High Plains Educational Cooperative

Board of Director’s Meeting

November 20, 2025

7:00 PM

 

611	Alexa Beltz	Director	611	Mark Dierking	Asst. Director
611	Grace Gomez	Clerk	611	Flor Galindo	Treasurer
214	Diana Nuñez	BOD	611	Kim Cruz	Asst. Director
611	Marlene Dodge	Asst. Director	452	Val Zamudio	BOD
RSC	Kim Mauk	Guest	507	Will Hatcher	BOD
467	Bruce Loy	BOD	214	Dr. Joel Applegate	Supt.
	Via Zoom
209	Lisa Whitham	BOD	371	Ashlin Davidson	BOD
476	Shawn Breneman	BOD	218	Crystal Fleming	BOD
216	Amanda Johnson	BOD	507	Karen Burrows	Supt.
210	Kenny Sullivan	Alt. BOD	494	Jonna Upson	BOD
216	Crystal Steinmetz	Supt.	217	Randy Rockhold	Supt.
200	John Niehues	Supt.

 

1.      Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

Diana Nuñez, Board President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

 

2.      Approve Consent Agenda

         a.      Agenda  

         b.      Minutes of Regular October Meeting

         c.      Accounts payable         

Bruce Loy moved to approve the consent agenda as presented.  Val Zamudio seconded the motion. Motion carries 11 yes, 0 no.

 

3.      Comments from the Public

There were none in writing.

 

4.      Committee Reports

         a.      RSC Report

Kim Mauk gave the report from the RSC.

 

Randy Rockhold joined the meeting at 7:03 P.M.

 

         b.      Council of Superintendents

Dr. Joel Applegate gave the report.

 

Kim Mauk left the meeting at 7:06 P.M.

 

5.      Resignations and Contracts

         a.      Staff        EXECUTIVE SESSION

Diana Nuñez moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing matters concerning a staff member and that the board return to open session in this room in 3 minutes.  The executive session is to include members of the board, superintendents, the director, and assistant directors.  Will Hatcher seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 0 no

         b.      Resignations and Contracts

Bruce Loy moved to accept a contract for Angela Fisher, interim elementary interrelated teacher for Wichita County Elementary School.  Will Hatcher seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 0 no.

 

6.      Update of Recent Conferences

Kim shared that she and Marlene attended the CASE conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

 

John Niehues joined the meeting at 7:12 P.M.

 

Mark shared that he attended the law conference in Omaha, Nebraska with early childhood teacher Cher Bohl and school psychologist Liz Oldham. 

 

7.      Professional Development

Marlene shared information on the proposed professional development plan.  The plan was submitted to KSDE on November 1^st, and she hopes to receive feedback regarding revisions that need to be made in early December.

 

Information was also shared regarding the recent professional development opportunities at HPEC.  On October 23, Kim held a Zoom meeting for school psychologists.  The professional development committee met at the central office on October 28^th.  On October 29^th, a gifted categorical meeting was held at the central office and ran by Green Bush.  Mandt, a de-escalation training, was held at the Grant County civic center on November 18^th and 19^th. 

 

8.      Audit

Alexa shared that Medill and Thooft, CPA have completed an external audit for HPEC this month and will present the audit for approval at a board meeting in the near future.

 

9.      ParaEducator Numbers

Alexa shared with the board updated numbers on paraeducators currently employed by HPEC.

 

10.   Legal Matter                EXECUTIVE SESSION

Diana Nuñez moved that the board go into executive session for the purpose of discussing an ongoing legal matter, and that the board return to open session in this room in 5 minutes.  The executive session is to include members of the board, superintendents, the director, assistant directors, and treasurer of the board; the executive session is to exclude the board representative and superintendent from Elkhart, USD #218.  Bruce Loy seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 0 no.

 

11.   Student Matter           EXECUTIVE SESSION          

Diana Nuñez moved that the board go into executive session for the purpose of discussing matters pertaining to a student, and that the board return to open session in this room in 1 minute.  The executive session is required to protect the privacy right of a student who is identifiable.  The executive session is to include members of the board, superintendents, director and assistant directors.  Val Zamudio seconded the motion.  Motion carries 10 yes, 1 abstained.

 

12.   Maintenance of Effort (MOE) and Excess Cost Reporting.

The State/Federal report on Maintenance of Effort and excess cost reporting opened on November 14^th  and closes on January 14^th.^.   HPEC must have all district data prior to completing this.  We appreciate your help in completing your work before the Christmas vacation.

 

13.   Central Office Closed

The central office will be closed Nov. 26^th - 28^th for Thanksgiving break.

 

14.   Designated Meeting Time and Place

The administrative team asked if the board would like to move the December 2025 board meeting to a noon meeting held via Zoom.  There was no motion.

 

15.   Other

There was nothing else to share.

 

16.   Adjournment

Val Zamudio moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 P.M.  Will Hatcher seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 0 no.

 

HPEC Board President