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.

Student Ambassadors from Larned Elementary School kicked off the meeting by leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you to our students and their sponsors, Mrs. Dryden, Miss Browning, and Miss Fairchild!

• The board moved to elect Jessie Pleasant as President of the Board of Education for the 2026 year.

• The board moved to elect Michelle Koch as Vice President of the Board of Education for the 2026 year.

All consent agenda items were approved.

Student/Staff Presentation: Owen Shaver and Easton Fox, members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, introduced Denise Schmidt, Director of the Tri-County Special Education Cooperative. Denise shared an overview of the PBIS classrooms offered at USD 495. To help celebrate Board Appreciation Month, students from the LMS PBIS classroom, along with their teachers Ms. Vanasse and Mr. Rohling, prepared croquettes and caramel apple empanadas for the Board.

Board Member Monthly Highlight: Tyson Atteberry shared the monthly Board highlight, noting his pride in the wide range of clubs and activities available to students beyond athletics. From drama and JAG to LES Student Ambassadors and Student Council, there are meaningful opportunities for students at every level to get involved and find their place.

Board Appreciation Month:

• Brennon Stahlecker shared about his experience in JAG, highlighting the impact the program has had on his growth. Several students from the LHS JAG class, along with Mr. Hagerman, presented the Board with gifts in celebration of Board Appreciation Month. When asked what grade he would give his JAG instructor, Brennon didn’t hesitate to say an A+!

• The district shared a Board Appreciation Month video created with the help of high school intern Maggie Haas. We are thankful for the student volunteers who stepped in as our “movie stars” and helped bring it to life!

Amyelia Fox: Para - Tri County, Logan Erway: Asst. Wrestling Coach - Larned Middle School

FY 2025 Audit Presentation: Mark Bauer reviewed the district’s single audit and shared that the financial statements were clean and in compliance with state and federal requirements. Overall, the audit resulted in a positive report for the district.

Larned Middle School Bleachers: The Board reviewed a bleacher replacement quote from Sopa Inc. and asked Mr. Wachs to follow up with questions on several details. The project will be discussed in upcoming meetings.

Governance Handbook: Board President Jessie Pleasant shared a draft of proposed Board Governance and Operating Procedures developed in collaboration with Mr. Wachs. The document outlines expectations, responsibilities, communication guidelines, and overall board roles specific to USD 495. It is intended to serve as a quick reference and onboarding tool for new and current members. The draft was presented as an informational item and will remain open for feedback and edits before final approval.

Financial Audit 2025: The board approved the Financial Audit for 2025 as presented.

Board Policy Updates: The board approved the Board Policy Updates as presented.

Reaffirm Regular Board Meeting Dates: The board reaffirmed the scheduled board meeting dates for the year 2025-26 school year.

Mr. Wachs shared a legislative update, noting that the legislative session opened today and hearings will take place this week. He shared this information with the Student Advisory Council, as the discussions could directly impact students, including a Senate hearing on a bell-to-bell ban of cell phones and personal devices in K-12 (public and private) schools, along with a House bill that would require districts to report student screen time.

The USD 495 Board of Education will meet again on Wednesday, January 21 at 9:00 AM for a work session at Larned Elementary School. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 9 at 6:00 PM at the District Office.