Board Chair Julie Kuhnhein opened the meeting at 6:32pm.

The Board shared the following:

• This is the largest enrollment to date


• Woodfill's Big Top Festival is this weekend


• Mr. Darnell was recognized as the KMEA District 6 Administrator of the Year


• FTIS was named the most engaged school district for Junior Achievement


• Preschool began last week


• Welcome to Jenny Miller-Horn


• HHS has 2 National Merit Semi-finalists


• The Tower Park Complex will host its first event this Saturday, September 13:  Girls Soccer Tripleheader vs. NDA


• The Cake Classic is this weekend


• Fall Break falls in the first week of October

Beth Brubaker gave the Board background on this state competition and introduced and highlighted the superior ratings of the following students:

Eva Smith - Feature Photo

Luke Deegan - Sports Photo

Keira Kobida - Sports Photo

Andrea Suarez Espinosa - Photo Package

Sophia Lippolis - Alternative Storytelling

Gemma Cutajar - Alternative Storytelling

The Board congratuled the students and presented each with a Certificate of Achievement and a "State Champs" t-shirt.

Karen Kampschmidt shared with the Board the parameters of the national writing contest and introduced HMS student, Anna Reynolds.  Anna told the Board she interviewed her Grandfather and chose altruism for her essay.  The Board congratulated her and presented her with a Certificate of Achievement and a "State Champs" t-shirt.

• WES Second Grade Board Meeting Slideshow

Current Woodfill 3rd grade students presented their learning project on hatching baby chicks.  Students shared information and took questions from the Board.  Woodfill students presenting included:

Harrison Reed

Rowan Klare

Lula Coffren

Knox Graszus

Charley Meyn

Crosby Harris

Everlee Larkin

Ellie Hurtt

Penny Malott

Devin Franz

Addi Franz

Maiya Herman

Hayes Sonnet

Willow Cianciolo

Kate Smith

The Board thanked the students and gave each a "Rich in Tradition" t-shirt.

There were no community members signed up to speak to the Board.

Chad Niedert shared with the Board the project status at Tower Park and announced the girls soccer team will host a tripleheader at the new facility this Saturday, September 13.  While the facility will be open on a limited basis for games only, he anticipates a community opening later in the Fall.

• Morel Pay App #14

Order #2682 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Pay Application #14 to Morel Construction Co. in the amount of $1,078,795.60 for the Highlands Athletic Complex at Tower Park Project passed with a motion by Mr. Clem Fennell IV and a second by Mrs. Sarah Foster.

• BM03.1233
• BM03.2233

Order #2683 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Parental Leave Policies 03.1233 and 03.2233 as based on a Second Reading with an effective date of July 1, 2025 for all employees passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mrs. Sarah Foster.

• Working 2025-2026 GENERAL FUND - Google Sheets

Order #2684 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the Working Budget for 2025-26 passed with a motion by Mr. David Russell and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

Order #2685 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Mary Ann Stewart with the law firm Adams Law, PLLC to continue to provide legal counsel passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

Request approval of a shortened school day for four students within our district boundaries.  Medical and educational records indicate health concerns and conditions that compromise the ability to tolerate a full school day.  After careful consideration of all relevant information, including input from physicians, family and educators, the Admissions and Release Committee (ARD) has recommended a shortened school day, with the goal of gradually increasing time at school as health conditions allow.

Order #2686 - Motion Passed:  Approval of a shortened school day for four students within our district boundaries passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. David Russell.

• '25 District Funding Assurances GMAP

Order #2687 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the GMAP District Funding Assurances for 2025-26 passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

• CDIP Phase I

Order #2688 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the CDIP Phase I for 2025-26 passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

Order #2689 - Motion Passed:  Approval of revisions to Certified Evaluation Plan passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. David Russell.

There were no committee updates at this time.

• FTIS 2025-2026 Areas of Emphasis

Superintendent Brian Robinson shared the Areas of Emphasis for the 2025-26 school year.  He also shared that the document is available for everyone to view on the new district website.

• SBDMC BOE Meeting

Keith Faust shared with the Board the legal requirements for SBDM members and that they had been met for this school year.  He also shared a list of all SBDM members by school.

• Title IX

Jamee Flaherty shared with Title IX Summary with the Board, noting HHS passed 1 of the 3 areas and it extremely close in a 2nd area.  HHS administration feels we will hit at least 2 of the 3 for this school year.

Order #2690 - Motion Passed:  With all Board members having had the opportunity to review and pursue any questions about all of the items contained therein, approval of the consent agenda passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

• Minutes - 08-11-2025 - Board Meeting
• Minutes - 08-25-2025 - Special Board Meeting
• Minutes - 08-25-2025 - Tax Hearing
• Minutes - 09-04-2025 - Working Meeting

• 2 2026 BOE REPORT

• 2 2026 PAYMENT REGISTER

• DoSE job description - September 2025

Highlands Middle School
Restaurant Nights

Change in position for the following Certified Employee
Jenny Miller-Horn – Exceptional Child Instructor at MES to Director of Special Education and Transportation – Districtwide

Change in position for the following Classified Employee
Rochelle McClintick – Office Assistant at WES to Library Media Assistant at HHS

Employment of the following Classified Employee
Jessica Jones – Office Assistant– WES
Connor Whitis – Custodian – Districtwide

Employment of the following Extra Service Positions
Lauren Bailey – Girls on the Run – MES
Kelly Booth – Detention Hall Monitor – HHS
Kerry Conley – FCCLA Sponsor – HMS
Dillon Goettke – Drama/Musical Assistant – HMS
Dillon Goettke – AV Specialist/Technician – HHS
Alyona Greene – World Language Club Sponsor – HMS
Corrine Posinski – Journalism Club – MES
John Warford – Academic Team Coach – HHS
John Warford – Grade Level Leader – HMS

Employment of the following Paraprofessional Employee
William Busener – Varsity Assistant Boys Soccer Coach – HHS
Jennifer Warford – Assistant Academic Team Coach – HMS

Resignation of the following Certified Employee
Sommer Rosa – Director of Special Education and Transportation – CO

Resignation of the following Classified Employee
Shannon Eaton – Principal’s Secretary – HHS

Resignation of the following Extra-Service Positions
Gretchen Hinkel – World Language Club Sponsor – HMS
Jenny Miller-Horn – Girls on the Run – MES
Sarah Klensch – Assistant Academic Team Coach – HMS
Kevin Listerman – Senior Class Sponsor – HHS

Resignation of the following Paraprofessional Employees
Spencer Cains – Assistant Band Director – HHS
Dakota Riley – Girls Head Wrestling Coach – HHS
Cali Rochelle – Color Guard and Winter Guard – HHS
Maureen Ryan – Girls Assistant Tennis Coach – HHS

There was no additional business to discuss.

Board Chair Julie Kuhnhein adjourned the meeting at 7:46pm.