Tonya Phillips, who was serving as grants coordinator in the De Soto School District, was named to the new position of state and federal programs coordinator in Tonganoxie at Monday’s school board meeting.

The board unanimously approved the hire, which is a new position in the district.

Assistant superintendent Kyle Hayden said after Monday’s meeting that Phillips’ position will come with a $58,000 salary and she will start in mid-July. It will be an 11-month contract. Although it is a new position, Hayden said the district would still be spending less on administrative salaries in the central office for 2009-10 with Hayden moving to the superintendent position and superintendent Richard Erickson taking on the job of special projects manager, which is a part-time position.

Phillips had worked for the De Soto School district since 2006.

From 2001-06, she worked as grant director/administrator for the Royal Valley School District. Phillips also was a teacher, serving as a first-grade instructor during the 2000-01 school year in Royal Valley schools.

From 1997-2000, she was a third-grade teacher in the Auburn-Washburn School District.

Her husband, Shawn, is a Tonganoxie High School teacher and the boys basketball coach at THS.

Wireless network available

A new wireless network is available in the Tonganoxie School District. Technology director David Milhon said Monday the “tongie_public” network is up and running. It allows Internet users who are on district campuses to access the Internet without being on the school district’s secured site.

Outgoing members honored for service

Assistant superintendent Kyle Hayden presented plaques to outgoing board members Darlyn Hansen and Doug Tate. Hansen has served on the board the past eight years, while Tate has been on the board for two years. Hansen did not run for re-election in November. Tate was defeated in the November election by Kris Grinter, who with Dan Hopkins will join the school board next month.

Hirings, resignations approved

The board met in executive session for a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes, with assistant superintendent Kyle Hayden joining the board for the duration. Teacher Diane Titterington met with the board for 10 minutes.

When the regular meeting resumed, the board accepted the resignation of Tonganoxie Elementary School teacher Debbie Williams and accepted supplemental contracts as corrected.

The board also hired Jocelyn Lucas as a TES teacher and Tonya Phillips as state and federal programs coordinator. All were by unanimous vote.

Special meeting June 29 will be at new location

The school board scheduled a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 29 to finalize the 2008-09 budget year. The meeting will be held in the Tonganoxie High School west campus library. Hayden said the room provides a better layout and is in closer proximity to the board office than the middle school library, where meetings have been held.

Leslie clarifies being absent from votes

Board member Leana Leslie clarified being absent from a series of votes during the May 13 board meeting. She said she had to take a key phone call and that she was in support of the decision that was made while she was out of the meeting. The votes were taken for student fee increases for 2009-10 and a pay-to-ride transportation policy. The motions were unanimously approved.