HEA has made multiple information requests for hundreds of pages of documents.  Part of our duty to the bargaining unit is doing our due diligence to research facts to ensure we are not leaving anything on the table.  Part of that process is routinely requesting information from district administration.  That includes all contracts, all salaries, all health insurance, all banking information.  The information requests are reported on this site.

The district has a legal obligation to disclose how public funds are being allocated.  Atlthough the district has been good about giving us most of what we asked for, there have often been vital pieces of information we have been received incomplete, old, or omitted completely.  These omissions make the process drag on as well as make it difficult for the HEA team to accurately put a package together.

Of all the 1000's of pages of documents, contracts, and records, only one document had not been provided over the year, despite it being included in multiple requests.

HEA believes Administrative staff deserve to be paid fairly.  HEA also believes that public accountability is required for public funds.  HEA first requested the Superintendent Contract in August 2023 as part of a request for all contracts.  HEA was informed at that time contracts were not available for any of the returning administrative staff and would be provided when they were ready.  None of them were ever provided.

With Information Request 5, HEA resubmitted the request for all administrative contracts.  This time 31 were provided, with one missing.  When conversation was made that it may have been overlooked, HEA was informed the superintendent did not have a contract.

 HEA does NOT understand why the USD 261 Negotiation Team repeatedly argued the Superintendent did not have a contract, even after the BOE had approved it on the Consent Calendar in the December 11, 2023 Board Meeting.  

The USD 261 Negotiation Team only provided the current Superintendent Contract after a DEMAND Letter was submitted to the Board of Education members and the official Custodian of Records.  

Up until this point, HEA has not utilized the extended legal provisions of the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA).  We have attempted to work in good faith with the district. 

This is the most recent email exchange:  Original source exhibits are provided below: