The USD 305 School Board of Education met on Tuesday, February 13. The discussion included the following:
Recognitions/Presentations
Staff members are nominated by colleagues to receive a You Make a Difference Award for their support of students and the mission of Salina Public Schools. Board of Education members surprise recipients during their workday with a lapel pin and a handwritten note.
Jesus “Dany” Herrera, Assistant Cook
Kitchen II, Central High School
When the bustle of lunchtime begins at Central, Dany’s smile stands out. She warmly welcomes students; her enthusiasm for life is evident and inspiring to everyone around her. Dany’s politeness and considerate nature support the school community and help nurture our students. Thank you Dany, for making a difference!
Darren Bock, Building Mechanic
Central High School
Darren’s willingness to go beyond his job duties to help make Salina Public Schools a great place to be was demonstrated during a winter storm. A student had gotten her car caught in a snow drift near Salina Stadium and Darren showed up ready to help. Though there were many needs for Central’s building mechanic to attend to, he put our student first. Thank you, Darren, for making a difference!
Doug Stein, Facility Manager
Central High School
Doug was contacted during the January storm about a student’s car stuck in a snow drift. He was quick to respond, shovels in hand. His kindness to the student was expressed when he instructed her to, “stay in the car and warm up,” while he and Darren freed her car. Afterward, he worked with a colleague to plow the road to avoid further issues. Thank you Doug, for making a difference and making Salina Public Schools a great place to be!
Camdyn Schreiber, a Sunset Elementary fourth grade teacher, and Josh Rubino, a Central High English teacher, were recognized by the board of education as the district’s 2024 Horizon Award recipients.
Superintendent’s Excellence Awards
Orchestra/Central High: Armando Duran, Olivia Gubareva, and John Rose. Lindsay Modin is the orchestra director.
Orchestra/South High: Alina Arceo. Tyler Kuder is the orchestra director.
Debate/South High: Lillian Ardis, Nevaeh Bennett, Destiny Gonzalez-Keophaymany, Elizabeth Lovett, Jose Pinedo De La Torre, and Grady Smith. Benjamin Ristow is the debate coach.
Debate/Central High: Nehemiah Gomendoza, Kegan Madison, Olivia Owings, and Mackenzie Wisbey. Emma Web is the debate coach.
Choir/South High: Isabel Fulkerson, Kirsten Lamia, and Andres Vasquez. Eddie Creer is the choir director.
Choir/Central High: Kaiden Comeau, Grace Corman, Sarah Day, Zander Flener, Abigail Ludes, Jaxson Rutz, and Brynn Shaft. Ryan Holmquist is the choir director.
Jazz Band/Central High: Carlos Aguilar, David Alba, Corbin Banninger, Katharine Boller, Kaicee Brown, Rorik Crepps, Brock Dolton, Jordan Edwards, Caroline Fields, Landon Hutchcraft, Marques Hyman, Calum Johnson, Jasmine Kassem, Charles Kilpatrick, Tegan Lauseng, Miguel Lopez Gonzalez, Julian Lundberg, Adamaris Nava, Kristina Perkins, Travis Phillips, Mariah Prophet, Jaheim Sandoval, and Timothy Zack. Guillermo Rodriguez is the band director.
Art/Central High: William Bohrer, Rayne Fulton, Olivia Gubareva, Keelie Hill, Kotone Kitagawa, Annabelle LeSage, Kaitlyn Martin, Emily Melendrez, Alexis Penner, Mariah Prophet, Yariza Sandoval, and Kirri Sawyer. Larry Cullins, Irma Garcia, and Noah Wellbrock-Talley are their art teachers.
Theatre/South High: Emily Streeter, Mia White, Soren Mannebach, Annabella Carter, Megan Graff, Kara Davis, Averie Hartman, Kaitlyn Geist, and Chloe Vega. Shilind Wheaton is the theatre director.
Theatre/Central High: Keaton Myers, Alyssa Maas, Alyx Parker, Anastasia Corl , Andrew Graber, Anna Kraft, Benjamin Campbell, Bishop Talbott, Julian Lundberg, Janae Montoya, Brock Dolton, Madelyn Craft, Brynn Shaft, Addilyn Jagodzinske, Dayzie Frank, Carson Ablard, Donovan Johnson, Ellie Riekhof, Gabriel Freeland, Jaxson Rutz, Jayda Rasmussen, Joseph Zepeda , Kaiden Comeau, Kasheia Peterson, Katherine White, Katie Morgan, Lillian Crow, Bailee Miller, Mac Sheforgen, Mackenzie Martinez , Madison Berndt, Marcos Lira, Mari Brown-Mereles, Michelle Simmons, Adelyn Duxler, Shya Helzer, Wyatt Angell, and Zander Flener. Barb Hilt is the theatre director.
Personnel Report and Consent Agenda
Action Agenda
The board approved the 2024-2025 school calendar.
2025-2026 Tentative School Calendar
The board approved the tentative 2025-2026 school calendar.
Discussion Agenda
Salina Baseball Enterprises
Kenny Hancock, Salina Baseball Enterprises, presented an update on the scope and timeline of renovations at Wilbur Field.
Addition of Middle School Girls’ Wrestling
Danny Munsell, assistant principal at Lakewood Middle School, and Curt Exline, assistant principal at South Middle School, presented a recommendation for the addition of girls’ wrestling at the middle school level beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Action was taken by the board and the recommendation was approved.
Visible Learning Update
Shanna Rector, deputy superintendent, presented an update on Visible Learning.
School Board Reports
- Ann Zimmerman, board member, attended the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting.
- Bonnie Schamberger, board member, attended the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting and delivered a You Make a Difference award.
- Scott Gardner, board member, attended the Heartland Policy Council meeting, and elementary school concert and South High School JV and V girls’ basketball competitions.
- Paul Gebhardt, board member, attended the Salina Adult Education Center tour, the Smoky Hill Education Service Center Executive Cabinet meeting and the Kansas Association of School Boards’ (KASB) New Board Member training.
- Gabe Grant, vice president, attended the KASB New Board Member training and a calendar committee meeting.
Upcoming Dates of Importance
- Tuesday, March 26, KASB Board Training, 5:00 pm, District Office
- Wednesday, April 10, BOE Building Visit, 10:00-11:30 am, Stewart
Superintendent’s Report
Linn Exline, superintendent of schools, reported that she met with Representatives Sanders and Howe and Senator Claeys to discuss the USD 305 Legislative Priorities. Superintendent Exline shared that she submitted opposing testimony to HB 2612 and she reported on other concerning bills. She reported that the Supreme Court released jurisdiction over the Gannon case, ending the court’s monitoring of K-12 funding. Superintendent Exline reported that she is working on a collaborative project with KWU, NAACP and KSU-Salina to support access to further education for students who may not see that as a possibility. She reported that she has held two Coffee Chats which provided valuable opportunity for community conversations.
