Ashley Riley has been appointed director of Barton County Special Services, effective July 1. 

The appointment was made Monday by the Great Bend USD 428 Board of Education. Riley has been with the school district for 10 years and this is her fifth year as the special education coordinator.

The Barton County Special Services Cooperative operates under USD 428 but serves an estimated 800 students across four school districts, Otis-Bison, Ellinwood, Hoisington, and Great Bend. BCSS employs a combination of special education teachers, school psychologists, coordinators, and paraprofessionals.

When Riley becomes director on July 1, BCSS Director Christie Gerdes will move on to a new position outside of the school district. Gerdes has been with USD 428 and BCSS for 24 years.

Personnel report

The school board also approved two new teacher appointments, a resignation and a retirement at Monday’s meeting.

Kaitlyn Browning will teach kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School next year and Brooke Reif will teach sixth grade at Eisenhower Elementary School.

Janel Tutak, a special education teacher at Great Bend High School, announced her retirement.

Cassidy Childs, music teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, tendered her resignation.

Grants and contributions

In other business Monday, the school board approved Eisenhower third-grade teacher Kelly Noland’s request to apply for a Dollar General Literacy Grant for up to $4,000 to purchase books and a book scanner.

The board also accepted $165 in anonymous contributions and student sponsorships for the upcoming GBHS Orchestra trip.