OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE MARCH 6TH, 2017 SPECIAL MEETING
I. CALL TO ORDER
Randy Kufahl, Board President, called the March 6th Special meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the school library.
ROLL CALL:
Board Members Present:
March 7, 2017 Page 1 Special Board Meeting Official Minutes
Randy Kufahl
Jeff Koelzer
Tasha Lara
Scott Brunkow
Marcus Weiser
Nueva Bean-Smith
Mark Kopp
March 7, 2017 Page 1 Special Board Meeting Official Minutes
Others Present: Superintendent Adam McDaniel, Clerk Brooke Callaway, Angie Sauvage, Jessica Venneberg, Sarah Eisenbarth, Kari Kufahl, Juley Kolterman, Will Kolterman, Hannah Kolterman, Carrie Simmons, Becky Nider, Sierra Valburg, Miranda Force, Lindsey Barnes, Heather Conger
II. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Koelzer moved to approve the special agenda as presented. Brunkow seconded. Motion carried 7-0.
III. APPROVE MINUTES
Brunkow moved to approve the minutes of the February 13th Regular meeting as presented. Lara seconded. Motion carried 7-0.
IV. STAKEHOLDER INPUT
Jessica Venneberg stated that the board should reconsider putting the 3 year contract for Mr. McDaniel back on the table. She understands that the board has heard a lot of negativity and that patrons/parents haven’t been good about calling about positive things happening in the district. There have been a lot of things happen since Mr. McDaniel has been here, such as, grants for Kansas Reading Roadmap, Afterschool Program and WorkKeys testing for juniors through Pottawatomie County Economic Development. She also stated that Mr. McDaniel has given a lot of dedication to the community and the school. He took over three positions, looks at the students and the community first, and is at every event. He asked the board to hire a social worker to work with behavioral issues.
Kari Kufahl agreed with everything that Venneberg stated above. She stated that we haven’t had a lot of administration this dedicated or worked this hard. It would be a travesty to lose him. He is at events, helps with concession stands if needed, helps clean up after ball games/events, encourages students to go talk to him. He takes the time to listen to those students. Kari said that she has heard some negative things mentioned, but nothing specific, but has also heard a lot of great things. She helps with the LIFE program, which is great for our community. McDaniel has developed a Pre-Kindergarten program here. She also asked that the board reconsider his contract and to do everything that they can to keep him. He is very valuable to the district.
Sarah Eisenbarth agreed with statements listed above. She also stated that he knows all of the kids and what activities they are involved in. People discuss negative things about him, but there are a lot of positive things as well.
Will Kolterman said that he was in shock because he hadn’t heard anything negative about Mr. McDaniel. He said that he had a kid in trouble, Mr. McDaniel called him and they took care of everything over the phone. A couple weeks later, his child received a handwritten card in the mail from Mr. McDaniel about how progress and how proud he was of him.
Kurt Nider seconded everything said thus far. He said that, with the help of Mr. McDaniel, the district has been proactive and the growth that he’s seen could hit you right in the face. McDaniel does not have just one job because he took on more than that. Kurt stated that Mr. McDaniel has contacted him personally about issues with his child and it was handled better than expected.
Sierra Valburg said that she was here to support Mr. McDaniel. Her daughter received a letter in the mail from him and it lit her up. She had never seen that from an administrator before. He takes care of the student section at ball games because he’s trying to build it. She has made calls to him with concerns, he made her feel important, he listened to her and made changes. The Afterschool program and FAST are just two of things that he has changed since he’s been here.
Hannah Kolterman was impressed to see that Mr. McDaniel is at every game, he stops by the Afterschool program, and states that he cares about the kids.
Lindsey Barnes shared that she wrote a letter to the board that was presented at the last meeting. She is proud of what Mr. McDaniel has done and was excited to move back to send her kids here. She wasn’t a fan of the Kindergarten teacher at that time so she didn’t send her kids here, but if the district stays inflexed, she will.
