The USD 284 Chase County Board of Education met June 17, with action including approval of a grant-related resolution, employee benefits provider, student fees, policy updates, personnel items and several district purchases and donations.
As part of the consent agenda, the board approved the minutes from the May 13, 2026, meeting, along with bills and the financial report, principals’ reports, summer yearbook workshop transportation and the resignation of Roseann Higgs from junior high assistant volleyball.
During patron input, Grace Welsh addressed the board regarding the importance of giving high school students the opportunity to participate in dual sports. Carrie Riggs, Glenna Grinstead and Jerod Barrett also presented information regarding a resolution for USD 284 to serve as an anchor partner in two Blue Cross and Blue Shield Pathway grants.
In the superintendent’s report, the board was informed that new scoreboards have been delivered and that Mr. Jones is preparing for installation. The district’s new route bus was delivered Tuesday, and USD 284 received a $115,000 grant from KDHE to be applied toward the purchase of a new route bus. District officials noted that the purchase will fulfill the bus fleet rotation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. A new transit van is expected to be delivered in July.
Mrs. Kelsheimer, Mrs. Grantham and Superintendent Aron Dody also attended a Kansas State Department of Education budget meeting in Val-ley Center to begin preparing the district’s 2026-2027 fiscal year budget, which is expected to be completed in July.
Under new business, the board approved the USD 284 resolution to participate in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Pathway grants. Apollo Health Insurance presented information on health insurance options, with no action taken.
Board members also reviewed building needs assessments for both Chase County Elementary School and Chase County Junior/Senior High School. The board approved KBS Employee Benefit Solutions as the preferred provider for employee benefits.
The board approved final payments and transfers for fiscal year 2025-2026 from the General Fund and Local Option Budget balances as of June 30, 2026, according to the KSDE legal maximum audited limits. The board also approved the student fee schedule for the 2026-2027 school year.
Also reviewed were the CCES and CCJSHS 2026-2027 student handbooks and the Kansas Association of School Boards June policy updates. The board approved the required Electronic Device and Social Media Use Policy under House Bill 2299, as well as an Employee Flex Time Policy.
The board approved the purchase of student one-to-one devices for the 2026-2027 school year. It also accepted Kaltenbacher and Pendergraft donations for the new scoreboards and accepted a Pendergraft donation toward student one-to-one devices.
Following executive sessions regarding personnel, negotiations and the superintendent evaluation, the board approved Lacy Schechter as CTE/business teacher at Chase County Junior/Senior High School for the 2026-2027 school year. The board also approved Lisa Lauer as Chase County Elementary School reading interventionist for the 20262027 school year.