In addition to making decisions on district credit card limits, a report located elsewhere in this issue, the Unified School District 362 board of education acted on personnel items at its Oct. 10 monthly meeting.
Following two executive sessions totaling 12 minutes for non-elected personnel, the board hired Jamie Hambsch and Whitney Minchew as cooks, Kim Halaquist as a La Cygne Elementary aide, and Shannon Day, Shanna Richards, Darlene Stewart and Stephanie Yates as substitute teachers.
The board approved the transfer of Shayla Meyer from teaching aide to health clerk and accepted the resignations of Meriah Mitzner as La Cygne Elementary health clerk and Will Shannon as assistant high school baseball coach.
In another 6-0 action, with Brad Stainbrook not present, the board approved district strategic supports, a part of the district’s accreditation process, as recommended by Rex Bollinger, Ed.D., district superintendent.
Bollinger said highlights of the report fall under ‘student achievement’ to research and institute programs to combat bullying and to address the social emotional health of students and staff and under ‘facilities and technology’ to research costs to replace the track and update the softball and baseball fields with turf. (The full strategic supports document to the board can be found under agenda item 7.1 of the Oct. 10 electronic board agenda at http://www.pv362.org.)
Bollinger also hopes to have additional periodic community meetings with district patrons, saying he will want to “take them away from the district office” and to the various towns instead to lessen any intimidation factor.
He explained that the current strategic supports document is a result of meetings “months back” with community groups, all licensed staff and administrative team, some classified staff, and students down to the fourth-grade level.
In information items broached by the board, Andrea Richardson, Prairie View Middle School principal, answered Brad Heide, board member, during principals’ reports that a Sept. 30 suicide prevention presentation, first presented to the high school and then to her students and staff, was funded by Grady’s Kids Inc., a local philanthropic organization.
During the student services report, Heide said that the Buffalo Attendance Matters incentive program “seems to be going well. I’ve heard some good things.”
Responded Beth Sandness, student services director, “It’s been fun to do.”
Under the board’s executive session agenda item, no action resulted from two closed-door meetings totaling 10 minutes for student confidentiality.
MEETINGS
LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 23, 2023

The Linn County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, Oct. 23, and began their weekly meeting with the approval of the minutes of the last meeting followed by the approval of claims in the amount of $272,818.97. Linn County Rural Fire Chief Randy Hegwald presented... [More]
LA CYGNE CITY COUNCIL - Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Among actions at the regular La Cygne council meeting last Wednesday, Oct. 18, was a split vote in which the city accepts a draft agreement for title search and warranty deed preparation of seven lots at 402 S. Broadway in exchange for absorbing a $16,400 house demolition bill.... [More]
LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 23, 2023

The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 23, 2023, with Mayor Cindy Smith presiding and all council members present. Following approval of the October 9th and October 14th meeting minutes, Mayor Smith opened the floor... [More]
More Meetings
- USD 362 SCHOOL BOARD - Tuesday, October 17, 2023
- LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 2, 2023
- PLEASANTON CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 2, 2023
- BLUE MOUND CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 2, 2023
- LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, August 28, 2023
- LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, August 28, 2023
- USD 344 SCHOOL BOARD - Monday, August 14, 2023
- USD 346 SCHOOL BOARD - Monday, August 14, 2023
NEWS
NOTICE:

The Linn County News and Linn County Printing offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in honor of the holiday.
Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant

The city of Pleasanton was notified June 24 that they were the recipients of a much-needed street grant in the amount of $617,000. City Administrator Becky Hegwald said, “I was surprised when we got it; you normally have to apply several times. I didn’t have a lot... [More]
Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals

Linn County Planning and Zoning Director Ben Souza deferred to Interim Public Works Administrator Jesse Walton during the June 30 meeting of the Linn County Commissioners in regards to a request from Jan Longenecker for an appeal on a building permit. During the meeting, Walton... [More]
More News
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
- Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners
- Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy
- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
- Parker mayor seeks affidavits to file charges
- USD 346 board learns of overpayments
SPORTS
Gratton at Nationals

Pleasanton’s Ashton Gratton qualifies for the Adidas Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina after winning the 100 and 200 meter dashes in the KSHSAA 2A State tournament in Wichita on May 31. The Adidas Nationals took place from June 20-22 and Gratton did well in both the... [More]
Summer Ball Tournaments

The Parker 8-11 baseball team 1 places first in their league tournament at La Cygne on June 28. See more photos on page B1 of this week's edition.
More Sports
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record