Chase County school board reorganizes, approves expenditures and contracts

The Chase County Board of Education reorganized for the new year, approved more than $800,000 in expenditures, and took action on legal, banking and policy matters during its regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the district office in Imperial.
Board president Steve Wallin called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. Board members Cindy Arterburn and Josh Fries were absent.
During annual reorganization, the board voted to retain its current officers for the 2026–27 school year. Wallin was re-elected president, Willy O’Neil vice president, Carrie Terryberry secretary and Dan Reeves treasurer. Each officer abstained from voting on their own position due to a conflict of interest. Committee assignments will be determined at a later date.
The board approved the consent agenda, including the minutes of the previous meeting and the financial report. Total general fund expenditures for January were approved in the amount of $809,798.25, which included $121,000.12 in general expenses and $688,798.13 in payroll. In addition, the board approved $166,575.60 in depreciation fund expenditures related to the auditorium project and $38,025.11 in lunch fund expenditures.
Among action items, the board voted to designate KSB School Law as the district’s legal counsel for 2026. Members also approved Adams Bank, Pinnacle Bank and Waypoint Bank as the primary custodians of district funds for the year.
The board designated the Imperial Republican as the district’s official newspaper, with the McCook Gazette named as an emergency backup publication.
In policy action, the board approved the district’s 6000 policy set from KSB School Law, tabling policy 6034, and approved policy 5032. Policy 5055 was discussed but no action was taken.
The board also approved several contracts and purchases, including the annual Trane winter inspection contract in the amount of $4,955 and the purchase of new choir risers from the Wenger Corporation at a cost of $15,893.97.
During reports, representatives from the Chase County Schools FCCLA chapter addressed the board, sharing information about the organization’s programs and accomplishments throughout the year. Additional reports from the activity director, principals, superintendent, board committees and food service were received and placed on file.
The board entered executive session at 7:02 p.m. to discuss negotiations for the 2026–27 school year and later reconvened in executive session to discuss the superintendent’s contract and evaluation. Following executive session, the board approved the superintendent’s 2027–28 contract in the amount of $189,000.
Wallin adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m.