Board of Education
The Eudora Schools Board of Education is a group of seven elected members who volunteer their service without compensation.
The school board meets regularly at 6:30 pm on the second Thursday of each month, with special meetings as needed. The board is responsible for the overall operation of the district, including the establishment of policies, fiscal responsibility, accountability for student and staff programs, and ensuring a safe and effective learning environment for all students and staff.
All active board policies are available for public viewing online. There is a navigation bar along the left side of the screen, where you can see the policies organized by topic. If you're looking for something specific, consider using the search bar at the top.
- Requesting to speak at The Board of Education meetings
- Board of Education Values and Focus Areas
- Contact the Board
- Board Member Terms
- Board Briefs
Requesting to speak at The Board of Education meetings
In order to speak at Board of Education meetings, you must fill out the digital form or return a physical copy to the District Office (1310 Winchester, Rd. Eudora, KS 66025). The formal and complete request form must be submitted to the board clerk (Amanda Brunkow) or superintendent of schools at least seven days before the meeting at which you wish to speak.
Your request will be reviewed and one of three recommendations will be made:
- Appearance before the board at the next regular meeting.
- Appearance before the board in executive session.
- Referral of your request to the appropriate administrator.
Permission to appear before the board at a regular meeting is subject to the following:
- Presentations shall not exceed 5 minutes.
- Subject matter, other than policy issues, will be referred to district administrators.
- Comments shall be limited to issues and not refer to personalities.
- Presentations must be in good taste befitting the occasion and the dignity of the school board meeting.
- Typed copy or an outline of your presentation must be included with this request form.
Note: The Board of Education policy BCBI does not apply to special board meetings unless the special meeting is a public hearing.
Board of Education Values and Focus Areas
Contact the Board
- If you would like to email the entire school board, please send an email to usd491boe@eudoraschools.org
- Mark Chrislip (Board President): markchrislip@eudoraschools.org
- Claire Harding: claireharding@eudoraschools.org
- Joe Hurla: joehurla@eudoraschools.org
- Eric Votaw: ericvotaw@eudoraschools.org
- Heather Whalen: heatherwhalen@eudoraschools.org
- Kelley Woods: kelleywoods@eudoraschools.org
- Zach Brooks: zachbrooks@eudoraschools.org
Board Member Terms
Board Briefs
Board Briefs are informal reports from the regular meetings of the Eudora Board of Education and are intended as a communication service for district staff and patrons. They are not the official minutes, nor are they a complete record of board business.
To search or view official minutes and agendas, go to the Eudora Board of Education resource site, provided through BoardDocs.
Board Briefs
Albania Andrade
The following are highlights of the discussion and action from the regular board meeting on March 12, 2025. For a more detailed account of the meeting, please access the meeting agenda in BoardDocs.
To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel.
Consent Items
All items on the consent agenda were approved without discussion.
District Spotlight
- EHS State Qualifying Teams
- Band- Directed by Damian Johnson
- Four students qualified for the KMEA All-State Band: Lizzie Fisher, Andrew Lord, Eugene White, and Paityn Dice
- George Hagan participated in the All-State Jazz Ensemble.
- Wrestling- Coached by Miles Cleveland
- State qualifiers: Bryce Vandonge, Gabe Campbell, Newt Schreiner, Abby Fager, Ryan Bretthauer, Maddy Arnold
- Scholars Bowl - Coached by Jim Barnard
- State Champions: Nate Van Foeken, Henry Elmer, Colton Jenkins, Addy Barnard, Eugene White, and Ethan Feuerborn
- Band- Directed by Damian Johnson
Communications and Administrative Reports
- Eudora Middle School
- Presented by EMS Principal Jeremy Thomas & Assistant Principal/Activities Director Ty Pattison
- Our Promise Pillars:
- MTSS Structures in Math – Focus on student support
- Building a Sense of Belonging – Core value at EMS
- Participation percentages:
- 6th Grade: 95.8%
- 7th Grade: 96.2%
- 8th Grade: 98.4%
- Instructional Excellence: 276 classroom walkthroughs conducted.
- Future Preparedness:
- Individual Plans of Study (IPS) continue to progress
- Student Career Fair scheduled for April
- Our Promise Pillars:
- Presented by EMS Principal Jeremy Thomas & Assistant Principal/Activities Director Ty Pattison
- Superintendent Report
Board Reports
- Eudora Schools Foundation Report
- Expressed gratitude to the community.
- Final Give Day total will be announced after spring break (March 27).
- Special Education Interlocal Board Meeting Report
- Top two developmental needs identified by school psychologists.
