School Board renews both principals and superintendent’s contracts for additional year
At the end of three executive sessions for the purpose of discussing superintendent evaluation, certified staff, administrative contracts and supplemental contracts on Tuesday, March 3rd, the Stockton USD #271 Board of Education members voted to renew grade school principal Stacey Green, high school principal Gary McCown and superintendent Bill Lowry’s contracts for an additional year. They also voted to hire Justin Basart as assistant high school track coach for the coming sports season.
Before the announcement was made, and the executive sessions held, the school board went through the several items on their evening’s agenda. First off, after approving the Consent Agenda as presented, the Board was presented with the December 2019 Policy Updates by superintendent Lowry for the second reading. They approved the updates as presented to them.
Next, the board members approved the 2020-2021 school calendar as presented before discussing the Rural Utilities Service Grant application which will help with upgrades in the I-Can and Distant Learning Classes. A group of local schools are collectively applying for the grant. The board members voted to approve a letter of support for the RUS grant noting that the District will commit a monetary amount of $526.40, 15% of the grant budget, if the grant is approved.
An early graduation request from Logan Winklepleck was presented to the Board. After reviewing the request as outlined, the board members approved the request.
Representatives for high school graduation will be board members Linda Conyac and Aftan Tso. Daphne Plumer and Stephanie Niblock will be the board representatives for the eighth-grade promotion.
After noting that the 9-12 spring concert will fall on the same day as the next board of education meeting, and after options were discussed, the board members voted to keep the same meeting date with it to be finished before concert time.
Mr. Lowry then gave an update dealing with the Food Service Department. It will remain the same with additions of changing the purchasing method and providing options, as well as offering extra main dishes.
Third grade teacher Tricia Hemphill’s class then presented their project-based learning projects to the board members during Curriculum Corner. Helping with the presentation were Garrison Mongeau, Aaliyah Trevino and Kinley Kester.
Grade school principal Stacey Green began her report by recapping the February events for the board members, noting Global School Day at Play, the MCEL Music Festival, wrestling finals and Scholars Bowl. Green stated that she had attended a workshop in Salina, and noted that six of the staff members were at Manhattan for a Redesign seminar. Three of the teachers were giving presentations at the seminar. State assessments are being given in the grade school at this time. Green is looking at math resource options for next year. She also gave numbers projecting what the student count will be for the 20/21 school year. Green noted that there would be 55 students out for track this season.
High school principal Gary McCown touched on student accountability and leadership during his report. He noted that there are ten girls out for softball. There are 42 that have signed up for track and eight who are interested in golf. Stockton had two wrestlers go to the state tournament. The basketball boys were headed to Regionals.
Superintendent Bill Lowry stated that he and board members Jesse Stithem and Linda Conyac had attended the Negotiations Training in Hays. Legislative Day in Topeka is scheduled for March 18th, which he was planning to attend. Lowry announced that board member Stephanie Niblock had been selected to the Leadership for Tomorrow Class of 2020. The panoramic data platform is ready to launch at the school. Preschool and kindergarten numbers are being tallied with Lowry to bring the plans for the preschool classes to the board members at the next regular meeting.
Next, the board mem-bers gave their reports. Stephanie Niblock gave an update on the NCKSEC board meeting she had attended. Daphne Plumer had attended the grade school Site Council meeting, and Leann Dix had attended the high school Site Council meeting where sports eligibility had been discussed.
Executive sessions were then held for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel relating to evaluations and contracts. The announcement of the extension of the administrative contracts was given after the executive sessions, as noted at the beginning of this article.
Another executive session was then held for the purpose of discussing negotiations with Mr. Lowry and the board members in attendance. There was no further discussion when the board members came back to the open meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
Present for the meeting were board members Linda Conyac, Jesse Stithem, Aftan Tso, Mark Billinger, Leann Dix, Daphne Plumer and Stephanie Niblock as well as superintendent Bill Lowry, high school principal Gary McCown, grade school principal Stacey Green, attorney Terry Cikanek and clerk Annette Look
