Board Brief

Board Briefs are informal reports from the regular meetings of the USD 495 Board of Education and intended as a communications service for district staff and patrons.

These are not the official minutes.

All consent agenda items were approved.

The board approved the yearly organizational appointments and resolutions as presented. You can view these under the Consent Agenda in the third section labeled “Yearly Organizational Appointments and Resolutions” on the agenda by clicking here.

Mike Myrick gave a big shoutout to Larned Elementary, sharing how proud he is of the work happening with our littlest learners. He recognized the Parents as Teachers program led by Val Marshall, the BYBA after-school program led by Hailey Ohmacht and Catrina McGurk, and the Summer WIN programs. He also took time to thank the elementary staff for the incredible job they do every day.

Corbin Steele: Asst Custodian - LHS, Jaclyn Briggs: Para - Tri County

Classified and Admin/Director Handbooks: The board approved updates to both handbooks. Changes include adjusting the sick leave bank committee to two classified members and two administrators, and removing the Physician’s Statement to mirror the Negotiated Agreement.

Designate KASB Governmental Network Representative: The board moved to appoint Buddy Tabler as the KASB Governmental Relations Representative for the 2025-2026 school year.

Board Meeting Dates: The board approved the resolution to hold regular meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 PM at the District Office, with one exception in December 2025. Since the Keady Classic Basketball Tournament is a major home event and many families plan to attend, the board chose to move the December meeting to a different date so community members can attend both if they so choose.

Inclement Weather Days: Inclement weather days are built into the calendar as required school days. Attending on these dates keeps us eligible for a state waiver if weather causes future cancellations. The board approved Oct. 2, 3, 6, 7, and 14, 2025, as this year’s inclement weather days.

Legal Assistance Fund: This fund covers legal support, policy updates, attorney access, and more for our district. The board approved the $2,750 payment to KASB for coverage from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

KASB Annual Membership: The board approved the $12,722.17 membership cost for 2025–2026 with the Kansas Association of School Boards. This is based on student enrollment, includes a KASB season pass, and covers us from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Revenue Neutral Rate: Our valuation went up slightly (0.25%), but state funding per student is increasing by 4.4%. That increase only affects the general fund and doesn’t impact the mill rate. With enrollment down slightly and state aid percentages reduced, we plan to keep the same mill rate but will need to exceed the revenue neutral rate. The board approved moving forward with that step and set the hearing date to take place before the September regular board meeting.

June Policy Updates:The board reviewed recommendations from KASB Legal/Policy Services, including a discussion on how the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) applies to them. All policy updates were approved as presented.

Engagement Letter for Adams Brown: The board accepted the engagement letter for Adams Brown for the 2025-2026 school year.

Designate Official Auditor: The board designated Adams Brown as the official auditor for USD 495 for the upcoming fiscal year.

Title VI-B Assurances: The board approved the Title VI-B Assurances as presented. These are required for receiving federal special education funding.

CERP Plan: The board approved the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan as presented. Nurse Cindy Smith and Nurse Amie Nelson have organized teams at each building to serve on the Cardiac Emergency Response Team and assist if a cardiac emergency occurs.

Tri-County Procedure Handbook: The board approved the Tri-County Procedure Handbook as presented. This handbook is meant to support special education staff by providing clarity on local procedures, aligned with federal and state regulations. It works alongside the Kansas Special Education Process Handbook and is designed to be a living document that can be updated as laws and best practices evolve.

Enterprise Fleet Management: Mr. Wachs and Transportation Director Mr. Fairchild have been exploring Enterprise Fleet Management to help manage the district’s passenger vehicles. The board approved the proposal as presented. Most of the costs will be covered through the Capital Outlay budget, with additional support from Tri-County Special Education and the Driver’s Ed program.

Device Handbook: The board approved the 2025–26 Device Handbook. Students will now report damage or loss to a teacher, librarian, or the tech office. Replacement costs were updated to $20 for chargers and cables, and $30 for Chromebook cases.

Mr. Wachs updated the board on federal funding and shared how recent changes might affect our district.

The USD 495 Board of Education will meet again on Monday, August 11 at 6:00 PM at the District Office.