High Plains Educational Cooperative

Board of Directors Minutes

August 21st, 2025

7:00 PM

 

611	Alexa Beltz	Director	214	Diana Nuñez	BOD
611	Mark Dierking	Asst. Director	611	Marlene Dodge	Asst. Director
611	Grace Gomez	Clerk	209	Brian White	Alt. BOD
611	Flor Galindo	Treasurer	210	Adrian Howie	Supt.
214	Joel Applegate	Supt	363	Scott Myers	Supt.
611	Kim Cruz	Asst. Director	452	Val Zamudio	BOD
218	Charles Anglin	Supt.	467	Lori Maxwell	Supt.
371/476	Jay Zehr	Supt.	467	Bruce Loy	BOD
215	Michael Pepper	BOD	507	Karen Burrows	Supt.
	Via Zoom
476	Shawn Breneman	BOD	216	Amanda Johnson	BOD
209	Valerie Thompson	Supt.	217	Kimberly Hull	BOD
494	Jonna Upson	BOD	218	Crystal Fleming	BOD
466	Deb Drohman	BOD	200	Shea Steward	BOD
RSC	Kim Mauk	Guest		Jennifer Cunningham	Attorney

        

1.         Call to Order  

Diana Nuñez, Board President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

2.         Approve Consent Agenda

Brian White moved to approve the consent agenda, with the update of changing item 14 to an action item addressing changes in the PDC handbook.  Val Zamudio seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 0 no.

 

3.         Comments from the Public

There were none in writing.

 

Kimberly Hull joined the meeting at 7:01 P.M.

 

4.         Committee Reports

            a.         RSC

Kim Mauk gave the report.

            b.         Superintendents Council

There was nothing to report.

 

 

 

5.         Board Orientation

Alexa shared with the board a PowerPoint Presentation outlining HPEC roles and responsibilities to member districts, as well as a review of the general purpose and practices of our cooperative.

 

6.         Review of Teachers on Alternate Pathways

Kim Cruz shared several alternative pathways that teachers can take to become fully certified Special Education teachers.

 

7.         Contracts/Resignations

Bruce Loy moved to accept a contract with Guadalupe Robledo, interim teacher at Copeland schools; contract services with USD 480 Dr. Jami Harris, Audiologist; and contract services with Southwest Kansas Area Cooperative District #613 (SKACD) for vision services.  Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

           

8.         Staff Development

The Administrative team shared on July 29 and 30 the new teachers and mentors were in for training at the Central Office. All Staff Inservice was August 6 at Grant County civic center.

 

9.         Indicator 14, Post-Secondary School Interviews

Marlene Dodge shared the process of Indicator 14 post-secondary interview phone calls and how they can help future student success.

 

10.       Paraeducator Numbers

Alexa shared para numbers with the board. We have approximately the same number of paras that we had last year.

 

11.       HPEC Administrator Responsibilities

Alexa spoke to the Board about the responsibilities of the High Plains Administrative team.  She also shared with the Board the districts that each Administrator covers and a list of the teachers each Administrator supervises.

 

Jennifer Cunningham joined the meeting at 7:21 P.M.

 

12.       Categorical Aid/Local Assessment Payment          EXECUTIVE SESSION

Diana Nuñez moved to go into executive session for 10 minutes for the purpose of discussing concerns regarding Categorical Aid/Local Assessment, and to return to the open session in this room at 7:32 P.M.  This executive session is to include members of the Board, administrators, superintendents, the HPEC attorney, and the Treasurer of the Board; this executive session is to exclude the member of the Board from USD 218 and the superintendent.  Bruce Loy seconded the motion.  Motion carries 10 yes, 2 abstained.

 

Charles Anglin and Crystal Fleming left the meeting at 7:22 P.M.

Crystal Fleming joined the meeting at 7:32 P.M.

 

Michael Pepper moved to extend the executive session for an additional 15 minutes, and to return to open session in this room at 7:50 P.M.  Brian White seconded the motion.  Motion carries 10 yes, 2 abstained.

Crystal Fleming left the meeting at 7:35 P.M.

 

Charles Anglin and Crystal Fleming joined the meeting at 7:50 P.M.

 

13.       Director’s Report

            a.         Board Committees for 2025-2026

Alexa spoke about the board committees. She also informed the board what each committee is involved in. The list will be in the September board packet for approval.

            b.         KSDE IDEA File Review

HPEC is reviewing IEP files for compliance and will upload that information to the state. We are in cohort 2 this year and will be reviewing IDEA and Gifted files for 9 of our districts.

            c.         HPEC Superintendents Meetings

HPEC will resume Superintendents meetings this fall.  Alexa will send the Superintendents the dates.

                         

14.       Other – PDC handbook

Marlene shared information about the PDC handbook and salary points, and is asking that the board consider redacting the previous update to the PDC handbook.  She would like to revisit any potential updates or changes in the spring.  Michael Pepper made a motion to redact the updates from the July Board meeting in regards to the PDC handbook.  Bruce Loy seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

 

15.       Adjourn

Bruce Loy moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:57 P.M.  Brian White seconded the motion. Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

President, Board of Directors