- Self-evaluation survey completed by the board.
- Reviewed school psychologist job descriptions.
- Developed a social work guide to assist student support services.
- Budget review: 53% of income received and 57% of expenses allocated.
- One paraprofessional opening at ELC and EES.
- Staffing Proposal to be reviewed next month.
- City of Eudora Commission Report
- Exploring RHID options.
- Hearing date set for May 12 – Implications still being determined.
- Curriculum Coordinating Council Report
- Amplify ELA Coaching & Strengthening Day recently held at EMS.
- New Science Curriculum being developed – Approval expected later this month.
- Ongoing training sessions to support curriculum implementation.
- State assessments will begin after spring break. Tests have been enhanced and are moving through a standard setting process that will require state board of education approval
New Business
- 2024-2025 Calendar Modification
- Adjustments due to weather-related schedule changes.
Albania Andrade
The following are highlights of the discussion and action from the regular board meeting on February 13, 2025. For a more detailed account of the meeting, please access the meeting agenda in BoardDocs.
To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel.
Consent Items
All items on the consent agenda were approved without discussion.
District Spotlight
- JAG-K
- Dana Chance, the career specialist for the JAG-K program at EHS, is in her third year with the district, overseeing a group that has grown to 30 students. She has witnessed significant personal growth and skill development, especially among the seniors who joined as sophomores. The program fosters valuable connections and provides great opportunities for students. Nevaeha Solwa-Gonce, a three-year participant, shared how JAG-K has introduced her to many people and opened doors to new experiences, making it an incredible program to be part of.
Communications and Administrative Reports
- ITS
- Ron presented the annual Technology Department board report, providing an overview of key statistics (see attached PDF). He discussed updates completed at various schools as part of the bond project, which are also detailed in the linked presentation. Looking ahead, he outlined the remaining bond projects scheduled for summer and fall 2025.
- Presentation PDF
- Food and Nutrition Services
- Nicole Parks, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, spoke about the success of the free breakfast program across the district, noting that Eudora Elementary School's participation numbers are strong. She highlighted that the number of breakfasts served is nearly equal to the number of lunches, which is a great achievement. She also shared highlights such as the senior Thanksgiving dinner, which received positive feedback from the community. Additionally, Eudora Schools received the LiveWell Douglas County Award this year in recognition of the free breakfast program.
Superintendent Report
- RHID Discussion: Zack Daniel provided an overview of the project development proposal, including planned housing locations and road infrastructure. There will be a public hearing on February 24, at Eudora City Hall, regarding the establishment of the RHID (Reinvestment Housing Incentive District) and the adoption of the development plan for the district. Additional information can be found in the attached documents.
- Facility Tours: Mar 27, 2025
- EPIC survey discussion: The Eudora Inform report review conducted every two years, provides valuable insights into staff perspectives. While the current report is two years old, Eudora Schools will participate again this year. The survey, which takes about 30 minutes for teachers to complete, helps gather detailed information from educators across the state and identifies benchmark groups. It serves as a useful tool alongside engagement surveys, offering a broader view of employee experiences, particularly for teaching and classified staff. Key driving factors can be found in the attached PowerPoint.
- Possible ELC playground expansion
- USD 491 Bond Construction Update Presentation
Board Reports
- Eudora Schools Foundation Report
- The 3rd Annual Give Day will take place on March 4.
- Invitation to Eudora citizens that on March 4, at 12:30 p.m., there will be a Heart with Cards event at the district office. It’ll be a fun filled day to celebrate Give Day 2025.
- Special Education Interlocal Board Meeting Report
- Zach Brooks shared that updates to the strategic plan are ongoing. SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) meetings have begun, with the first held on January 29, attended by 15 parents and staff members, with hopes for increased participation next month. Work continues on the interlocal agreement and its verbiage, and the board is working on a self-reflection survey. There are also plans to create a parent form to provide education on IEPs. Additionally, Claire Harding was recently elected as the new board president.
- City of Eudora Commission Report
- A session was held to discuss the possibility of allowing ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts on Eudora’s streets. The city commission expressed mixed opinions on the proposal.
- Curriculum Coordinating Council Report
- The team met on January 22 and shared excitement about the Quaver music program, adopted in late fall, which is going well at EES for grades K-5. Professional development efforts are ongoing to support its implementation. Additionally, work continues on the Read and Write resource, focusing on increasing teacher familiarity and student engagement. The next curriculum under review is science, with toolkits provided by the state. A district-wide professional development day is scheduled for February 14.
