Superintendent Loren Feldkamp discussed the potential for implementing late starts (which usually are a delay of two hours) in some cases during Monday’s regular meeting at the USD 464 Administrative Center.

The two-hour delay was part of a report on updated inclement weather procedures. One inclement weather procedure was to assign a radio to communications coordinator Becky Nasalroad so that she can communicate with all buses and buildings.

District officials also are being assigned three different regions. On mornings when making a inclement weather decision isn’t abundantly clear, officials will drive roads in their region and report to transportation director Jill Kietzmann, who then will report to Feldkamp. Other updates involve communication of inclement weather procedures on the district’s web page and then explanation of those procedures to parents that explains the addition of the two-hour delay option.

“It’s wise to have a two-hour backup plan in our tool box,” Feldkamp explained.

The challenge he’s faced when calling for a two-hour delay instead of a full day closure of school is the logistics for parents navigating drop-off at schools when they’ve already started their work days.

“The two-hour delay is a big disruption for families,” Feldkamp noted.

After-school activities will be determined on a case-by-case basis on days when a two-hour delay is implemented.

There also was discussion of remote learning on snow days or when the district’s allotted snow days for the year have been exhausted, but Assistant Superintendent Tonya Phillips noted that the state department of education had made virtual learning an option during the pandemic and wasn’t intended to count as a school day in the event of inclement weather closures.

Personnel approved

Tonganoxie school board members also approved personnel recommendations at its regular meeting Monday.

Contract/work agreements were approved for Christopher Young, Tonganoxie High School custodian; Donna Schultz and Grace Bauer, Tonganoxie Elementary School special education paraprofessionals; Easy Meuschke, TES early childhood para; and Amy Troyer, TES Title 1 math teacher.

Resignations were approved for Reagan Proctor, TES pre-K teacher; Shawn Fowler, Tonganoxie Middle School basketball coach; Kristi Maurer, THS special education teacher; Bailey Bradley, THS head dance coach; Barry Lenth, THS head volleyball coach; Kaelyn Theiroff, assistant volleyball coach; and Brandi Ulmer, TES kindergarten teacher.

Transfers were approved for Sondra Sparks, TES kindergarten teacher to Title I math teacher; Derrick Wright, TES to THS custodian; Nick Makin, TES to THS custodian; and Alex Fox, TES to TMS.

Retirements also were approved for Geralynn Kerbaugh, TES library aide; and Jan Crady, TMS special education teacher.