Joint task force proposal, resignations/new appointments and several human and fiscal resource matters highlight jampacked first board meeting for new USD 253 Superintendent Dr. David McGehee Wednesday night

USD 253 Emporia Board of Education members seem more amicable towards joining a joint task force involving other taxing entities in Emporia, based on discussions during their latest meeting Wednesday evening.  However, membership does have some conditions they would like to see met or at least entertained before taking such a step.

During the board’s regular meeting Wednesday, members expressed praise for the city for taking prior concerns and recommendations on the proposed task force under consideration.  Specifically, membership was pleased to see the city alter the task force’s focus from mill levy reduction to collaboration for financial stability, according to the second reading of the proposal Wednesday night.  That said, board member Jeremy Dorsey, whose been involved in the task force discussion on two fronts as a member of the Board of Education and Chairman of the Emporia Recreation Commission, stated there is, at least from his observations, a severe lack of interest in the task force from Lyon County Commissioners who have not discussed the proposal since mid June.

Dorsey says if the county does not want to be involved, he has no issue with that; however, he would like to see the task force proposal altered to reflect the needs of entities wishing to “be at the table.”

Board member Jami Reever stated she would like to see alterations made to the makeup of the proposed task force.  Per the current proposal, the task force would consist of membership from the city, county, USD 253 Emporia and the Emporia Recreation Commission, with all but the ERC having voting members.

Reever says the lack of votes for the ERC has “perplexed” her throughout the process.

Following conversations on the task force, board members instructed district leadership to continue conversations with the city, specifically regarding their requests and concerns, before further action is considered.  There is no date for when said conversations may take place.

Wednesday was the first board meeting under the David McGehee regime as he took over as Superintendent following the retirement of Allison Anderson-Harder on July 1.  KVOE News spoke with McGehee both Tuesday and following Wednesday’s meeting, where he noted that there have been a “lot of surprises” since he was hired back in April.

This includes changes in district leadership and the ongoing search for after-school programming following the notice of termination of the district’s MOU with the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas, on top of normal business matters.  Given these developments, KVOE News asked McGehee how he is settling into the role, to which he stated he is acclimating well, noting that challenges are a part of the job.

McGehee is no stranger to USD 253, as you may recall, as he previously served as the district’s interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations for six months back in 2023 following the sudden split between the district and longtime Assistant Superintendent Rob Scheib.  In addition to his interim role with USD 253, McGehee’s prior education experience included 10 years as Superintendent at Lee’s Summit, Missouri, District R-7. He was named as Missouri State Superintendent of the Year and was included in both “Fifty Faces of Head Start” and Ingram’s Magazine’s “Icon of Education.” He also co-founded the Missouri Innovation Campus.

While Wednesday was the first meeting for McGehee as Superintendent, it marked the final meeting for Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Pam Stranathan.  KVOE News announced Tuesday that Stranathan had resigned the position she’s held since 2023, when she was named to the role on an interim basis as an ESSDACK consultant, replacing fellow ESSDACK consultant McGehee, whose contract expired that June.

Stranathan was named the permanent Assistant Superintendent later that same year.  KVOE News spoke with Stranathan following Wednesday’s meeting, where she announced she will be moving back to her home in Topeka to take on the role of Executive Director for Business Operations in the USD 501 Topeka School District.

Stranathan says she has truly enjoyed her time with Emporia, but this was the right time and move for her as it will allow her to be closer to her family.

 

Stranathan’s resignation follows several changes in leadership for the district in recent months and KVOE News asked if the changes played any role in her decision to move on.  She says it did not; it was simply the right time and opportunity.

Stranathan will not be leaving a void in the district as during the consent agenda portion of Wednesday’s meeting, board members approved both Stranathan’s resignation as well as the appointment of former USD 361 Chapparral Schools Superintendent Joshua Swartz to fill the role on an interim basis.   McGehee says Swartz is a great choice for the position as he brings a wealth of experience to Emporia.

With Swartz being appointed on an interim basis, KVOE News asked McGehee if a search was ongoing to find a permanent candidate.  McGehee stated, “The job is his if he earns it.”