August Board Summary
by Kim Juenemann
NEW ATHLETIC FACILITY IN THE WORKS FOR CHETOPA
The following is a summary of the USD 505 board of education meeting and does not reflect official minutes.
The USD 505 board of education met in Chetopa for the regular August meeting. All members were present. The agenda was approved with no additions. The budget hearing was held. There were no objections or questions. The 2009-2010 budget was approved with a mill levy increase of 4.42 due to a 10% drop in state aid to supplemental general. The bond mill levy went down 4.5 mills and capital outlay went down 1.0 mill, but the supplemental general went up 9.87 mills.
All items in the consent calendar (minutes, financial reports, checks presented for payment) were approved. The technology director, Kirby Honeycutt, told the board about summer work on servers and the new anti-virus software. He also up-dated the board on the keyless entry for both campuses which is nearly complete. Roberta Carter, district school improvement director, presented a review about summer school and summer training for the new Open Court reading program.
Mark LaTurner, St. Paul K-12 principal, reviewed the playground move and up-grade and the KDHE grant received to help with that; reported preliminary numbers for elementary classes which may require two sections at kindergarten and fourth grade; reviewed summer maintenance; informed the board about staff changes; and, one staff member will need SFA training.
Ebony Hart, Chetopa K-12 principal, in her first board meeting, described her efforts at getting acquainted with staff and getting acclimated to the environment.
Superintendent Kim Juenemann shared a thank you note from Rick McAtee, St. Paul graduate, for providing his FBLA national competition trip to Anaheim during the summer. She reported carry-over levels to special funds from fiscal year 2008-09.
The board approved KSDE recommended activity fund and gate receipt guidelines. The board discussed the building projects and their status. The architect firm of Hunter and Millard is finished with the architectural aspect of the St. Paul kitchen redesign and the engineers are nearly finished with their part of the plan. The grading plan for the practice field has been completed by PEC and the plans have been delivered to Beachner’s to begin dirt work. The plan for the Chetopa athletic field building was reviewed and discussed. The board directed the superintendent to make improvements to the plan which should include a larger locker room and AC. In official action, the board approved Nate’s Lawn & Landscape for the St. Paul playground work and approved Grosdidier Construction for completion of three drainage issues at St. Paul. The superintendent informed the board of back-to-school ads in the Chanute, Parsons, and Labette Avenue papers; the handbooks are at Forms One to be printed; and, a new building identification sign has been ordered from Vital Signs.
The board entered in to two consecutive executive sessions in order to discuss non-elected personnel. Upon return to open session, the board approved some supplemental duty assignments; accepted the resignation of Jesse Cummings, St. Paul vo-ag teacher; offered a contract of employment to Kaylee Johnson for St. Paul vo-ag; approved Rosemary Brogan and Ed Haynes as substitute teachers pending receipt of KSDE license and successful interview with administration; and, if numbers warrant, approve additional elementary staff at St. Paul.
The board received policy updates as recommended by KASB and the superintendent. The board approved the coaching/AD handbook with revisions; and, approved the staff handbook with revisions. The board approved a cooperative agreement with Parsons for swimming and wrestling; the board awaits official action from the Parsons school board to finalize the cooperative agreement.
After-school programs were set with the St. Paul program going until 4:30 and the Chetopa program ending at 5:00. Both programs will run Monday through Thursday with no after-school programs on Friday.
The board was informed that the teachers approved the negotiated agreement; they, in turn, ratified the master contract.
With no further business to discuss, the board adjourned at 9:28. #
