5 takeaways from Salina USD 305 school board meeting

Board Approves $32,000 Stadium Change Order, Other Major Spending

District Accepts Over $66,000 in Community Gifts

New Enrollment Rules Enacted for Military Families

State Law Forces Changes to Public Meetings and Records Rules

District Adopts State-Mandated Whistleblower Policy

Board Approves $32,000 Stadium Change Order, Other Major Spending

SALINA - The Salina Public Schools board unanimously approved a series of significant financial commitments from the district Tuesday night. Topping the list was a $32,000 change order to ATG Sports Construction for the ongoing Salina Stadium project. In other major expenditures, the board authorized $24,237 to Building Controls and Services for installing a new boiler control system at Lakewood Middle School and approved a $23,289.12 renewal with New Directions (Lucet) for the district’s employee assistance program. All items were passed without discussion as part of the consent agenda. 

District Accepts Over $66,000 In Community Gifts

The board formally accepted four significant donations totaling $66,000 to support student programs and staff recruitment: $30,000 from the Salina Education Foundation (Rising Educators and recruitment); $20,000 from the Gustaf and Hannah Applequist pass-through fund via the Greater Salina Community Foundation for CKCIE; $10,000 from the Earl Bane Foundation for micro-scholarships for first-time college-course takers; and $6,000 from Salina Regional Health Center for the Central High Metals Class. 

New Enrollment Rules Enacted For Military Families

The board reviewed updates to JBCD (Enrollment of Military Students) prompted by HB 2102. The district must enroll children of parents serving in the military even if they do not yet have proof of residency, provided the parent will be stationed in Kansas in the current or next school year; required records can be obtained after enrollment, and pre-K placement remains subject to eligibility/seat availability. 

State Law Forces Changes To Public Meetings And Records Rules

New transparency laws passed by the state legislature are changing how the school board conducts its business. Due to HB 2134, board subcommittees are now subject to the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA), and the law clarifies “reasonableness” limits on Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) fees (staff time billed at the least-expensive qualified employee’s rate). A companion media/recording update also clarifies practice around livestreams and open meetings. 

District Adopts State-Mandated Whistleblower Policy

Salina Public Schools is implementing a standalone GAACB Employee Whistleblower policy as required by HB 2160 (Kansas Municipal Employee Whistleblower Act). The policy must be publicly posted and available to all employees; protections and procedures are consistent with standard whistleblower frameworks. 

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