Part 2
Part 1
HALSTEAD, KS — The USD 440 Board of Education is elated to announce the appointment of Mr. Chad Baalman as next Superintendent of Schools of Halstead-Bentley School District, effective July 1, 2026.
Dr. Ron Barry, current Superintendent, will continue in his role through June 30, 2026, ensuring a smooth and stable leadership transition.
Mr. Baalman currently serves as the Halstead High School Principal since 2021. Prior to his role in Halstead, Mr. Baalman served as the Assistant Principal at Liberal High School and a Science teacher at Valley Center High School. Mr. Baalman is married to Holly Baalman who serves as a kindergarten teacher at Bentley Primary School. They have three children in the district.
“USD 440 is a special district and community, and I am excited to continue serving in a new capacity as superintendent. I look forward to working alongside our staff, students, families and Board of Education to provide stability, strengthen relationships, and continue moving the district forward.”
“A proud member of our community and a dedicated leader at Halstead High School for 5 years,” stated Board President Zachary Mabry. “Mr. Baalman has earned the admiration of students, families and staff alike for his guidance, passionate commitment to excellence, and unwavering belief in every child’s potential. This announcement fills us with immense pride and excitement – we know his motivation and proven leadership will inspire even greater success across our district. Welcome to the next chapter, Mr. Baalman!”
The Board of Education extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Ron Barry for his leadership and dedication to USD 440 Halstead-Bentley Schools and for his support in ensuring a smooth transition.
USD 440 Halstead-Bentley Schools
521 W. 6th St. | Halstead, KS 67056 | (316) 835-2641 | www.usd440.com
Dr. Janet Doud will be interviewing for the position of Superintendent of Schools with the Board of Education on Friday May 8, 2026. Doud is the fourth of four candidate that USD 440 Halstead/Bentley Board of Education will be interviewing. Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online community survey utilized during the search process.
Janet Doud currently serves as an Assistant Superintendent of Augusta Public Schools. She is in her 4th year in that position. Previously, Doud served as a Building Principal for 2 years.
Chad Baalman will be interviewing for the position of Superintendent of Schools with the Board of Education on Thursday May 7, 2026. Baalman is the third of four candidates that USD 440 Halstead/Bentley Board of Education will be interviewing. Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online community survey utilized during the search process.
Chad Baalman currently serves as a Halstead High School Principal. He is in his 5th year in that position. Previously, Baalman served as an Associate Principal for 3 years.
This week, we’re serving up a slice of gratitude for the amazing people who make our schools so special! 💛
Just like a great pizza, it takes everyone to make it perfect:
🍎 Teachers who bring the flavor of learning
🚌 Bus Drivers who keep everything running smoothly
🧹 Custodians who create a clean, welcoming space
📋 Office teams who hold it all together
🍳 Kitchen staff who keep our students fueled and ready to learn
🔧 Maintenance teams who keep everything safe, working, and running strong
🤝 Paraprofessionals who provide extra support, encouragement, and care—helping every student succeed one slice at a time
Each of you is an essential topping—and together, you create something truly incredible! 🙌
Thank you for going the extra mile, day after day. Your hard work, care, and dedication do not go unnoticed—you’re the perfect recipe for student success! 🍕
👏 Let’s give a big, “cheesy” thank you to our education staff this week!
#StaffAppreciation #EducationHeroes #SliceOfSuccess #SchoolFamily #ThankYou #AllHandsOnDeck
Brandon Simmelink will be interviewing for the position of Superintendent of Schools with the Board of Education on Tuesday May 5, 2026. Simmelink is the second of four candidates that USD 440 Halstead/Bentley Board of Education will be interviewing. Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online community survey utilized during the search process.
Brandon Simmelink currently serves as a Principal in USD 373 Newton. He is in his 4th year in that position. Previously, Simmelink served as a McPherson Middle School Principal for 6 years.
The HMS Battle of the Books has grown each year, This year we had 124 students participate, reading 456 books in a 2 and a half month period.
Board to Interview First Superintendent Candidate
Todd Wiedemann will be interviewing for the position of superintendent with the board of education on Monday May 4, 2026. Wiedemann is the first of four candidates that USD 440 Halstead/Bentley board of education will be interviewing. Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online community survey utilized during the search process.
Todd Wiedemann currently serves as the Director of the Kansas MTSS and Alignment Project through the Southeast Kansas Education Center. He is in his 17th year in that position. Previously, Wiedemann served in a Secondary School Leadership role for 13 years.
🎒✨ Halstead/Bentley Families: Ready to start your child’s preschool journey? ✨🎒
Preschool screening still has open slots on May 1 and May 8!
If you have a 3‑ or 4‑year‑old and are interested in preschool, please click the link below to share your information. Once submitted, a member of our team will reach out to answer any questions and help schedule a screening time.
👉 Please submit your information even if these dates do not work and you are interested in learning more about our preschool program.
🔗 Complete the form here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCEO1E1jUMeInF7mbFUfoqvLV2aK0kvcexUimgozvqL8FaSQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor
We can’t wait to connect with our future Dragon families! ❤️🐉
#HalsteadBentley #PreschoolScreening #EarlyChildhood #FutureDragons #PreschoolReady
Reminder:
📣 Community Input Requested: Superintendent Search 📣
As the USD 440 Board of Education begins the process of selecting the next Superintendent of Schools for Halstead/Bentley, we are seeking community input on the professional and personal qualities you value most in our next superintendent.
You are invited to share your voice by attending an in‑person focus group or by completing a short online survey.
👥 Join a Focus Group
We will host in‑person focus group sessions on Monday, April 20. Please attend the time and location that works best for you:
🕣 8:30 a.m. – District Office
🕤 9:30 a.m. – District Office
🕝 2:30 p.m. – Bentley Primary School
📝 Share Your Voice via Survey
If you are unable to attend a focus group, please take a few minutes to complete our online survey.
⏱️ The survey takes approximately 5 minutes.
👉 Click here to participate:
https://tejoin.com/scroll/193356299
Thank you for your time and for helping us shape the future of our school district.
USD 440 Board of Education
Lavonda Shafto, para at BPS, is on a roll with THREE BINGOS and just TWO squares away from a BLACKOUT!
Her favorite find? Using tags to organize notes quickly and keep everything sorted—simple, but powerful!
We love seeing staff discover tools that make their day easier. BLACKOUT watch is ON… 👀
#440proud #AppleLearning #440iTeam
Shoutout to Erika Witten at BPS for earning THREE BINGOS on this month’s Apple BINGO board! 👏
Learning split screen on her iPad is a game changer for her. We love how learning simple tools can make a big impact in the classroom! 🙌
Who’s next to call BINGO? 👀
#440AppleBINGO #440Proud
A big shoutout to Chelsea Sperry, one of our amazing 1st grade teachers, who just earned her favorite candy and Sonic drink with THREE BINGOS on this month's Apple BINGO board! 👏
Chelsea’s classroom is a perfect example of what happens when creativity, curiosity, and Apple technology come together to support student learning.
Who will be the next to call BINGO? 👀
#440AppleBINGO #440Proud #440CanCreate
