Classified employees, directors and administrators at Great Bend USD 428 will receive a 4% pay raise for the 2025-26 year, Superintendent Khris Thexton said. The raises were approved at Monday's Board of Education meeting.

Salaries for licensed staff such as teachers were approved in May. The base pay for a starting teacher is unchanged at $46,000. Adjustments were made to the overall salary schedule and an overall 4% increase is built into that.

“In partnership with GB-NEA (Great Bend - National Education Association), we spent eight months negotiating a new salary schedule,” Thexton said. The new schedule will be bigger raises for more experienced employees.

Personnel changes

The board approved the following resignations of licensed staff:

• Lindsay Mazouch, technology specialist at Lincoln Elementary School

• Jarrod Tate Thompson, English teacher at Great Bend High School 

• Andy Gwennap, Special Education teacher for Barton County Special Services

• Jody Beckham, math teacher at GBHS

• Courtnea Wilson, science at GBHS

There was one administrative resignation, Kip Wilson, assistant principal at GBHS

Nine licensed staff appointments were approved:

• Johnelle Moshier, grade 6 teacher at Eisenhower Elementary School

• Kerrigan Travens, grade 5 teacher at Lincoln Elementary

• Traci Lang, ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher at Riley Elementary School

• Amy Fast, Little Panthers Preschool teacher

• Ashlee Bevan, grade 2 teacher at Eisenhower Elementary

• Lauren Jordan, grade 5 teacher at Eisenhower Elementary

• Miranda Zink, Special Education teacher at Great Bend Middle School

• Tyler Faber, Student and Family Advocate at Riley Elementary

• Shauna Hundley, grade 7 Social Studies teacher at GBMS

Grants approved

The USD 428 Education Foundation contributed flow-through funds for the Perfect Attendance Bicycle Program in the amount of $1,414, awarding 25 bicycles to students with perfect attendance. These came from local contributors who were listed in the Great Bend Tribune at the end of the school year. These and other contributions to the district were approved by the board: (contributor list included with 3.0 photos)

• The GBHS Activities Department received a  $3,739 contribution from the GBHS Panther Booster Club for alternate uniforms for the volleyball team. 

• The GBHS forensics class received $2,500 from Michael Goss. 

• Park Elementary received $350 for student yearbooks and $2,450 for a picnic table.

• Casey’s Incentive Rewards have been received: $122.80 for Riley, $34 for Jefferson, $19.40 for Eisenhower, $2 for GBMS, 

Meeting at a glance

Here’s a quick look at Monday’s Great Bend USD 428 Board of Education meeting:

• The board presented R.O.S.E. awards to Kelsey Strickland, Abigail Jonas and Cyleigh Unruh. It also expressed appreciation to Karen Shaner, Jane Isern, and the local donors who provided 25 bikes this year for the Perfect Attendance Bike Giveaway program.

• District property insurance was approved for $445,001. Assistant Superintendent John Popp said the insurance renewal quote reflected a 7% decrease ($33,846) from the previous year. However, the district will spend an additional $9,146 for increased cybersecurity coverage.

• The board also renewed student accident insurance. This is not required but is an option USD 428 has chosen for many years. This year’s cost is $25,510, not quite $200 more than last year. It protects 2,885 students in grades PK-12 with no deductible and a maximum benefit per claim of $25,000.

• Risk Management Workers Compensation insurance was renewed for $137,159. Last year’s premium was $105,872.

• There was a “first reading” of 12 recommended policy revisions and new policies. The board can approve these at the July meeting.

• A resolution adopting the 2025 Region E Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved.

• The board heard a curriculum report, business and operations report, and superintendent’s report.

• The board met in executive session for 20 minutes to discuss the latest proposal for increasing the base pay rate.

• A consent agenda was approved that included fees and meal prices for 2025-2026; a mileage reimbursement rate of 54 cents per mile for parents transporting their students to school if they live 2.5 miles or more from their assigned school; bills and financial reports, personnel changes, classified pay adjustment, director contracts and administrative contracts.

• A special meeting was set for 7:30 a.m. on June 26 to wrap up business for the fiscal year, which ends June 30.