Three candidates considered for RV supt. position
The Royal Valley Board of Education narrowed down the field of superintendent candidates to three during the board’s meeting Monday evening.
Board members began their meeting in executive session for an hour and 20 minutes with Randy Weseman, Kansas Association of School Boards assistant executive director.
Weseman presented all the applications for the superintendent position, and based on criteria previously discussed by the board, Weseman outlined the top applicants for the position.
Back in open session, the board agreed to interview Jerry Hodson, Dr. Kelly Arnberger and Aaric Davis to replace current superintendent John Rundle, who has served in that role since August 2001.
Hodson is currently the superintendent at Rawlins County USD 105 in Atwood, which is located 30 miles north of Colby in northwest Kansas.
Arnberger works as the superintendent at Bucklin USD 459, which is 30 minutes southeast of Dodge City.
Aaric Davis is the principal at Hartford Jr./Sr. High School. The school is located in Lyon County and is a part of Southern Lyon County USD 252.
Davis previously worked at Royal Valley for 12 years. Davis served as the principal at Royal Valley Middle School from 2011 to 2013 and was the assistant high school principal at RV from 2008-2011. Prior to that, he taught math at the high school for seven years.
The board of education has scheduled interviews with the three candidates this week, starting with Dr. Arnberger this evening.
During the 2014-2015 school year, the superintendent’s salary at Royal Valley was $117,119, which included benefits, it was reported.
In other business, the RV board:
* Received a legislative update from Rundle.
* Heard a report on the progress of state testing in the district from Susan Pfrang, director of curriculum and instruction.
Pfrang said that students are beginning their second testing window for assessments. The first testing window was completed prior to spring break.
Subjects to be tested in the second round of assessments include math, English, science, history and government.
* Reviewed items on the spring and summer maintenance list for the district. At the elementary school, new side and back speakers are being considered for the stage at the gym, which is used for high school theater productions. Rundle said he hasn’t sought pricing on speakers yet.
The board is also considering replacing the lockers in both the boys and girls locker rooms at the middle school at an estimated cost of $27,350.
“They are the original lockers that were installed in 1978 or 1979,” Rundle said. “They’ve taken a lot of wear and tear over the years. They’ve always been a little on the small side, especially with football equipment in the fall.”
The board has already approved repainting the gym ceiling and walls at the middle school at an estimated cost of $14,555.
The biggest project at the high school is the installation of new lights at the gym, which has already been approved by the board.
Rundle said that he is seeking pricing to repair the dish machine, drain and a wall at the high school kitchen.
* Met in executive session for 20 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel with Rundle, Pfrang and the school’s building principals, Jim Holloman (RVHS), John Linn (RVMS) and Noah Slay (RVES).
Back in open session, the board accepted the resignation of Esther Cumpton as the assistant volleyball coach and the retirement of Jerry Harter as a district bus driver.
The board also approved an assistant track coach contract for David Boucher for the remainder of the current track season. The board also approved a FMLA leave request from Colby Colley, a fourth-grade teacher, to take effect at the start of the 2016-2017 school year.
* Adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m. All board members were present.
