Members of the Auburn-Washburn Board of Education are patrons who voluntarily serve the community. Meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month (except holidays) at 6:30 PM. These meetings are open to the public. The meetings are held at the Shuler Education Center at 5928 SW 53rd Street.

The Board of Education encourages input from the community and provides an Open Forum at the beginning of each regular meeting. Individuals may address the Board for up to five minutes each during this session. There will not be dialogue on issues raised in the Open Forum. If an individual wants more time and open discussion with the Board a topic may be placed on the agenda with a ten day advance notice.

For additional information please contact the Clerk of the Board. Denise Taylor at 785-339-4000 or

In a continuing effort to increase efficiency, Auburn-Washburn USD 437 is now using BoardDocs. BoardDocs is an online program that allows you to see past Agendas and Meetings. You can also find information on the District Board Members and find contact information for each member.

Click here to enter BoardDocs

Mr. William Sneed has been a member of the Board since 2003. He is currently the President of the Board and serves as the Governmental Relations Contact and is on the Internal Audit Sub-Committee.

President Sneed graduated from Washburn University with a BBA in 1977 and from the Washburn School of Law with a JD in 1980. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Kansas Bar Association, Topeka Bar Association, Federation of Regulatory Counsel, The Advocacy Group, Republican National Lawyers Association, and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Topeka Performing Arts Center Board, American Heart Association State Advisory Board, Topeka Chapter for the March of Dimes Board, Washburn University Athlete Scholarship Fund Board, and the Insurance Law Section of the Kansas Bar Association Board. President Sneed also volunteers for several groups.

He has lived in Topeka for 36 years along with his wife Diane Sneed and their children Tanner and Sarah.

Dr. James Owen has been a member of the Board since 2003. He is currently the Vice President of the Board and serves on the Capital Outlay and Strategic Accountability Sub-Committees.

Vice President Owen is an M.D. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, First Presbyterian Church, Kansas Radiologic Society, and he serves on the St. Francis Health Center Board of Directors.

He has lived in Topeka for 26 years with his wife, Jane and their three children, Katie, Bob, and Vicki.

Dr. Terry Carney has been a member of the Board since 2009. He serves on the Capital Outlay Sub-Committee and the Construction Review Committee.

Dr. Carney is a Doctor of Optometry. He is a member of the Topeka South Rotary, Kansas Optometric Association, and American Optometric Association.

He has lived in Topeka for 37 years along with his wife Lisa, who is also a medical doctor, and their children Brandon and Alyssa.

Mr. James Gartner has been a member of the Board since 2008. He serves on the Budget Sub-Committee and the Construction Review Committee.

Mr. Gartner received his B.A. in Business from Washburn University.

He has lived in Topeka for 53 years. He has two children, Megan and Wesley, and two step children, Michelle and Christian.

Mr. Darren Haddock was a member of the Board from 2002 - June of 2005. He was reappointed in December of 2005. He serves on the Negotiations and Internal Audit Sub-Committee.

Mr. Haddock received his BS in Economics and MBA from Brigham Young University. He is a member of the Jayhawk Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

He has lived in Topeka for 13 years with his wife, Tracie and their 5 children, Porter, Mason, Lindsay, Spencer, and Tanner.

Mr. Harold Houck has been a member of the Board since 2009. He serves on the Budget and Strategic Accountability Sub-Committees.

Mr. Houck received his J.D. from Washburn University, his M.A. from Webster University, and his B.A. from the University of Missouri.

He has lived in Topeka for 16 years along with his wife, Shari, and his children Erin, John, and Thomas.

Dr. Bob Lohse has been a member of the Board since 2007. He serves on the Negotiations Sub-Committee and as the Auburn-Washburn Foundation Representative.

Dr. Lohse received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas and his DDS from the University of Nebraska. He is a member of the Topeka District Dental Society, Kansas Dental Assn., American Dental Assn., Shrine, Masons, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Clarion Home Owners Board, KU Alumni Assn., Nebraska Alumni Assn., Topeka Independent Business Assn., Staff Parish Committee, and he co-teaches Adult Sunday School.

He has lived in Topeka for 36 years with his wife, Kathy, and their children, Lauren, Paige, and Rob.