The Geary USD 475 Board of Education voted 6-0 to make Dr. Ferrell Miller the president of the Board for the 2017-18 year. The Board conducted their annual reorganization on Monday at the Devin Center.
Miller has been a member of the school board since 2011, and served as BOE president for the 2013-14 term. “I’ve learned an awful lot in the years since I’ve been a board member. I think it’s an honor to be on the Board first, and then an exceptional honor to be elected as President of the Board of Education for a second term. ”
Miller outlined a series of goals he would like the Board to help work toward in the coming year. He outlined them for JCPost.com. They include:
–Working together using the expertise of each of the BOE members.
–Keep in front of them that they are a policy making body. He suggested at work sessions that the Board have policy revies along with other topics, and have regular updates on the campaign status for a “New JCHS.” That is the proposal to seek voter support in November in a bond issue election for a new Junction City High School.
–Encourage eligible voters to vote in November.
–To have the BOE work with the Superintendent and establish a policy for a “Grow Our Own” teacher scholarship plan to increase the balance between the diversity of the students to the teachers in the school district.
–In the most recent climate survey of the staff, employees in 12 out of 20 buildings indicated that they are dissatisfied with the health care benefits. Miller wants to see what can be done to improve in that area.
–Positively represent the Board of Education — work on a public relations campaign to sell the school district to those who do not realize what a great district USD 475 is for teaching and learning to occur.
Bill Brooks was elected vice president of the USD 475 Board of Education. He was one of two candidates nominated for the post. The other was Tom Brungardt. Brooks, who was not in attendance at the meeting, received four votes while Brungardt received two.
Brooks is a candidate for a four-year term on the school board. He is currently serving an unexpired term after his appointment to the board following the resignation of Kim Milleson, who moved out of state. If he is not elected to the four-year term in November, the Board would need to revote on the vice president’s position when new terms begin in January.