There are “zero bad kids” at Great Bend High School, principal Brock Funke told the school board on Wednesday.
“All of our kids do good things.”
Several of those students were in the spotlight Wednesday when GBHS hosted the October luncheon meeting of the USD 428 Board of Education.
The meal was prepared by culinary arts students and there were presentations by the WAC Leadership Team, the GBHS Electric Car program offered through the Vo-Tech Club, the Student Ambassadors (who had just organized a Mental Health Fair), and the Student Council Board (who put together a Homecoming Dance on short notice).
Student Ambassadors Ailey Scothorn, Jamena Montes and Slayde Apley presented a proposal for outdoor tables students could use at lunch time. They shared cost estimates and answered questions from the board about how it would be supervised.
The students did extensive research, Funke said.
“I’ve been really impressed with the group. They really thought this through.”
Board members offered a couple of suggestions. The students have not yet made a formal proposal to the school board.
Stuco representatives MacKenzie Lindberg, Jeriah McFarland, Reese Bullard and Denver Ringo said the Homecoming Dance was a last-minute project, with members putting up and taking down the decorations. It was the first Homecoming Dance the school has had in a few years. School Counselor Rachel Thexton estimated 250 students attended.
“They had an absolute blast,” Funke said. “It did my heart good.”
Josh Manning and Levi McCormick talked about the electric car program. Students build a car powered by battery and solar panels and compete with other schools to see how many laps they can complete. Great Bend was state champion in 2018 and 2019. GBHS woodworking teacher Travis Straub is their coach.
Straub said the team has one car and hopes to build a second one. Last year they raced four times. At the last race in Hays, 13 schools competed, entering more than 30 cars. The GBHS car has reached a top speed of 43 mph with Straub driving. It was averaging 30 mph at Hays when it broke an axle. McCormick was driving. He is also an intern at Cornerstone Automotive this year and the axle is at Cornerstone for repairs.
Schools in the Western Athletic Conference, including Great Bend, each choose students for the WAC Leadership. Team members Hayden Kelly, Reese Bullard, MacKenzie Lindberg, Ian Premer, Alex Mayers, Gavynn Maddox and Jimena Montes talked about the lessons they’ve learned and how much they’ve enjoyed visiting the students at the Little Panthers Preschool.
Board President Jacquie Disque said she hears good things about Great Bend students wherever she goes.
“The little kids look up to you,” she told the students. “I am so proud of you guys and I need you to tell all of your classmates that.”
Dowson to retire
In action items, the board approved an E-sports program for GBHS. In other business, board members approved the retirement of Eric Dowson, sixth-grade teacher at Park Elementary School. His retirement will be at the end of the school year.
Contributions approved
The school board also approved the following contributions:
• Reward incentives
- $72.29 to Eisenhower Elementary from Factory 233 (apparel)
- $162.38 to Riley Elementary and $272.62 to Lincoln Elementary from Kroger Reward Incentives
- $50.30 to USD 428 Food Service in child nutrition rebates from Institutional Processing Services LLC
• Eisenhower School received donations for its Sensory Path
- $300 from Shawn and Desa Behr
- $100 from Blue Star Fire and Electric
- $100 from Sunflower Electric Corp.
• Park Elementary received $335.56 from the Park Booster Club designated for the Park Homecoming float and field trip
• Lincoln Elementary received $707.17 from the Lincoln Booster Club for student T-shirts
• Great Bend Middle School received $209.08 from the GBMS Booster Club for Reality U and $150 for Library Trivia candy
• Great Bend High School received donations for the Hall of Fame event:
- $250 level: Keller Real Estate, KBI, Farmers Bank & Trust, Coldwell Banker, Bank of the Plains, First Kansas Bank, MPIRE Improvements, Jerry and Linda Marmie, Stueder Contractors Inc., Jim and Kathi Armatys
- $200 level: Julie Spray and Marks Custom Signs
- $100 level: Edward Jones and GB Tire
• GBHS received contributions:
- Music Department, $200 from Margaret Miller
- Boys Soccer Team, $400 for volunteer work at Fridays on Forest event
- Robotics Club, $1,350 from DCCCA Inc. for the SAFE (Seatbelts Are For Everyone) program, a student-led program focusing on peer-to-peer promotion of traffic safety.
