Monday night’s Ellsworth Kanopolis-Geneseo USD 327 Board of Education meeting ended with a few hugs.

During executive session, the board accepted the retirement of Superintendent Deena Hilbig, who will retire at the conclusion of this school year.

“Thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on me,” she told the board.

Hilbig joined the district in 2022 as superintendent.

Her retirement will come after 33 years in education.

“The time is right for me and my family,” she said.

Following a 15-minute executive session, additional hires were approved.

Rachel Turnbow, Mike Keith, Sheila Alstatt and Sierra Illk were approved as substitute teachers.

Additionally, a request for another junior high basketball coach was approved, if the number of athletes indicates a need. At an interest meeting, 32 boys attended.

Following the first executive session, the board went into an additional executive session for 10 minutes without the superintendent to discuss nonelected personnel. No action was taken.

The board also approved a proposal from the Ellsworth Volunteer Fire Department to sell calendars at the gate at sports events.

“Jeff (Landon) is proposing a fundraiser give back to USD 327,” Hilbig said. “The idea is they produce this Ellsworth Fire Department calendar starting in 2026. They took the 327 calendar of events and put it on the calendar.”

Hilbig pointed out PTO did not produce a calendar this year with district events on it.

“They would like to have permission to sell these at our gate. They will give us $5 for every calendar sold,” Hilbig said. “I think it’s important to know they are a government entity. I feel like it’s a mutually beneficial thing for us. Not only does it highlight the work they do, we have employees who are volunteer firefighters and board members.”

She pointed out the calendar, starting in July 2026, is only tentative.

“I’m probably a little biased, but I think this is a good idea,” board member Jake Svaty said. “They worked so hard to try to get everything right, they left off our own monthly meetings.”

The request was approved.

The board recognized:

• A variety of administrators and educators who assisted with water mitigation when the PAC flooded.

• Kara Quilter, who recently recognized by Rep. Tracy Mann as the Kansas Ag Leader of the Month.

• Student Council and Kendra Ploutz. Ellsworth’s Stu-Co will participate in the district showcase at the school board’s annual convention.

• The 2027 USD 327 Teacher of the Year Nominees: Elementary representative Gwen Laas and secondary representative Christina Vague. They were each presented with a certificate and flowers Sept. 19.

• Kate Steimel, second grade teacher at Ellsworth Elementary School, was the USD 327 Horizon Award nominee. The Horizon Award is a Kansas State Department of Education program that honors exemplary firstyear teachers.

• The district earned three Kansas Can STAR recognitions this year: Individual Plans of Study, Civic Engagement and Post-Secondary Success.

In other business:

• The board accepted a variety of gifts and donations, including: $500 from Ellsworth Kiwanis Club to support the EES Book Club; $1,000 from an anonymous donor for the Bearcat Assist Fund; $83,752 from the Patterson Family Foundation to assist with CTE, with an emphasis on STEM education; $900 for an iPad from Post Rock Jaycees to EJSHS as a prize for a BINGO reading incentive; $550 for the music department as a memorial for Robert M. Bennett; $1,280 from anonymous donors for EJSHS volleyball to purchase Pink Out jerseys for girls for games; 170 Chromebooks from the ADOPT grant through K-State Rural Education Center valued at about $55,500.

• Hilbig presented 13 policies to the board for review.

“Many are as a result of changes in the law that became effective July 1,” she said. “We updated the policies to reflect the current law.”

• Hilbig said the district received its certification for KESA 2.0.

• The board reviewed data and assessment scores for math and reading.

• The board approved disposal of property.

Hilbig said once the stage at EJSHS flooded, items were moved.

“Mr. Cannon found himself in the library trying to make some space,” she said.

Hilbig told the board several magazine collections were found in the library: American Heritage (1956-95); National Geographic (1923-95); Contemporary Authors (vol. 1-122, 1968-90); Reader’s Digest (1945-90).

The board approved disposal of the magazines, along with any other items of a similar nature that are no longer utilized by students.

“If students were to use this, it would be available online,” Hilbig said.

• Hilbig updated the board about progress at the PAC.

She said neoprene door stop seals were added at the points where water entered.

“There’s a button on it, a neoprene seal drops down, it will help mitigate water from coming in,” she said. “It was about $100 each. In the long run, not much money to stop the amount of water coming in.”

She said the insurance company began a pilot project and sent water sensors. If water it present, it will notify several staff and administrators.

Board member David Hand asked if the drains were checked.

“We have not done that yet,” Hilbig said.

Svaty said he examined portions of the drainage system.

“The drains are six-inch drains dumping into 24-inch culverts and sixinch getaway pipes. It’s only going to handle what it’s going to handle,” he said.

Hilbig said one recommendation is to build a canopy to help direct water away from the building into the driveway.

She also said the stage curtains were professionally cleaned.

“I think they are going to be fine,” Hilbig said. “If the (company) deems them not to be fine, they will take them down and take them to Kansas City. I think they’re going to be in good shape. I think they need to be smoothed out a couple of more times.”

She said carpet is ordered, and students will be able to attend a speaker in the PAC this week.

“Drywall needs to be replaced, but at least we can be in the room,” she said.

The next board meeting will begin with a tour of Kanopolis Middle School at 6 p.m. Nov. 10. A regular meeting will follow at 7 p.m. in the district office.