koops from CJSHS mathematics to LCNCK interrelated teacher and JoDee Rothfuss from K-4 Student Technology Integration Specialist to CES Librarian.
Additionally, the board approved the following changes: The resignations of Grace Carder (sub teacher/para), Lora Watson (sub teacher/para), Sonia Erkenbrack (sub teacher/para), Jennifer Willbrant (para at WCES), Alexis Koops (CJSHS Scholar’s Bowl coach as of end of first semester 2025) and William Connor (HS track coach, effective immediately).
The hiring of Kayla Garst (Sub teacher/para), Makenzie Bowers (Sub teacher/para), David Gieber (Sub teacher/ para), Kiara Mikkelsen (Para at CJSHS), Abbigale Cox (Para at CJSHS), Kylee Riechers (Para at WCES), Madelin Bonneau (Para at CMS pending paperwork), Annette Gallagher (Sub transpo), Anna Widen (CAP), and Maranda Spear (Food Service Server).
This meeting is held monthly and open to the public.
