USD 333 board approves filling new positions

The hiring of staff members to fill two newly created positions was approved by the Unified School District 333 board of education during its regular meeting on Monday night.
Kevin Muff, a former Cloud County Community College head men’s basketball coach, was hired as the school district’s dean of student improvement and will also teach criminal justice at Concordia High School.
The board approved the hiring of Kimberly Muff as the director of the newly established USD 333 Education Foundation. She will also be a grant writer.
Kevin Muff spent the last five years as a social studies teacher and head boys’ basketball coach at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka.
Originally from Salina, Kevin Muff earned his bachelor of science degree in education from Kansas State University and a master's degree in education from Pittsburg State University.
Muff, who played basketball at Cloud County Community College, was the head coach from 1998-2010. He then coached at Pittsburg State from 2010-2017.
The job description states that the dean of student improvement will be a liaison between schools and families for college and career readiness, working with students, families and post-secondary institutions to help students be aware of the possibilities, requirements and to transition successfully.
Superintendent of schools Quentin Breese said that Kevin Muff, in his position as dean of student improvement, will help meet the needs of some of the upper level students in the district by helping them prepare for college or career readiness.
Kevin Muff will also teach criminal justice classes as part of the new law enforcement/criminal justice pathway being developed.
Kimberly Muff earned bachelor of arts degrees in mass communications and recreation administration from Kansas State University and a master of liberal studies in English from Fort Hays State University. She was a grant writer, English instructor and advisor at Cloud County Community College from 2001-2010. During her tenure at CCCC, she implemented several federal grant projects including Title III Strengthening Institutions, TRIO Student Support Services and a Department of Energy wind turbine project.
The director of the USD 333 Foundation and grant writer/development coordinator will be responsible for identifying, cultivating and raising funds from foundations, cooperations, state and federal sources, along with pursuing individual gifts.
Breese said that he has been working on establishing a USD 333 foundation for about three years. He said a 1971 Concordia High School graduate has contacted the district and wants to make a considerable donation to help establish the foundation.
The hiring of Kimberly Muff provides the district with an experienced grant writer to lead the foundation.
The board also approved the transfer of Delaney James from a fifth grade teacher to a sixth grade teacher at the Concordia Middle School. She replaces Jacqueline Nutsch, who resigned.
The hiring of Tori Jessup as the Concordia Elementary School secretary was approved by the board. She replaces Bailey Miller, who transferred to the Concordia Middle School.
Also included in the classified staff changes approved by the board was the resignation of Steve Nelson as the boys' and girls' golf coach and the hiring of Gene Rundus to replace him.
Also during the meeting, the board was informed by Breese that the public hearing on the 2022-2023 budget is scheduled for September 12. The revenue neutral rate public hearing will be conducted prior to the budget hearing.
Breese presented an enrollment report to the board.
There were 1,124 students enrolled in USD 333, pre-K through 12th grade, as of August 8. That includes 506 students at the Concordia Junior-Senior High School, 192 at the Concordia Middle School and 436 at the Concordia Elementary School.
The board met in two separate executive sessions during the meeting, including 15 minutes for the purpose of confidential business data, with Breese and director of operations and technology director Kelly Struebing, and 35 minutes for non-elected personnel, with Breese.