Great Bend High School students in forensics who qualified for nationals were recognized at Tuesday’s USD 428 Board of Education meeting, along with their coach, Kim Heath.
Last month, Great Bend Forensics won top honors at the Western Kansas District Forensics National Qualifier and Forensics Coaches Invitations. Five students qualified for the National Tournament: Reese King, Anna Bitter, Darcy Feist, Quinton Heath, and Parker Coleman. Kendra Scheideman qualified as an alternate to nationals.
USD 428 spokesman Andrea Bauer said, “In addition to leading such a successful forensics team this spring and hosting an outstanding 5A State Tournament at GBHS, Mrs. Heath also received recognition at the Annual Senior Awards Ceremony on May 7.”
ACT Director Lacy Wolters sent the following information, also mentioned at the board meeting:
Kim Heath is the 2025 Alyson Humphreys Walter Memorial Award for Teaching recipient.
“The Alyson Humphreys Walter Memorial Award for Teaching was established this spring to recognize a GBHS teacher who has impacted the lives of our students. This award recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching and inspire students to achieve their best, both in and out of the classroom. This award is 100% student-nominated and student-selected. Nominations were received from all 9th-12th grade students, and a selection committee of 11th and 12th grade Student Council members reviewed nominations (over 45 received) to select this year’s recipient.
“Mrs. Heath received eight nominations. Students described her as inclusive and supportive, genuine, positive, a student advocate, passionate, dedicated, caring, compassionate, understanding, inspiring, innovative, and always wanting the best for her students. Several students on the selection committee noted they had never had Mrs. Heath as a teacher, but were truly moved by the nominations received. She pours herself (time, energy, talents) into our students, and as one nomination stated, “she has changed so many people’s lives.
“Congratulations to Mrs. Heath on this award! We are very blessed to have her as part of our Panther Family!!”
New attendance policy
Next year’s handbooks, which were first reviewed in April, were approved at Tuesday’s meeting. GBHS Principal Brock Funke shared additions to the school attendance policy, which were also approved for inclusion in the student handbooks.
Students are either “present” or “absent.” Specific reasons are noted in the Skyward software. For example, an absence may be attributed to “illness, doctor appointment, or parent request.” A student may be present and in class. A student may also be counted present during “college visit, school-sponsored activity or school-related activity.”
Students are allowed up to 16 days of absences, excused or unexcused, for the entire school year. If a student misses eight or more school days during the first semester, they will not be allowed to attend Hollyball, participate in internships, do job shadowing, or leave school to attend Barton Community College courses virtually or on campus during school hours. Starting in 2026, any absences beyond 16 days will result in having to attend summer school. Students who miss more than 16 days will not attend prom.
The policy notes extenuating circumstances happen and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
There are also attendance incentives.
Students who miss fewer than six days will be exempt from midterms at the end of the first semester, and students who miss fewer than 14 days will be exempt from finals at the end of the school year, as long as they are not failing a class. Students will not be exempt from concurrent course midterms or finals.
Other items approved
• The board approved the paper purchase for next year, projecting a need for 840 cases (a truckload) of 8.5 by 11 inch paper and 40 cases of 11 by 17 paper. The low bidder was Veritiv Operating Co. at $27,240, which was the same price as last year. Pastel, bright copy paper and card stock will be purchased as needed.
• The District Education Center will be on summer hours from May 23 through July 25. The office will close at noon on Fridays. Employees will have the opportunity to work their contracted hours.
• Great Bend Middle School gym floors will be sanded and refinished this summer. The board approved a quote for $19,800 from Patterson Construction.
• A five-year subscription to Fastbridge was approved for $57,360. The district uses Fastbridge to assess students from pre-K to grade 12 at risk of struggling in English language arts, math and interpersonal skills. At-Risk funds cover the contract.
• A one-year contract was approved with Innovative Assessment Solutions to develop proficiency screeners and the associated data reports. These allow teachers to assess student mastery of state standards taught each quarter in grades 3-12.
• A three-year contract with Imagine Learning for Edgenuity was approved for $66,000. The contract will be financed through At-Risk funds. This is used at GBHS and GBMS for credit recovery and intervention.
Personnel
The board also approved personnel changes, starting with the retirement of Beck Demel, third-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School.
Also resigning at the end of the school year are Jessica Nairn, GBHS science teacher; Craig Fletchall, classroom teacher at the R.I.S.E. program; Mara Fletchall, second-grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary; and Morgan Hoffman, library/technology teacher at Park Elementary.
New appointments are Bailey Godwin-Ritchie, fifth-grade teacher at Park Elementary, and Dayton Long, teacher at Little Panthers Preschool.
Vacancies in the district include:
GBHS - Journalism/Audio Video Production, Science, English
GBMS - Social studies grade 8, Social studies grade 7, Orchestra, Science, English
Little Panthers - Preschool teacher
Eisenhower - Grades 1, 2 and 6, and physical education
Riley - Grade 6, English Learners teacher, Student Family Advocate
Barton County Special Services - Elementary Special Education, Secondary Special Education
Other - Itinerant art teacher for elementary schools
Coaching vacancies - GBHS head baseball coach, assistant cheer coach; GBMS head girls wrestling coach, head boys wrestling, assistant football (head 7th grade).
