Great Bend USD 428’s Board of Education met with the school district’s attorneys Monday. The special meeting started at noon at the District Education Center where the board spent 40 minutes in an executive session, which is closed to the public, in order to discuss a matter protected by attorney-client privilege.
Last week an attorney for Michele O’Neil of Great Bend filed a lawsuit at the Ellsworth County Courthouse on behalf of O’Neil and her teenage son. It alleges the former Great Bend High School student was assaulted on a school activity bus coming back from a swim team meet in February.
Six of the seven board members were present Monday; board member Larry Kutina was absent. Also present were Superintendent Brad Reed, Great Bend High School swim coach Steve Beaumont and assistant coach Keith Moeder, Marilyn Holinde from the transportation department, GBHS Principal Tim Friess and USD 428 Activities Director David Meter. All of them are named on the suit which seeks damages for breach of duty by failing to provide a safe environment for the student.
The board took no action Monday.
The next meeting is set for noon Wednesday at Jefferson Elementary School. That is considered a makeup meeting because the luncheon meeting previously scheduled to take place at Jefferson was moved to the District Education Center in February.