High Plains Educational Cooperative

Board of Directors Minutes

October 16^th, 2025

7:00 PM

 

 

611	Alexa Beltz	Director	214	Joel Applegate	Supt.
452	Val Zamudio	BOD	611	Kim Cruz	Asst. Director
611	Flor Galindo	Treasurer	611	Mark Dierking	Asst. Director
214	Diana Nuñez	BOD	210	Adrian Howie	Supt.
611	Grace Gomez	Clerk	611	Marlene Dodge	Asst. Director
215	Michael Pepper	BOD	217	Phoebe Brummett	Alt. BOD
467	Bruce Loy	BOD
	Via  Zoom
466	Deb Drohman	BOD	RSC	Kim Mauk	Guest
371	Ashlin Davidson	BOD	218	Crystal Fleming	BOD
216	Amanda Johnson	BOD	200	Shea Stewart	BOD
476	Shawn Breneman	BOD	210	Kenny Sullivan	Alt. BOD
507	Karen Burrows	Supt.	209	Valerie Thompson	Supt.
	Jennifer Cunningham	Attorney

 

 

1.         Call to Order

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

 

2.         Approve Consent Agenda

Michael Pepper moved to approve the amended agenda, which includes amending item 5 to an action item and renaming item 13 as an Executive session to discuss matters concerning a student.  Phoebe Brummett seconded the motion.  Motion carries 10 yes, 2 abstained.

 

3.         Committee Reports

              a.         RSC

Kim Mauk shared the upcoming trainings that will be offered by SWPRSC.

              b.         Council of Superintendents

There was nothing to report.

 

4.         KASB Delegate for Upcoming KASB Conference

Michael Pepper moved to nominate Phoebe Brummett as the HPEC 2025-26 KASB Delegate.  Val Zamudio seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

 

5.         Resignations and Contracts

Phoebe Brummett moved to accept a contract for Megan Sullivan for Physical Therapy services.  Val Zamudio seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

 

6.         Staff Development

Mark shared with the board that we have had new teachers, instructional coaches, and early childhood special education teachers in the central office recently for training.  HPEC has also held LETRS and Mandt trainings in the past month, with another session of Mandt, a de-escalation training, to be held next week at the Grant County Civic Center.

 

Karen Burrows joined the meeting at 7:07 P.M.

Valerie Thompson joined the meeting at 7:08 P.M.

 

 

7.         Out of State Conferences

              a.          Case Conference

Bruce Loy moved to approve Marlene and Kim’s request to attend the CASE conference held in Oklahoma City on November 5-7.  Michael Pepper seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

              b.         Tri-State Regional Law Conference

Michael Pepper moved to approve Alexa and Mark’s request to attend the Tri-State Special Education Law conference on November 13-14 in Omaha, Nebraska.  Bruce Loy seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

 

Jennifer Cunningham joined the meeting at 7:15 P.M.

 

8.         Staff Evaluations

The administrative team will be completing evaluations for year 1 and 2 certified staff members during October.  The administrators will seek input from the principals.

 

9.         Categorical Aid/Local Assessment Payment     EXECUTIVE SESSION

Diana Nuñez moved to go into executive session for 20 minutes for the purpose of discussing concerns regarding Categorical Aid/Local Assessment, and to return to the open session in this room at 7:37 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.  Phoebe Brummett seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

 

Val Zamudio made a motion to extend the executive session for an additional 10 minutes, and to return to open session in this room at 7:49 P.M.  Michael Pepper seconded the motion.  Motion carried 11 yes, 1 abstained.

 

Michael Pepper made a motion to extend the executive session for an additional 5 minutes, and to return to open session in this room at 7:56 P.M.

 

Jennifer Cunningham left the meeting at 7:57 P.M.

 

10.      Updates to the HPEC Board Policy Handbook

The HPEC Board Policy Handbook was last updated in 2022.  The HPEC attorney will be reviewing updates before it can be presented for board approval.

 

11.      Interlocal Agreement

Alexa reported on proposed updates for the HPEC Interlocal Agreement.  The HPEC attorney will be reviewing updates before it can be presented for board approval.

 

12.      Director’s Report

              a.          HPEC Superintendents Meeting

The first HPEC Superintendents meeting of FY26 was held October 15 at the central office.  There were five superintendents in attendance.  They were asked to obtain input from their building principals as to how to help students on an IEP work more independently.  The possibility of HPEC providing Mandt training to districts at the beginning of next school year was also discussed.

              b.         IDEA Maintenance of Effort and Excess Cost Reporting

The State/Federal report on Maintenance of Effort and Excess Cost Reporting opens November 14^th  and closes January 14^th. HPEC must have all district data prior to completing HPEC ‘s reporting component.  We appreciate your help in completing your work before the Christmas vacation.

              c.          Interlocal Agreement

The Interlocal Agreement for the state has been completed and uploaded.  This report includes a comparison of the current year and last year’s salaries for teachers and administors, the number of licensed and unlicensed personnel, and students receiving district services.

              d.         ESSA Report

HPEC information for district ESSA reports has been sent out.  The reports were due October 15^th.

 

13.      Student Matter                     EXECUTIVE SESSION

Diana Nuñez moved to go into executive session for 3 minutes for the purpose of discussing matters regarding a student, and to return to regular session in this room at 8:04 P.M.  This executive session is required to protect the privacy rights of a student who is identifiable.  The executive session is to include members of the board, superintendents, the director and assistant directors.  Phoebe Brummett seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

 

13.      Adjourn

Phoebe Brummett moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 P.M.  Michael Pepper seconded the motion.  Motion carries 11 yes, 1 abstained.

 

 

HPEC Board President