Albania Andrade
The following are highlights of the discussion and action from the regular board meeting on January 9, 2025. For a more detailed account of the meeting, please access the meeting agenda in BoardDocs.
To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel.
Consent Items
All items on the consent agenda were approved without discussion.
Communications and Administrative Reports
- Auditor Report
- Mr. Gordon, CPA, discussed the fiscal 2024 audit report of the district.
- Admin reports - ECKCE
- Director, Lee Hanson, provided context about the budget, enrollment, staffing, revenues and projections, and closed by saying that it would be helpful to have a monthly review of expenditures, revenues, and any irregularities. There’s ongoing work on identification of savings, while maintaining MOE compliance.
- Presentation PDF
- Strategic Plan - Quarterly update
- Director of School Improvement, Heather Hundley, provided the update on Eudora’s Strategic Plan.
- PDF's of the information presented:
- Director of School Improvement, Heather Hundley, provided the update on Eudora’s Strategic Plan.
Superintendent’s Report
- USD #491 Cell Phone Policy Discussion
- Mr. Moeckel mentioned the blue ribbon task force report that the state board accepted. He stated that Eudora Schools will continue to discuss this topic and get input from families, staff, and students to make sure the best decision is made.
- Blue Ribbon Task Force on Student Screen Time Report PDF
- Engagement Survey Action Plan
- There was a copy of the action plan presented where it showcased the survey feedback that had been provided and now includes "efforts" of how building administrators can make sure that such key items are resolved.
- USD 491 Bond Construction update
Board Reports
- Eudora Schools Foundation Report
- Dream Big Conference 2025- over 350 participants including staff members, district substitutes, and community volunteers
- Highlights include poverty simulation and Machaela Beshears presentation.
- Upcoming event: the 24 hour community "Give Day" which is Tuesday, March 4, 2025 and the goal is to raise $65,000
- City of Eudora Commission Report
- Planning commission approved a preliminary plat that will go to the city commission for the area west of the high school
New Business
- Eudora Schools Foundation Proposal
- Adoption of the ESF investment proposal and updating the MOU between the district and the schools foundation was approved.
- KASB December 2024 Board Policy Update Recommendations were approved.
- 2025-2026 Draft Calendar
- Calendar was approved in draft form pending negotiations.
Albania Andrade
The following are highlights of the discussion and action from the regular board meeting on December 12, 2024. For a more detailed account of the meeting, please access the meeting agenda in BoardDocs.
To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel.
Consent Items
All items on the consent agenda were approved without discussion.
USD 491 District Spotlight
- EES Student Art Pottery
- Katie Eckleberry, EES art teacher, explained how ceramics align with their overall goal: encouraging students to think creatively and critically while taking risks in a judgment-free zone. She also showcased a few items, such as mugs, made by fourth and fifth graders.
Communications and Administrative Reports
- Eudora Elementary School
- EES principal Seth Heide, discussed fastbridge winter benchmark results. The reading benchmark showed the following: Kindergarten had 89% in aggressive growth, second grade had 70% in typical/aggressive growth, and kindergarten and fifth grade had students moving out of tier 3. The math benchmark showed jumps in tier one for second and third graders and a big movement out of tier three for second grade.
- He then addressed student engagement, explaining how the academic team has been analyzing chronic absenteeism. Their goal is to take a proactive approach by setting strategies to reduce student absences.
- Mr. Heide highlighted ways to emphasize the 'Culture of Belonging' focus from the strategic plan and apply it to EES staff.
- For the instructional excellence focus, the school aims to continue providing high-quality instruction and conducting walkthroughs. They plan to use feedback to ensure alignment with professional development and to continue implementing CKLA with fidelity.
- Superintendent Report
- Eudora Schools Foundation Proposal:
- Frances Lyons discussed a proposal asking the district to invest in the foundation by: employing the executive director starting July 1, 2025 with benefits provided by/paid by the district; salary would be reimbursed from foundation to the district; and to increase the districts contribution starting in the 2025-2026 year.
- Draft Calendar for 2025-2026
- Mr. Moeckel discussed a few challenges in working on the calendar, including the days under consideration, the available options, and ensuring that teachers' preferences for what works best are taken into account.
- Free Breakfast Program Report
- This quarterly update combines results from October and November. Participation trends were up compared to last year. However, when comparing October and November, there was a slight dip, likely due to the week-long break in November. Many students benefit from the free program, but there was some discussion about how to encourage EES students to have breakfast without requiring parents to bring them earlier. A total of 23,000 breakfasts were served in October and November.
