Board Wrangles with Extra Duty Stipends, Maple Shuttle

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When the Geary school board met Aug. 12 in special session, the gathering was recorded technology students Conner Bernhardt and Tucker Hicks under the supervision of their instructor Cody McPherson.

The members present, Scott Hicks, Jason Bernhardt, Andy Smith and Cecil Harrall, quickly approved encumberances for the building fund and the general fund. An encumberance basically earmarks funds for bills the district is anticipating, but that may not be in hand yet.

Extra duty assignments were also on the agenda, and the motion was made to reduce those stipends for adjunct coaches down to $2,000 and remove the Maple Shuttle altogether. However, the board arrived at a split vote with Hicks and Smith voting ‘no’ and Harrall and Bernhardt voicing ‘yes’ votes. Without a clear majority, the motion failed. A second motion, to approve the extra duty assignments as they were and remove the Maple Shuttle was voted on in a direct opposite of the first motion, with Hicks and Smith voting ‘yes’ while Harrall and Bernhardt voted ‘no’. Again, with no clear majority, the motion failed.

Third time proved the charm, though, when the motion changed to approve extra duty for Brayden Hicks at $4,000 and adjusting Jacolby Mitchell, MS/HS wrestling assistant to $3000; Jacolby Mitchell MS/HS football assistant to $3000; Monica Martinez MS/HS softball assistant to $2000; Monica Martinez MS/HS assistant basketball to $3000; Kassidy Scott MS/HS softball to $1500 and remove the Maple Shuttle.

This proved to be a motion all members could get behind and it passed unanimously.

The deadline for filling the open board seat #3 was also discussed. That deadline was Aug. 14 and as of Aug. 12 there were three applicants, Afton Brower, Lee Posey and Lou Richey. The board may appoint an applicant to fill the unexpired terrm of Crystal Briscoe, who resigned in July.

Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com