New Board Member Kaija Baldock voiced concern about some wording on murals that were misspelled. The murals pay homage to various symbols of Kansas, such as the state flower and state animal.

Superintendent Lyn Rantz and Tonganoxie Elementary School principal Ty Poel said at Thursday’s board meeting they would look into the situation to see whether the inaccuracies could be rectified before the open house.

“I don’t think it’s acceptable to not have that fixed before the open house,” Baldock said. “I think that should be covered up somehow. I think that’s embarrassing.”

The open house will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 25 at the new school southeast of Tonganoxie Elementary School.

The building will be open for the public to tour, with a dedication taking place at 10 a.m. There will be a scavenger hunt tour, maps for self-guided tours and refreshments.

A Tonganoxie movie night will take place that evening. The movie, which the Tonganoxie Recreation Commission and American Legion Post 41 are sponsoring, is the original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Proceeds from the American Legion concessions will go toward the post’s scholarship program and veteran programs.

Rantz joked that the scavenger hunt could include finding the errors in the murals.

Board officers selected

Thursday’s meeting marked the first for the new school board. New members Baldock, Amelia Brusven, Bryan Kemp and Michelle McGhee joined Kris Grinter, Dan Hopkins and Kay Smith on the board.

The new board elected its new president and vice president, which came with a split vote for president.

Dan Hopkins was voted to the top post by a 4-3 vote. Grinter, McGhee and Smith voted with him, while Kemp, Baldock and Brusven voted for Kemp.

Kris Grinter was named vice president for the 2015-16 school year by a unanimous vote.

Meetings more interactive

Hopkins told patrons attending the meeting that the board was working to offer more opportunities for interaction with the public.

The board fielded questions and comments from the audience throughout the meeting, something it normally hasn’t allowed in the past. Hopkins also said he’d like to have meetings recorded on video and posted on the district’s website. He said that perhaps students could operate the camera and post as part of work in a class.

Summer lunch program thriving

Nutrition coordinator Barb Smith said the school’s summer lunch program has been a success.

She said the program has served just more than 1,200 meals this summer, including many adults.

“We’re excited about having the adults that eat with the children,” Smith said.

Students can eat for free on weekdays through the program, which a federal grant is funding. Adults pay to eat.