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The Nov. 11 USD 214 Board of Education meeting might have had a short agenda and took one hour to complete the regular agenda, but the final extended 30 minutes was action-packed. The board went into executive session initially for 10 minutes, and invited Superintendent Corey Burton into the session. After extending the session 10 more minutes, the board - minus the absent Chad McCormick - reluctantly accepted the resignation of Superintendent Corey Burton.
Burton is retiring after 31 years in public education - 22 as an administrator - effective June 30, 2025.
“After careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to retire from my position as Superintendent of Schools, effective June 30, 2025,” Burton said in a letter provided to The Ulysses News. “After 31 fulfilling years dedicated to education, with 22 being a school administrator, I feel it’s time to embark on a new chapter in my life.”
The Board of Education scheduled a special meeting for 5 p.m. Nov. 25 to begin the replacement process.
“I am incredibly grateful for the unwavering support and encouragement I have received from the Board, staff, and the entire Ulysses community,” Burton said. “It has been an honor to serve as a part of the Tiger district and contribute to its growth and success.”
The Board also approved the resignation of Cade Albert as head varsity football coach at Ulysses High School. Albert compiled a 1-25 overall record since 2022, and he previously coached two years at Herrington and compiled a 4-13 record at the 8-man school.
“After three seasons as UHS Head Football Coach I have decided to step down under my own will,” Albert told the Ulysses News via email. “During these past three seasons our opponents combined record is 173-82. Out of the 26 opponents played the past three seasons 17 of them were ranked in the state. Meaning, 65% of the time we took the field we were playing against a team that was ranked.
“When you combine the tremendous difficulty of our schedule and the rebuild we are undertaking, it has been mentally and physically draining as a Head Coach. I want to thank all of my players that stuck it out and didn't quit on the team! I also want to thank the parents that supported us and saw that we were getting kids better. Thank you to the administration for believing in me and my vision.
“I am still very young and who knows, I might want to pursue being a Head Coach again,” Albert added.
Four new basketball coaches will join the district - two at Kepley Middle School and two at Ulysses High School. Contracts were approved for Jeremiah Wise and Shane Browning, who will be assistant boys coaches at UHS and join head varsity coach Matt Cox. Jason Rodriguez was named head eighth grade boys basketball coach at Kepley Middle School and Jeremy Gaddis was added as assistant eighth grade boys basketball coach.
“I just want to thank you guys for searching hard to fill those positions,” Burton said. “It came right down to the wire on trying to find them, it’s not easy.”
Another approved contract was Keyla Hernandez as part-time daycare provider.
Assistant Superintendent Kevin Warner said curriculum work with all the courses and teachers continues with the goal this year to have the course overview and materials listed for approval in the spring.
“It’s going to be a long process but total completion will be hopefully done in five years for all of our courses,” Warner said. “Not all our courses are starting from scratch but a lot of them are.”
Warner also broke down what the demographics look like in the district, saying that 74/6% of the student population is considered at-risk. Students must meet one of nine different requirements to be considered at-risk.
About 420 students - 30% of the population - are English Language Learners; almost 74% receive free or reduced meals; about 4.2% are migrant students, and Special Education numbers are high.
“When celebrate all our wins, those wins were hard, those wins were difficult,” Warner said. “It wasn’t just show up and go to work from 8-4.”
The board approved a contract with Apptegy, which gave a brief presentation via Zoom. Apptegy is a phone app that allows a designated instructor to update the school’s website or social media page via their phone.
“Apptegy is a newer provider that’s out there, we’ve had discussions with them for a little over a year,” Burton said. “What we’re really talking about is looking at moving to Apptegy next year but we really need to start the discussions now.”
Apptegy is a communications tool for not only students and teachers, but parents and the community to receive information.
The board approved the contract with Apptegy beginning March 1, 2025.
The board accepted a donation of $18,000 from Big Orange Boosters, a $175,000 grant for the day care facility from the Patterson Family Foundation, and $2,500 for the UHS FFA from Dream First Bank for Thank a Farmer Day.
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