Board Report

Ethan Brooks finished 14th at the NEK League Tournament and earned 2nd Team All League Honors at the Meeting on October 16, 2025.

On October 15, 2025 members of the ACCHS Math Club traveled to Emporia State University to compete in the Donald L. Bruyr Mathematics Day.

Congratulations to our Algebra Team: Max Bottorff, Ethan Brooks, and Avery Gilliland! These dedicated students brought home medals and a beautiful plaque for their impressive 2nd place finish in Division III.

We're also proud to recognize our Math Scramble team of Makenna Grace, Ben Handke, and Addison Potts for placing in the top 50%.

A special highlight of the day was seeing ACCHS Math Club alumna Kinzee Bauerle, who served as our scorekeeper for two of the contests.

The ACCHS Math Club has attended this event annually for many years. Each year, our students sign the back of our placard, which now displays names layered upon names - a testament to the countless students who have represented ACCHS with pride and distinction.
Congratulations to all participants!

On November 11th from 2:00-4:30pm all ACCJSH coaches will welcome Travis Keal to our schools as he will be here to present a seminar/workshop on Coaching Leadership and Culture. Thank you to Mr, Malm for setting this up for our coaches.

About Mr. Keal and his Company - Climb Coach, LLC (taken from his site):

With over 30 years of experience in education and 25 years as a head coach, I am passionate about helping leaders and coaches reflect, learn, and grow so they can create lasting, positive impacts on those they lead. As the owner of Climb Coach LLC, I work with leaders to develop mindsets that foster success, resilience, and high-performing teams.

I hold a Master’s in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Education from Pittsburg State University, which have further shaped my commitment to creating meaningful, impactful educational and coaching environments. I’m also honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a wrestling coach and to have trained under Jon Gordon as a certified coach, speaker, and trainer in Mindset, Leadership, and Teamwork.

My mission is simple: to help others create a positive culture that not only values people but actively adds value to their lives. Whether you’re a coach, business leader, or educator, I’m here to help you harness the power of a positive mindset to unlock your potential and the potential of those you lead.

The NEKL High School AD Meeting was held on November 5, 2025 at Pleasant Ridge. Here are a few highlights from the meeting:

• The League voted to change the League Music date from SCW 36 to SCW 34 beginning February 2027. The meet will be held on the Monday of that week at Oskaloosa.

• The League voted to change the handbook wording for the running clock in HS Football.

• Current Wording:

• Running clock format- At any time during the 4th Quarter of a game, if the winning team is leading by 35 or more points, the clock will run continuously for the remainder of the game. Running clock can start at the beginning of the second half if agreed upon by administrators of both schools. Only during officials’ time outs, team time outs, and injuries will the clock stop.

• Changes beginning in the 2026 Season

• A running clock shall be utilized in the second half once a differential of 45 points or more has been reached. Once implemented, the running clock shall be utilized for the remainder of the game, even if the point differential falls below 45 points. During a running clock, the clock shall be stopped only for charged timeouts, player injuries, at the end of the period (quarter), and following any score. Administration has the right to modify this rule as long as both schools agree upon.

• State Softball

• Jeremy Holiday has reached out to the NEKL to see if we would want to take over and run the 2026 State Softball Tournament. This would mean providing 12-15 workers over the course of the 3 day tournament as well as oversee the logistics of the tournament. The League would then get paid 20% of the pass gate, which based on last year's numbers, the league could receive $10,000. The League agreed and voted to accept this responsibility.

• All League Volleyball Meeting will be held via zoom on Wednesday the 12th at 5:00pm. The All league Football Meeting will be held at Jackson Heights on Wednesday, November 12th at 7:00pm.

• Discussion was held about increasing some of the officials' pay for the next year, due to the fact that area leagues are paying more for their officials, as well as the pay in Missouri is much higher as well.

• Our next regular meeting will be December 3rd at Maur Hill.

The NEKL Middle School AD Meeting was held on November 5, 2025 at Pleasant Ridge. Here are a few highlights from the meeting:

• Discussion was held about increasing some of the officials' pay for the next year, due to the fact that area leagues are paying more for their officials, as well as the pay in Missouri is much higher as well.
• Decided to have a special meeting on December 17th at 10:00am at Valley Falls to create two year cycle schedules for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 football, volleyball, and basketball (girls and boys) schedules.

• Next meeting will be December 3rd at Pleasant Ridge.

