The Barton County Sheriff’s Office was at the ready when the Great Bend USD 428 school board met Thursday.
But, like most mid-month board meetings, there weren’t many in attendance.
The board approved the resignations of Kelly Clark, who teaches first grade students at Park Elementary School, and Ted Schmid, a science teacher at Great Bend High School.
Then, the board went into executive session for 40 minutes to consult with the district’s attorneys on a matter protected by attorney-client privilege. Attorneys Mark Rondeau and Allen Glendenning from Watkins Calcara law firm and Superintendent Brad Reed joined the closed session.
After the executive session, the meeting adjourned.
The administration appeared to be ready for anything Thursday. On Monday, a crowd of around 100 parents and students showed up at the district office to demand justice for a student who was reportedly assaulted on the school activity bus returning home from a swim meet on Saturday, Feb. 6. BCSO officers helped to disperse that crowd.
Thursday’s meeting was originally scheduled to be held at Jefferson Elementary School. Mid-month meetings are typically held at different learning centers, where staff members report on school activities.
According to the agenda sent on Wednesday, “The meeting site (was) moved to the District Education Center to insure good educational environment for Jefferson students.”
One patrol vehicle was parked down the street another was in the middle of the parking lot. Undersheriff Bruce Green stood near the parking lot entrance. Sheriff Brian Bellendir and BCSO Detective David Paden attended the meeting, as did several reporters.