About 90 employees of the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo School District could be headed toward a $1,500 incentive as part of an employee retention plan board members authorized Monday night at their monthly meeting.

Officials gave a green light to Superintendent Deena Hilbig to complete an application to the Kansas Department of Education for approval of the plan, which would be supported by federal COVID money. Federal officials must also approve the proposal; however, if the state agrees, success is expected to be almost certain.

Hilbig, who briefed board members on the plan, said it would cover two school years — 2022-23 and 2023-24 — at a yearly total cost of about $146,000.

All employees would be eligible for the incentive with the exception of temporary, seasonal and on-call staff.

Plan details are still to be determined; however, Hilbig offered an example of how the additional dollars would be awarded, based upon the employee being active at the times of distribution in possibly August, January and at the end of the school year.

The vote on the application submission was unanimous. Also Monday, board members approved the 2023 budget following a hearing before the regular meeting. Two patrons spoke. Attorney and rancher John Donley questioned the budget process and encouraged the board to review its actions. Retired government teacher Jerry Marsh said Donley raised a valid point and endorsed the notion of administrators and board members meeting with patrons for public discussions.

“I think that would be a great idea,” Marsh said.

Board members set the 2023-24 budget at 30.563 mills, compared to 27.714 in 2022-23.

A mill equals $1 per $1,000 in assessed valuation. The district’s assessed valuation increased, but legislation approved this past session in Topeka dropped the first $40,000 in valuation off residential properties. That turned a positive into a negative for the district, which saw its general fund valuation drop about $6 million because of the exemption, according to figures presented by Hilbig. Prior legislation set the exemption at $20,000.

The increase in taxes from this year to next on a house valued at $150,000 would be $18, said Dina Rankin, the district’s business director.

The board also set the district’s local option budget at 31 mills, the same as this year. The LOB is the amount the state allows local districts to levy beyond the money they receive from the state.

In other action:

• Four patrons complained about the transportation arrangements between schools at Kanopolis and Ellsworth. Fourth graders this year were moved from the elementary school at Ellsworth to the middle school in Kanopolis.

Hilbig said parents who want their students dropped off at the high school in Ellsworth after classes had until Wednesday to give their permission because the district has no supervision there. Notice is needed so the district has enough space on the bus.

Board members Brian Rush and Jake Svaty both voiced their opinions that everyone be treated the same.

• The board approved out-of-state travel to the national convention in Indianapolis for seven FFA students. Four of the students are members of the ag communications team, which is competing for national honors. The Ellsworth chapter also is a 3 Star candidate, which means the organization would be in the top 1 percent of the chapters in the nation if successful. The trip is Oct. 24-30.

• The board authorized Hilbig, at her request, to seek proposals for four heating and air conditioning units at Kanopolis Middle School and a sound system for the gymnasium at Ellsworth Junior/Senior High School. A grant is a possibility for the sound system.

• The board recognized and accepted donations from First Bank Kansas, Citizens State Bank & Trust, Cashco, Long & Associates, T.J. Kratzer and family, Vibin’ Nutrition and Munchkinz for drinks and snacks; the Kanopolis Methodist Church women for a $300 donation to KMS, McGowan Family for two microwaves at KMS, Central Kansas Library for a $500 grant, CATS Pride for $545 to purchase cheerleader mats and the Ellsworth American Legion for a supply drive.

• Board members went into executive session with attorney John Sherman to discuss teacher negotiations.

• Action taken after another executive session to discuss personnel — the board accepted the resignations of Shawn Davis, groundskeeper and Jayme Sloan, assistant cheer sponsor. New hires are: Matthew Lloyd, library/technology aide at EJSHS; Joann Sheridan, bus driver; John Bryant, crossing guard at EES; Amy Turley, night custodian at EJSHS; Brittany Kasper, EJSHS assistant cheer sponsor; Delane Janssen, substitute teacher; and Christy Romero, EES office assistant.