Karen Parrett, who works with vendor accounts in the board office, told board members the district needed to shore up which employees are making purchases.

She said employees needed to go through the proper channels and have purchasing orders and requisition numbers when making purchases.

Parrett also was filling in at the meeting for board clerk Audra Boone, who was ill.

Uniform purchases raise question

Purchases of middle school boys basketball uniforms were made out of the normal purchasing cycle, according to board member Kathy Baragary.

She said about $2,000 was spent on uniforms this year, even though TMS activities director Phil Jeannin said it was not the proper time to order them.

Superintendent Richard Erickson said during the meeting he did not have documentation of the purchasing cycle.

After the meeting, he said such purchasing decisions are “based on kids’ needs.”

Members praise Rachel’s Challenge

Board members Kay Smith and Diane Truesdell said they attended Rachel’s Challenge, a program aimed at promoting kindness and compassion among youths.

Rachel’s Challenge was born from the Columbine High School shooting tragedy in 1999 when 12 students and a teacher were killed by two other students in the Colorado high school.

“It was awesome and I’m just so glad we’re doing something proactive and part of that involves training high school students and middle school students,” Smith said.

Truesdell said she thought “it really made an impact” with students.

Board applicant to be interviewed

The board will meet again at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Tonganoxie Middle School library to interview candidate Doug Tate, who applied to serve Bob DeHoff’s unexpired term.

DeHoff resigned in October after 10 years on the school board.

Jennifer Hendrix also applied for the vacant seat, but it was determined she did not live within the district.

Executive sessions on personnel

The school board met in executive session for a total of 95 minutes to discuss personnel matters to protect the privacy matters of an identifiable individual.

The first meeting went from 9:46 p.m. to 10:31 p.m., the second from 10:32 p.m. to 11:02 p.m. and the fourth from 11:04 p.m. to 11:24 p.m.

When the board came out of executive session, members unanimously approved, 6-0, to accept resignation of maintenance director Bob Koontz.

The board also unanimously approved hiring Susie Snapp as a bus driver and Delia Rubio for an English as a second language paraprofessional position.

Snapp served previously as a bus driver and was hired as transportation director to replace longtime director Shari Curry, who retired at the end of the 2006-2007 school year.

Member sits out series of votes

Board member Darlyn Hansen did not vote during a series of agenda items at Monday’s meeting.

Hansen was absent for the approval of January bills, the treasurer’s report, the activity fund report and the recreation commission report. Hansen left the table at one point and returned later in the meeting.

Erickson said Monday that he did not notice Hansen leave the meeting, but said the board was discussing business related to Micro Resources, which is Hansen’s company. It pertained to parts for a steam kettle purchased through Micro Resources, as well as staging of the kettle for the elementary school kitchen.

Hansen confirmed Tuesday that he could not vote during that time because of the conflict of interest.

Less than a year ago, the district discontinued its competitive purchasing program, which it had done through Hansen’s company, because of complaints voiced by patrons.