USD 428 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
March 9, 2026 5 p.m.
1. CALL TO ORDER
1.1 Roll Call
1.2 Adoption of Agenda
1.3 Recognition of Visitors
1.4 Request to Speak Reminder
· Persons may present ideas or concerns regarding USD 428. The Board will take no action at this meeting. Such items will be referred to the appropriate administrator(s) for future information and researched and reported back to the Board at a later meeting. Personalities and behavior of employees are not to be presented during this period but are to be reported to the employee’s immediate supervisor. The president shall determine the amount of time to be spent for citizen participation.
1.5 Citizen’s Open Forum
2. COMMUNICATIONS
· Board Member Comments
· USD 428 Education Foundation
· Written Communications / Correspondence
3. RECOGNITIONS / PRESENTATIONS
· USD 428 Career Milestone Program
Each year, the Board of Education formally recognizes district employees for their continued commitment to Great Bend Public Schools. Service milestones are honored in five-year increments. For the 2026 recognition cycle, 69 staff members have reached service milestones, representing a cumulative 920 years of service to the district. Staff members who have achieved 20 or more years of service have been invited to the meeting to be recognized by the Board of Education and Administration.
· Director’s Report
Each month, a district director will present department updates to board members. Matt Westerhaus, District Activities Director, will present a report to the board at this meeting.
4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Second Reading 7-12 ELA Curriculum Adoption
(Refer to Mrs. Blevins) (Attachment 4.A)
In February, the 7-12 ELA curriculum team presented Savvas MyPerspectives as their recommendation for the adoption of materials for the PreK-12 English Language Arts curriculum. MyPerspectives is a rigorous curriculum that delivers deeper knowledge aligned with standards. At this Second Reading, the administration recommends approval.
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Approval of Pilot materials - Imagine Learning Traverse
(Refer to Mrs. Blevins) (Attachment)
Mrs. Blevins will update the Board on Imagine Learning Traverse for grades 9-12. The administration recommends approval to purchase the social studies pilot materials for $4,400. The social studies pilot will take place in fall 2026.
B. Approval of Fire Panel Quotes
(Refer to Mr. Popp) (Attachment)
Fire panel systems in each school across the district are outdated and need replacement. Mr. Popp will give an update on the fire panel systems at the schools and recommend based on the quotes received.
C. Approval of KASB Conflict Letter and Waiver
(Refer to Mr. Thexton) (Attachment 5.B)
The Barton County Special Services is requesting KASB legal support to review and update the Special Services Cooperative Agreement for member districts USD 355, 403, 431, and 428. Because a single KASB attorney would be advising all districts on the same agreement, each board must approve a Waiver of Conflict acknowledging the shared representation and that KASB cannot withhold agreement-related information from any member district. The administration requests approval of the waiver.
6. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION REPORT
(Refer to Assistant Superintendent JoAnn Blevins)
A. KESA 2026 Action Plan
Administration will share the 2026 KESA Action Plan that will guide school improvement efforts around balanced assessment. The administration recommends board approval of this plan.
B. Preschool and Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment
The district's annual Preschool and Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm at Little Panthers Preschool/District Education Center. The event provides new families with information about USD 428 Preschool and Kindergarten programs. Families of current LPP students do not need to attend.
C. Summer School 2026 Planning
Mrs. Blevins will share the initial work being completed to prepare for student learning during the summer of 2026.
D. Summer Professional Development
Mrs. Blevins will share with the board details for summer professional learning opportunities for teachers.
E. Curriculum Meeting (Attachment 6.E)
§ Curriculum Steering Committee: Minutes 3/3/26, Next meeting 5/5/26
§ Professional Development Council (PDC) Minutes 3/2/26. Next meeting 4/6/26
7. BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS REPORT
(Refer to Assistant Superintendent John Popp)
A. Safety Committee Update
The Safety Committee continues to discuss security threats and emergency reunification plans. Several committee members have attended school security training. All employees receive training on the district’s Standard Response Protocol.
B. Project Updates
Board members and the administration will discuss updates on the following projects.
§ GBHS HVAC Project
§ District Camera System – Park and Riley Cameras
§ Roofing Projects: Park, GBHS Gym, Pac/Fieldhouse connection area
§ GBMS Parking Lot (bids due 2:00 p.m. on 3/24/2026)
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
(Refer to Superintendent Khris Thexton)
A. Legislative Update
Mr. Thexton will discuss current Legislative issues affecting school districts.
B. LETRS for Administrators
C. Strategic Plan Update
D. Approval of Grants / Contributions (Attachment)
9. FINANCIAL PRESENTATION
10. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of BOE Meeting Minutes [February 10 and February 26, 2025]
B. Bills and Financial Reports
C. Personnel Report
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board of Education will recess into executive session. No action is expected after the session.
“Madam President, I move that the Board recess into executive session to discuss negotiated staff topics pursuant to the exception for employer-employee negotiations under KOMA. The open meeting will resume in this Board room at : P.M.”
12. UPCOMING MEETING DATES
· No School on Friday, March 13, for Teacher Grading/Collaboration.
· Spring Break: USD 428 will observe Spring Break March 16-20, 2026.
· IBB Negotiation Meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the District Education Center.
· BOE Luncheon Meeting: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Little Panthers Preschool.
· Preschool and Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment: 5:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Little Panthers Preschool/District Education Center, located at 1809 24th Street. Current LPP students do not need to attend.
· BOE Regular Meeting: The next BOE regular monthly meeting is scheduled for April 13, 2026, at the District Education Center.
13. ADJOURNMENT