- USD 491 Bond Construction Update
- Mr. Moeckel went over updates of lighting, HVAC and its allowance, and IT. Then showcased some visual footage of the ongoing construction at the high school.
- KASB December 2024 Policy Updates
- Mr. Moeckel discussed and presented an accountability report that measures demographics, post-secondary effectiveness rates, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, and academic success based on state assessments.
- Eudora Schools Foundation Proposal:
Board Reports
- Special Education Interlocal Board Meeting Report
- Claire Harding attended sessions about legislative advocacy and learned more about the Department of Education's efforts in relation to structured literacy and best practices. Zach Brooks stated that they had their meeting and continued work on the strategic plan, a board self-reflection survey, and a director's evaluation. They also reviewed various job descriptions and worked on improving the gifted eligibility process to make it more efficient for students to qualify.
- City of Eudora Commission Report
- Joe Hurla spoke about the progress of the development of Pascal’s landing project and that it has continued to move forward.
- Curriculum Coordinating Council Report
- The CCC met in November, and there were a couple of presentations. One was from the elementary music teachers, who tested the Quaver music curriculum as a pilot, liked it, and put it to a vote for the committee. Another was from Dr. Dewitt, who presented the ICAR curriculum for the auto collision section, aimed at providing additional support for both the curriculum and the teacher in that course. The committee also continued discussions about the new ELA curriculum and its positive aspects.
Albania Andrade
The following are highlights of the discussion and action from the regular board meeting on November 14, 2024. For a more detailed account of the meeting, please access the meeting agenda in BoardDocs.
To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel.
Consent Items
All items on the consent agenda were approved without discussion.
USD 491 District Spotlight
- EHS State Teams
- Girls Golf
- Cross Country
- Team finished in second place this year at the state meet
Communications and Administrative Reports
- Eudora Schools Foundation
- Recognized Cornerstone Property Management and Zeb’s Coffeehouse as the 2024 Outstanding Cardinal Partner
- Eudora High School
- Dr. DeWitt gave a report on the following topics:
- Strategic Plan and how it’s being implemented within the school and its students, staff, and teachers.
- Dr. DeWitt gave a report on the following topics:
- Superintendent Report
- Campus Safety- RhinoWare Door Lockdown System
- Ed Johnson and Lupe Garza from RhinoWare campus safety products brought their product to showcase how it works and answered any questions that the Board of Education had.
- Eudora Schools Engagement Survey Results
- Amy Shanks, HR Director, presented the results from the engagement survey that was sent in October to Eudora staff that consisted of 30 questions. There were 164 of 494 responses received. That is 33% so an increase of 2% in comparison from last year.
- Areas of Strength (Positive impact on engagement) includes staff feeling safe working in their respective school/building, feeling comfortable reporting any safety concern, knowing that their principal/supervisor is accessible within a reasonable amount of time, and understanding how their work directly contributes to the success of the district.
- Areas for improvement and growth include: access to resources, opportunities for training and development that align with school/department goals, receiving recognition from their supervisor or principal, not being given the opportunity to be involved in decisions that affect them, and that some individuals on occasion do think about looking for a new job.
- Eudora Engagement Survey Action Plan - How do we tell our story while also listening to what staff is needing and connecting those dots.
- Campus Safety- RhinoWare Door Lockdown System
- Strategic Plan Dashboard
Heather Hundley spoke about the dashboard and what measurements are being used to track the goals and their effectiveness. She mentioned that it’s a way to see our progress as we go through the years and an accountability measure that is shared with the community on what we said we’re going to do and how we’re doing it.
- Construction Update
- EHS- The new sidewalk is almost done, staff is moving into the building, work is still being done in the new gym, and anticipate putting on the floors next week in the connecting hallway.
- EMS- On Veteran’s Day, the new flag pole was christened at the middle school during the event they had where they celebrated our Veterans.
- ELC- Signage has been completed and is up at the Early Learning Center
Board Reports
- Special Education Interlocal Board Meeting Report
- Claire Harding stated that there are a few items in the strategic plan that need to be worked on. For example: 1. Highlight student wellbeing and showcase that they’re receiving what they need(create a training plan for each position specialist or classroom teacher) 2. Organizational efficiency (are we putting the right people in the right place and having students get what they need) 3. Strengthen relationship with districts
- Some Actions steps include: Finding people to fill openings and retaining them. (working on innovating recruitment strategies and improving onboarding process)
- Dave Powers has revamped the operating manuals to make sure that students are being served and giving them what they need.
- There is still a shortage of paraprofessionals in Eudora.