Oakley USD 274 Board Accepts Resignations, Approves New Hires

Special April 2 Meeting

OAKLEY, Kan.

The Oakley USD 274 Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday, April 2, to address key personnel decisions ahead of the upcoming school year. The session, which began at 3:30 p.m. in the district office, was called to order by Board President Kerri Scheetz.

Board members Carrie Evins, Mark Hubert, and Jodee Reed were present at the start of the meeting, with Chris Crotts joining shortly after proceedings began. Superintendent Julie Crum and Board Clerk JoElle Van Eaton were also in attendance.

Executive Sessions on Personnel

The board entered a series of executive sessions to discuss personnel matters in accordance with the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA). Three separate closed-door sessions were held between 3:31 p.m. and 4:02 p.m., each lasting approximately ten minutes. Superintendent Crum was present during all sessions. No action was taken during the executive discussions.

Resignations Accepted

Following the executive sessions, the board unanimously approved several staff resignations:

• Carrie Buhler, Middle School Teacher

• Alyssa Gaede, Fall Play Director

• Jane Schwarz, Concessions Manager

  
  

Additionally, the board accepted the resignation of Kristy Walker, High School Principal. As stipulated in her contract, a penalty reduction will be applied to her final paycheck.

New Staff Hired

In other personnel matters, the board approved the hiring of three individuals for the 2025–26 academic year:

• Andrea Ziegler, High School History Teacher

• Jayden Mitchell, High School English Teacher

• Nathan Leiker, Fall Play Director

  
  

Each hiring recommendation was approved with a 5-0 vote, reflecting unanimous board support.

Meeting Adjourned

With personnel matters addressed and no further business on the agenda, President Scheetz adjourned the meeting at 4:13 p.m.

The minutes of this special meeting remain unofficial until formally approved by the Board of Education at a future session. The next regular board meeting is expected to take place later this month.