KSHSAA Student Summit:

In November KSHSAA will be holding a student summit for students across the state to learn more about KSHSAA. At the summit students will be allowed to ask questions and discuss changes with students from across the state. Each league was asked to send 6-8 students. I reached out to coaches for nominations of high school students that would make good representatives for our school and our league. Addison Potts and Ben Handke were nominated by coaches to attend and their names have been submitted.

GoFan Postseason Digital Tickets:

HS Only - GoFan Postseason Digital Tickets - Beginning this fall, the KSHSAA will be making GoFan digital tickets available for fans to purchase at EVERY postseason event hosted by a member school. Schools hosting postseason contests may continue selling non-digital tickets in their usual manner and schools already selling GoFan tickets in the regular season will not notice a difference.

1. Curtain indoor batting cages or ones that drop down from the ceiling. Looking at this as one of our top purchases for this year.

2. New scoreboards, backboards, shot clock, and scoreboard controller. KSHSAA Update: By 2027 2A/3A Schools will need to have a shot clock system installed if they wish to host any post season events in basketball. By the start of the 2028 season all schools must have a shot clock system in place. I have already reached out to Daktronics and I received a quote for a new shot clock system.

Daktronics Quote

3. Custom Life Co out of Sabetha, came down about three weeks ago and walked through our JSH to see how they could help us upgrade our entryway, our entrance for the new addition, our doors, the office windows, the blank areas above the hallways, and other areas in the school where they could enhance the blank facades. They were going to get back to me with designs and a quote. We are looking to use some banner money and the Booster Club is willing to donate some money toward some of these projects. Once I get a quote Mr. Malm and I will prioritize the projects and make a three to five year plan to get these projects completed. The company is willing to work with us to do these projects in phases.

1) Football Stadium Bleachers: This summer the custodial staff went through and replaced and braced boards that were soft. Still want to pursue options to get all new bleachers and press box at some point in the future.

2) Track - Our track has been unusable for hosting track meets several years now and is only getting worse. With the track being used by community members, elementary students as well as JSH students for PE and other activities, and the track teams, there needs to be some concern about injuries taking place on the cracked and peeling track. Update: We had a representative from Pro Track and Tennis come out to look at resurfacing the tennis courts into Pickel Ball Courts and making some improvements to the track. He will get back next week with estimates.

3) Baseball/Softball Upgrades:

1. Fixing outdoor batting cages poles and nets

2. Getting Shade Built for overtop of the bleachers: Update: After meeting with contractors it makes the most sense to wait until we replace asphalts to put in new dugouts.

3. Installing a Hydrant closer to baseball field - will also benefit JH Football practice with access to water

4. Update and remodel dugouts to include better bleachers, cubbies for helmets and gloves, storage closet within the dugouts for easier access to equipment. Update: After meeting with contractors it makes the most sense to wait until we replace asphalts to put in new dugouts.

5. New board and padding on the backstops for softball and baseball fields. Update: getting quotes for this project.

6. Large bleachers for the softball field - they are much smaller than baseball. Update: waiting until the asphalt is replaced with concrete.

7. Real press boxes that are elevated for filming and scorekeeping

8. New Scoreboard (which would include pitch counts).

9. Storage building for equipment closer to the fields. Update: Mill Iron V has been contacted to help find the type of storage shed we are looking for.

Gold Sponsors:

L & L Construction

Bottorff Construction

IRB

Thrivent - Jennifer Maxwell

Mill Iron V

HB Custom Printing

Grain Craft

Martin Trash

The Shed House

Silver Sponsors:

Ag Risk Solutions

Exchange Bank

Martin Construction

Rubble Reprocessing

Advanced Hydraulic Supply

Jones Ag

Carrigan Lumber

Atchison Auto Plaza - Lewis Chevrolet

Bronze Sponsor:

Rainbow Communications

Black Level Sponsors:

Anderson Eye Care

Kex Rx

Wheatland

Michael's Crafty Momma

Orange Level Sponsors:

Southwind Orchards & Apiary

Holton Livestock Exchange

Wilson Tire - Holton

Mr. G's

Pep Club Sponsorship Level:

Chris & Courtney Caplinger

Dillon Tire

Atchison County Booster Club

Gateway Treasurers

5th Quarter Sponsors:

Mill Iron V

Rainbow Communications

Chris & Courtney Caplinger

Holton Livestock Exchange

St. Ann's Knights of Columbus

Atchison County Booster Club

St. John's Church