Brown County Kansas Special Education Interlocal #615
The Board of Education of the Brown County Kansas Special Education Interlocal #615 held a special April Board of Education meeting at 6:00 p.m. on April 3, 2025 at the Special Education Annex in Hiawatha.
Call to Order
Roni Tietjens called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.
Roll Call
Those present were:
Jon Boller, USD 430 Board Member
Rex Lockwood, USD 430 Board Member
Shelby Rice, USD 430 Board Member, arrived at 6:02 pm
Jacquie Spihlmann, USD 415 Board Member
Roni Tietjens, USD 415 Board Member
Connie Hale, Supervisor/Coordinator
Amy Larson, Board Clerk/Business Manager
Kendelle Runer, ECSE Instructor
Those absent were:
Becky Shamburg, Director of Special Education
Ian Schuetz, USD 415 Board Member
Approval of the Agenda
Connie Hale requested to remove G and H, Executive Session for Non-Elected Personnel and Action
Following Executive Session. Rex Lockwood moved to approve the revised agenda. Jon Boller
seconded and the motion passed with a vote of four to zero.
Shelby Rice arrived at the meeting at 6:02 p.m.
Approval of the Consent Agenda
Jon Boller moved to approve the consent agenda. Jacquie Spihlmann seconded and the motion passed
with a vote of five to zero. Items on the consent agenda are:
1. Approval of the minutes of the March 5, 2025 regular board meeting.
2. Approval of the minutes of the March 13, 2025 special board meeting.
3. Approval of the bills for the month of April 2025.
4. Accept the treasurer’s report for the month of April 2025.
5. Accept the retirement of Valerie Tollefson, HMS special education teacher effective July 1,
2025. Also, note the correction that Staci Campbell is retiring instead of resigning.
6. Approve the hiring of Ashlynn Strauss as PreK/Kindergarten special education teacher.
Review and Approve the 2025-2026 Interlocal Calendar
Connie Hale reviewed the 2025-26 interlocal calendar stating that August certified special education inservice date is set for August 8, 2025 and the August classified special education inservice date is set for August 11, 2025. There will be wheelchair/proper lifting training on August 8, 2025 as well.
Jon Boller moved to approve the 2025-26 BCK-SEI calendar. Shelby Rice seconded and the motion passed with a vote of five to zero.
Review and Approve a 2025-2026 Preliminary Board Meeting Schedule
Connie Hale reviewed the 2025-26 preliminary board meeting schedule stating the location would be determined at a later date. After discussion, Rex Lockwood moved to approve the 2025-26 preliminary board meeting dates. Jon Boller seconded and the motion passed with a vote of five to zero.
Review and Approve the 2025-2026 Master Teacher Contract
Amy Larson reviewed the 2025-26 quote from Master Teacher. The Master Teacher was getting their pricing up to date and quoted the interlocal $3,231 for 75 licenses which is over $1,000 more than what the interlocal paid this year. After asking for a more economical quote, the interlocal was quoted $2,068 for 44 licenses and after using those, the unused licenses from 2024-25 will transfer over.
After discussion, Jacquie Spihlmann moved to approve the Master Teacher quote for $2,068. Shelby Rice seconded and the motion passed with a vote of five to zero.
Review and Approve the 2025-2026 KASB Membership and Legal Assistance Fund Dues
Connie Hale reviewed the 2025-26 KASB membership and legal assistance fund dues with the board.
There was no increase in the dues from 2024-25. After discussion, Shelby Rice moved to approve the 2025-26 KASB membership and legal assistance fund dues. Rex Lockwood seconded and the motion passed with a vote of five to zero.
Action for Submission of Title VI-B Grant Application
Amy Larson reviewed the initial phase of submitting a Title VI-B grant application. Title VI-B funds are federal funds of IDEA. After discussion, Jacquie Spihlmann moved to approve the grant application. Jon Boller seconded and the motion passed with a vote of five to zero.
Report from Connie Hale
Connie Hale stated that both RTAP apprentices Sherri Nelson and Becca Beecham are doing well. Teacher evaluations are winding down. Para appreciation week was last week and paras were given shirts and goodie bags. Connie will be attending an autism training for team leads only in Salina on May 1, 2025.
Executive Session to Discuss Negotiations
At 6:10 p.m., Jacquie Spihlmann moved to go into executive session for five minutes to discuss negotiable items as allowed for employer-employee negotiations under KOMA, and reconvene at 6:15 pm. Shelby Rice seconded and the motion passed with a vote of five to zero. The executive session was necessary to ensure a fair and equitable contract. Those present for the executive session were Connie Hale, Jon Boller, Rex Lockwood, Shelby Rice, Jacquie Spihlmann, and Roni Tietjens. At 6:15 pm, the board came out of executive session.
Adjourn
Shelby Rice moved to adjourn the Board meeting. Jon Boller seconded and the motion passed with a vote of five to zero. The meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the BCK-SEI Board of Education will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at the Special Education Annex in Hiawatha.
