Burns citizens group demands resignation
Peabody-Burns USD #398 school board held its March meeting in the Burns community building in Burns with all members present.
Many patrons, representing both Peabody and Burns, were present. Two of the visitors, both from Burns, spoke during the public forum.
Sue Hoffman spoke in favor of settling the district's conflicts in a more mature and kind manner.
Brad Stuhlsatz wanted to read a written statement composed by several members of the Burns community. Gilbert Loewen moved that the board recess for five minutes to allow the superintendent, the board president, Loewen, and Stuhlsatz to discuss the statement that Stuhlsatz wanted to present. The motion was approved.
After the discussion, Stuhlsatz was told that he could make his presentation only if the statement he wanted to read was signed by those who helped compose the letter. The school board's policy is not to accept or acknowledge anonymous communications.
In addition to Stuhlsatz, Kaylon Keene, Heather Keene, Rodney Morgan, Margaret Morgan, Ivan Morgan, Brent Miles, Lezlie Miles, and Lowell Larsen signed the statement.
The statement called for the immediate resignation of school board president, Doe Ann Hague. The group claimed that violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act occurred on several occasions, and that Hague, as president, was ultimately responsible.
The statement also alleged that Hague "harrassed and berated" the two Burns board members and that she had attempted to eliminate or curtail the participation of Burns citizens in the public forum.
No one else addressed the board after Stuhlsatz spoke.
Hague did not resign.
Superintendent Tom Alstrom reviewed a minor wording change in the policy on public participation. On a motion by Gary Jones, the board unanimously approved the revision.
The board approved a request from the students in Business Professionals of America to attend the national contest in Chicago May 7-11. The district will provide transportation to the airport or vehicles to Chicago and registration for the sponsor, Mary Brown.
The use of two buses with district drivers was approved for the after-prom party which will be held at Sports Center West in Wichita.
Jones and Loewen were appointed to serve as the graduation awards committee. The available awards were received and accepted by the school board.
The 2002-03 calendar was selected, a bid to replace the air conditioning system in the elementary school multi-purpose room for $9,668 was approved, and discussion of a plan to hang banners honoring individual athletic honors was tabled until the April meeting.
The meeting ended after two executive sessions to discuss personnel.
