Heartland Christian School Regular Board Meeting

In attendance:

Board Members: Kevin Cox, Nate Harter, Jeremy Kersenbrock

Others: Larry Gabel, Kasey Griffith, Morgan Owen, Cheryl Stoeger, Christy Sturdy

Call to Order/Opening Prayer

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 by Jeremy, who opened with a devotion from 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, and Larry led prayer.

Amendments to Agenda

Jeremy made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Nate seconded the motion; with no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Previous Months Minutes

Nate made a motion to accept September minutes as they were sent out and discussed via email. Kevin seconded the motion; with no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Previous Month’s Financial Statement

Christy called the Board’s attention to the in-out accounts in the financial report. Some of them have been recategorized. Nate made a motion to approve the September Financial Statement as sent out. Kevin seconded the motion; with no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Reports:

Teachers: Larry shared that Christy has temporarily taken on teaching 5th & 6th grade science, which has been greatly appreciated.

Families: Special thanks for all of the BBQ help!

Kasey: Kasey shared that she has had several referees come to her and say that they are very impressed with our students and their attitudes and expressed interest in coming back for basketball. Kasey is still having an issue with dress code for practice and other times. End of season for Jr. High is coming up. Becca Sowers is getting hotels blocked off in Topeka for High School girls league. Kasey is waiting for responses from parents to see how many rooms they need. We have had two toaster ovens donated to the school for concessions. October 19th is our “Senior Night.” Basketball schedules are set, and she only needs three more referee spots filled. Scholars’ Bowl coaches are still somewhat uncertain, but Jr. High starts practice this Wednesday and HS on the 21st. Kasey has also sent a resignation letter for the AD position to the Board. The Board appreciated the work she has been doing. There will be a cheer/dance clinic. Jeremy stated that at this point he plans to coach JH Scholars’ Bowl and would really appreciate some help with taking on High School Scholars’ Bowl, and we are still looking for help at minimum with High School practice.

Deena: Larry shared that he thinks we served a lot more people this year than in years past at the BBQ. We started a Chess Club, and it is going well. All School Camp-Out is this weekend at Norton. October 15th is the rescheduled HOPE Meeting.

Technology: Joel and Lucas got things working for the door, and Larry’s phone now works for opening the door. Lucas is working with Joel to get everything up-to-date and working well, including updating and adding security cameras.

Administrator: Larry shared that some water got in the Music Room last week with all the rain. Larry said it looks like there are cracks in the cement blocks where the rain came in. The water has been cleaned up and dried. Colten Berg came and looked at it and will be in later this week to look at it again. The preschool toilet was not working today, but Larry got it fixed.

Bookkeeper: Preliminary numbers from the BBQ look like it should be a little over $10,000, which is a little bit more than the last few. Starting in January, the Federal Tax Credit Program is beginning, with a potential for more scholarship money available. We will partner with ACE for the scholarships. The government is still releasing information about its standards for the new program, so all the details are not yet known, but the school intends to participate.

Fundraising Committee: No Report.

Classroom Renovation Committee: Need to talk to Deena about setting a date for organizing the Gym Equipment Room and adding a locked gate so equipment won’t be messed with.

Old Business

Splitting 5th & 6th Grades: Larry shared that we are working toward splitting the classes, with Cheryl Stoeger being the 5th Grade teacher starting in November.

Dyslexia Class Offered November 5th 6:00-8:30 & November 6th 9-Noon: Information has been sent out to several surrounding schools, and some Special Ed teachers plan to attend. There are 37 people or groups who have signed up to come.

Board Member Qualification Exemption: Jeremy shared that the qualifications for current board members include that board members will have all of their children enrolled in Heartland Christian School, and one board member has chosen not to enroll one of their children at Heartland this year. Jeremy shared a statement expressing support for Nate while expressing concern about declining secondary enrollment. His statement is attached as Exhibit A. Kevin made a motion to grant the exception for Nate for the current school year; the motion was seconded by Jeremy. With no further discussion, the motion passed with two ayes and Nate abstaining from voting.

Teacher Training at Trinity Academy in Wichita on 11-23-26, $50 per person: Larry is hoping that we will find sponsors, but there is a fund available for this as well. There has been a good response from teachers wanting to go.

New Business

HOPE Meeting Rescheduled to October 15th: There was rain on the original date, so it was rescheduled to October 15th at 6:00 with a meal, presentation, and games to follow. Jeremy will be presenting about the needs of the school, including financial, personnel, and other jobs.

Executive Session

The Board entered the executive session to discuss non-elected personnel at 8:17 with the Board, Larry, and Christy.

Regular session resumed at 8:55 with no binding action taken.

Adjourn

Nate moved to adjourn. Jeremy seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 9:00.

Exhibit A

Statement regarding board member enrollment requirement

Presented at the October 6, 2026 board meeting by Jeremy Kersenbrock

The qualifications for current Board members and those seeking to serve on the Board of Heartland Christian School are specified in the By-Laws of the organization. Among those qualifications is the requirement that all Board members’ children be enrolled in HCS. The By-Laws also provide that an exception to this requirement may be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Board in order for a Board member to continue serving.

For the current school year, one of our Board members has made the decision not to enroll one of his children at HCS. Therefore, in accordance with our By-Laws, the Board must consider whether to approve an exception to the enrollment requirement for that member to continue serving.

Before I ask for a motion, I would like to make a statement and allow time for any discussion.

I do want to be clear that this is not an official statement or resolution from the Board, but rather I am only offering these comments representing myself as a member of the Board and Heartland family.

We are all well aware that declining secondary and specifically high school enrollment at Heartland is concerning. This has been a frequent discussion and prayer item amongst the Board.

The impact of the ministry of this school is first and foremost upon the lives of the students, and with each passing year it seems as if the opportunity to impact lives in the secondary age group is declining. I fear that at some point the upper grade levels will simply become unsustainable.

But the impact of this ministry also extends through the students, into the staff, and out into the community. So, I am also concerned that the declining enrollment could become a continual, nagging point of discouragement for all those who labor in this ministry and particularly those in the upper grade levels as the scope of the impact of the school shrinks.

The By-Laws of the school were established at a time when the school did not offer all the grades. So the consideration today is somewhat different than it was originally. However, the presence of this requirement in the By-Laws stands as a testimony of the importance of students and dedicated families in the membership of Heartland.

I say these things because I come to this motion and vote feeling conflicted.

On one hand, I recognize the situation the school faces and fear that each student not retained is another step toward unsustainability. Also, I am sympathetic to the desire communicated in the By-Laws for all the Board members to have all their school-aged children enrolled here, because I think that those in leadership must set the highest example.

Yet on the other hand, I see Nate, my friend and fellow-laborer in this ministry, as someone uniquely equipped to serve on the Board and a blessing to many in and around this school ministry, and do not want to discourage him either.

Ultimately, as a Board member today, I feel this is a motion without a good outcome.

Allowing an exception sets a precedent that could be seen as making this seem like this issue is unimportant. Yet I believe the future of the school and the impact of its leaders is important.

Refusing an exception would cost the school an effective leader and would be hurtful to Nate. And these are important to me too.

Either way isn’t good.

As a leader in ministry, I am resolved to always put people ahead of policy. So, I speak in favor of retaining Nate on the Board. However, I do not want my support of Nate to be misunderstood to diminish the importance of student retention or be misconstrued to diminish the importance of the enrollment requirement.