Becky Nider was there to support Mr. McDaniel. If you look at the big picture, we needed a Preschool program. No one would take the time and effort to look into it. The Kansas Reading Roadmap program is amazing. Right now, there are 50+ kids in the program, and it offers Family Engagement. Mr. McDaniel gets the kids to come and supports the staff that are there. There has been so many changes in the last three years. Tradition of Excellence, is our school motto, there is so much more Mr. McDaniel can do for us. She has had several conversations with him, good and bad, and amazing things have happened from those conversations. She is the Program Manager and oversees 16 different schools. McDaniel is the only administrator that knows everything about the kids. Nider also stated that the first time she walked into the multipurpose room, McDaniel was on the floor in his shirt and tie helping a student with homework. There are a lot of behavioral issues in her son’s class, but at the end of the day when he comes home, he is talking about the positive changes throughout his classroom, we would hate to set that back.
Carrie Simmons was there to support Mr. McDaniel as well. She couldn’t add much to what others had said. Simmons stated that she worked for the district, under other administrators, and things that went on were disgusting. Since then, she’s been a substitute and helps with the Afterschool program under Mr. McDaniel and has nothing but positive things to say about him and the way things are going. Her son sees McDaniel quite often and then received a card in the mail, he lit up. She has had students in school for 8 years now and has never received anything like that before. The Afterschool program is huge and the growth and higher scores can prove that it is making an impact. She also stated that she was excited to see the district catch up with times and bring some technology into the schools.
Miranda Force was there to support Mr. McDaniel. She said that there are not many administrators who will ride the school bus early to make things go smooth for others. He goes first and foremost for the kids. Annie comes home with positive comments about her classroom. These changes do not go unnoticed.
Becky Nider also wanted to share that McDaniel hired Angie Sauvage, the school’s social worker, to help with behavioral issues throughout the elementary school and that she is a huge asset as well. She has witnessed great things happening and would like to continue seeing those changes progress.
Juley Kolterman seconded everything that all have said and wanted to add that her daughter Emma has had problems at school. She has talked to Angie and it is usually resolved within a day or so. Angie is there for Emma, with all of the 6th grade drama, and they find a solution of how to handle those situations. Can you imagine what our school would be like if they cared 20% less than McDaniel did? McDaniel and Sauvage take care of so many things behind the scenes.
Brooke Callaway presented a letter to the board in support of Mr. McDaniel.
V. ACTION ON OLD BUSINESS
No action taken.
VI. TRACK SUPPLEMENTALS
Lara moved to approve the hire of Travis Callaway and Justine Sperber as the co-coaches for OHS Track, along with Ramon Fisher as the OHS Assistant Track coach. Kaitlin Dallman and Garrett Ames will serve as the OGS Assistant Track coaches for the 16-17 Track season as well. Kopp seconded. Motion carried 7-0.
VII. ACTION ON NEW BUSINESS
McDaniel presented bus bids from Thomas and Transnational Bus. Weiser moved to approve the purchase of the 2011 Thomas C2 bus from Transnational Bus, Truck and Coach for $54,500. Kopp seconded. Motion carried 7-0.
VIII. LEADERSHIP CONTRACTS; PERSONNEL EXECUTIVE SESSION
Lara moved the board to enter Executive session at 6:31 PM for 45 minutes. Brunkow seconded. Motion carried 7-0.
The board requested Mr. McDaniel enter Executive session at 6:56 PM.
The board remained in Executive session for 10 minutes at 7:16 PM.
The board ended Executive session at 7:26 PM.
The board wanted to let it be known that they will not be voting on the third year contract for McDaniel, but they support him and the job he is doing. The third year is the issue, but they will continue to support him.
Weiser moved to list for a PreK-12 Assistant Principal with additional certifications. Bean-Smith seconded. Motion carried 7-0.
Kopp moved to extend Angie Sauvage’s contract an additional year, 2019, so she will have the same length of contract as McDaniel. Koelzer seconded. Motion carried 6-1 (Brunkow).
IX. RESIGNATIONS
Brunkow moved to approve the resignations of Kyla McLaughlin and Molly Minihan as the Afterschool Program student helpers and the resignation of Travis Callaway as the OGS Assistant Track coach. Lara seconded. Motion carried 7-0.
X. KRR WORK CHANGE
This item has been tabled.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
Kufahl adjourned the March 6th Special Board meeting at 7:29 PM.
Board President
Date Approved Clerk of the Board
March 7, 2017 Page 1 Special Board Meeting Official Minutes