Call to Order and Adoption of Agenda
Board President Kinnie Ledford called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. All seven Board members participated initially, with Sarah Morton attending remotely. Andrea Ball moved to approve the amended agenda, which placed executive session and Resolution 27-009 before presentations; Roy Andreas seconded. The motion carried 7-0. Ed Trimmer left at 7:05 p.m., and Sarah Morton left the remote meeting at 7:41 p.m.
USD 465 Mission Statement
Developing responsible citizens for the future
Citizen’s Open Forum and Communications
Two students spoke in support of Winfield Middle School teacher and coach Aubree Vargas. Board members recognized a scholarship awarded to Country View teacher Madison Meyer, student projects in the Winfield High School shop program, and the high school library exhibit. A future student presentation about shop projects was suggested.
Executive Session and Resolution 27-009
Jalaine Richardson moved to enter executive session to discuss an individual employee’s performance under the non-elected personnel exception to KOMA; Gregg Follmer seconded. The motion carried 7-0. The Board approved an additional 30 minutes, 6-1, and subsequently requested ten more minutes. Open session resumed at 7:02 p.m. The Board took no action on Resolution 27-009.
Presentations
District Website Updates: Katie Mays, Aaron Armstrong, and Mason Coley presented work on a password-protected staff intranet to organize forms, handbooks, staff contacts, and Skyward Qmlativ how-to resources. The anticipated launch is after the first of the year.
Business
Broadway Sports Complex Improvements / CDBG Grant: City Manager Taggart Wall outlined proposed improvements to five fields and a potential $1.5 million Community Development Block Grant. The partnership includes the City of Winfield, USD 465, Southwestern College, and the Winfield
Recreation Commission. Andrea Ball moved to approve the grant submission, and Jalaine Richardson seconded. The motion carried 6-0. The board approved the proposed Development Agreement between the City of Winfield, USD 465, Southwestern College, and the Winfield Recreation Commission.
Viking Media and Royal Viking Yearbook Trips: Brandi Rising and Scott Nuss presented trips to the University of Oklahoma on November 2, 2026, and Los Angeles April 14–18, 2027, for journalism learning and competition. Fundraising is planned to limit student costs. Roy Andreas moved to approve the trips, and Gregg Follmer seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
CPR and AED Grant Application: Health Services Coordinator Felicia Mettling presented a KDHE reimbursement grant opportunity of up to $40,000 for CPR training, AED equipment and maintenance, and cardiac emergency preparedness. Jalaine Richardson moved to approve the application, and Andrea Ball seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
District Student Achievement Report: Instructional Coach Stephanie Hammer reviewed FastBridge screening results, state assessment trends, and progress under the district’s KESA school improvement plan. The focus remains on standards alignment, strong instructional practices, professional learning communities, and ongoing monitoring of student progress. She highlighted areas of growth as well as continuing needs in reading and mathematics.
First Reading of KASB Board Policy Updates: The Board received a first reading of 79 policy updates and four additions following KASB’s review. No action was requested. Approval is anticipated at the November meeting; AI and acceptable-use policies will be addressed separately.
Assistant Superintendent Report
Phil Bressler provided personnel, transportation, financial, Honeywell, Sunshine Day Care, and audit updates. Terry Piper is expected to begin as Transportation Director October 21. The district is approaching its final Honeywell payment after approximately 19 years of annual payments. Sunshine Day Care has provided notice of its intent to transition toward preparing its own meals. Audit and insurance-related financial information was also reviewed.
Superintendent Report
Grants and Donations: Superintendent Tricia Reiser recognized six USD 465 Education Foundation teacher grants totaling $4,392.64 for the 2026-27 school year:
WELC: Shanna Prior, Sensory Smart Classroom to support neurodivergent learners, $1,800.00. WELC: Kylee Brenn, Learning in Motion movement-based games and activities, $260.11. Irving/Country View: Deborah Abernathy, Geli Print Making and real-world printmaking applications, $250.00.
Winfield Middle School: Marisa Steiner, Earth and Space Science hands-on labs for approximately 150 students, $894.93.
Winfield Middle School: Shanna Page, Pop-up Exhibit to encourage reading and lifelong learning, $767.60.
Winfield Middle School: Kimber Taylor, Whodunit? mystery books for an engaging eighth-grade ELA unit, $420.00.
Enrollment and Elementary Capacity: The Board reviewed enrollment trends, instructional capacity calculated using negotiated class-size guidelines, and building-level expenditures. The reported audited enrollment was 1,863, approximately 100 fewer students than the prior year. The information was presented to begin consideration of the district’s long-term elementary configuration; no decision was requested or made.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Elementary attendance ranged from 94% to 99%, with Winfield Middle School at 80% and Winfield High School at approximately 26%. The high school plans to connect spring conferences with course selection and Individual Plans of Study to increase participation.
Southwestern College Partnership: The Superintendent recognized district teachers who mentor, host, and support college education students. She discussed the considerable staff time involved in co teaching placements and the need to balance the partnership with teacher workload.
Strategic Plan and After-School Programs: Work will begin to engage committees, including building site councils, in implementation of the adopted strategic plan. Staffing challenges for elementary after school interventions for students needing additional academic support were also discussed.
Consent Agenda
A. Personnel
B. Approval of September 2026 BOE Minutes
C. Acceptance of Grants / Donations
D. Acceptance of Bills and Financial Report
E. CERP – Cardiac Emergency Response Update Policy
F. CCSS Admin Asst job description
G. Sunshine Day Care Food Service Agreement
The Board approved personnel, September 2026 Board minutes with corrections to include omitted future agenda items from September 14, grants and donations, bills and financial reports, the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan update, the CCSS administrative assistant job description, and the Sunshine Day Care food service agreement. Gregg Follmer moved to approve the consent agenda as amended, and Roy Andreas seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Upcoming Events
No School – Friday, October 16 – Report/Record Day
BOE Regular Meeting: The next BOE regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. at the Winfield Early Learning Center – 509 E. 8th Avenue.
Annual KASB Convention: November 6-8, in Wichita, KS
Future Agenda Items
Future agenda items included a presentation by Mr. Hogan, Winfield High School CTE Coordinator, about students’ shop class projects for the community, and follow-up with the USD 465 Education Foundation regarding potential federal tax credits.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.