There were major purchases on the agenda when the Great Bend USD 428 Board of Education met on Monday, Nov. 10. These included $1,202,113 for HVAC replacement on part of Great Bend High School and its Auditorium, and $106,369.70 for electronic devices. The board also approved paying an architect $35,000 to write the specifications for upcoming roof replacements.
Assistant Superintendent John Popp and Maintenance Director Dirk Davis explained the building projects. The Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning units to be replaced are 25 years old, dating to the 1999 bond issue. The contract is with vendor Innovative Groups, based in Wichita, via the Purchasing Cooperative of America (PCA), of which USD 428 is a member. The work will be done over the summer of 2026.
Innovative Groups will also provide its services to create the bid specifications for roofs at the GBHS gymnasium, the Panther Athletic Center (PAC) and Park Elementary School. The fees include $27,500 to create construction documents and $7,500 for construction administration. Once the specifications are released, local companies will be able to bid, possibly starting on Jan. 9, 2026.
The computer purchases were part of USD 428’s five-year rotation. This year’s purchase was for 80 laptops for teachers at Eisenhower and Riley, 50 teacher Chromebooks, and 40 desktop computers for the GBHS Computer Lab.
Other building projects scheduled are new security cameras at Riley and Park schools, to be installed this summer, and fire panel replacements around boilers at GBHS, Park and Riley. Panels were last updated after the 1999 bond issue.
Web design
This month’s report from a department director came from Andrea Bauer, director of public relations. She reported that Payton Dykes joined the district in May as the USD 428 webmaster. The district will develop a new website that is easier to navigate and will meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements ahead of the 2027 federal mandate.
Five companies have been identified that will submit proposals after the district releases RFQ (Request for Quotes) with web design specifications.
Personnel
The board met in executive session for 20 minutes to discuss the performance of an employee. At the conclusion of that closed-door meeting, the board approved the personnel report, which included the resignation of Avery Gates, fourth-grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary School, effective Dec. 19; and the “licensed resignation and separation of agreement” with Tyler Rydman, teacher of computer technology at Great Bend Middle School.
Golf simulators and more
Grants and donations are approved by the school board. This week, the board approved $15,000 contributed by various donors through the USD 428 Education Foundation toward the purchase of two golf simulators for the GBHS golf teams.
The board also approved $320.08 donated to the GBHS wrestling team from Identifications Co. This was a reward incentive contribution.
In other business, the board approved the budget for federal Title VI B and VI B Early Childhood funds passed through to the district. These cover salaries for licensed special education staff. The 2025-2026 application totals $1,125,038 for Title VI B pass-through funds ($5,018 more than last year) and $43,104 for Early Childhood funds for ages 3-5 ($2,270 more than last year). The budget application was available for public review at the Barton County Cooperative of Special Education for 30 days.
There was also an executive session for the superintendent’s annual evaluation.
Ed Foundation hosts Chamber Coffee
BY ANDREW MURPHY
amurphy@gbtribune.com
The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce’s weekly coffee hour was hosted at the USD 428 Education Foundation located at 1809 24th St. on Nov. 6 and presented by Education Foundation President Kelsey Sciaacca.
“The Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting innovative educational ideas and programs that enhance learning, achievement, and social-emotional growth,” Sciaaca said. “Each year, the foundation provides numerous grants to teachers and funds various opportunities that benefit students and the broader school community.”
Community involvement plays a vital role in making these efforts possible, she explained, and added that the foundation’s primary fundraising event the Red & Black Ball, an annual dinner and auction, is coming up on Nov. 13. Guests can enjoy local food, along with entertainment by the El Sol Dancers from Great Bend High School. The evening will also feature both silent and live auctions, showcasing student projects, athletic packages, community-donated items, as well as autographed GBHS football helmets which Sciaaca expects to be popular this year, and more.
Ticket sales closed on Tuesday.
In addition to attending the auction, community members can support the Foundation year-round through memorial gifts and charitable contributions.
