2007-05-10
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING--MAY 10, 2007
President Kelly Gienger called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. in the St. Francis High School library on the above date with all members present except Cliff Raile and Pete Raile. St. FrancisHeraldreporter Karen Krien was also present to observe and take notes.
Superintendent Werner requested that an Executive Session be added to the agenda as the last item before adjournment; the purpose of the executive session is to protect the confidentiality of student matters dealing with scholarships, and the only action to be taken when the Board comes out of executive session will be approval of a list of scholarship recipients, whose names will remain confidential until the scholarships are announced at High School Commencement on May 20. John Knodel moved to approve the agenda with this addition; the motion was seconded by Sherry Weeks and carried.
The Board reviewed and discussed the items on the consent calendar. A motion was then made by Bonnie Zweygardt, seconded by John Knodel, and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) The minutes of the regular meeting on April 12, 2007. 2) The list of bills being paid on checks numbering 6966-7056 on BankWest-St. Francis and numbering 4249-4307 on First National Bank-St. Francis for a total of $249,624.51. 3) The Cash Summary Report (including three transfers: $3,131.40 from the Supplemental General Fund to the Vocational Education Fund; $3,418.81 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund; and $24,587.00 from the General Fund to the Special Education Fund), the General Fund Expense Budget Report, and the Grade School and High School Activity Fund Reports––all as of April 30, 2007. 4) In accordance with Board Policy 1313–“Gifts,” acceptance of a gift-offer of funds and the accompanying guidelines for the Bud Burnham Memorial Scholarship; the scholarship will be for $500 to a graduating senior and will be awarded beginning with the Class of 2007.
There were no audiences.
The Scholarship Committee (Scott Carmichael, Rob Schiltz, Sherry Weeks, Carl Werner, and Bonnie Zweygardt) reported that they had met and made the recommended selections for one 2007 Alice Gillispie Academic Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 (non-renewable) and for eight 2007 Walter and Lucille Stephenson Memorial Scholarships (seven in the amount of $500 each and one in the amount of $300––all non-renewable). It was also reported that the list of recommended recipients of these nine scholarships for this year may need to be amended in accordance with the “School and Community Citizenship” regulations that the Board had approved on April 27, 2005. Therefore, Board approval of the list of recipients was delayed until after the executive session scheduled later in tonight’s meeting.
Under old business, the Board and administration again discussed the proposed new gymnasium project. Architect Glen Strait had updated the drawings and specifications to attempt to get them more in line with a project that could be completed for about $1.5 million, but the estimated cost was still in the range of $2.2 million. After review and further discussion of these drawings and specifications, the consensus of the Board was to continue to work with the architect on these plans to determine if they can be brought into line with the $1.5 million figure so that planning can move forward.
Review and discussion was also held concerning several other current and planned school projects, including: 1) new lights in the grade school gymnasium, which have now been installed; 2) the resurfacing of the high school running track and field-event areas, which is scheduled to begin shortly after track season is completed this school year; 3) remodeling of the Room 102 Computer Lab in the high school, which will be completed during the summer of 2007; 4) in the high school gymnasium, new wall mats on the end walls and an overhead volleyball net system––both of which have been investigated, but are not being planned for completion at this time; and 5) some pending projects––including new windows in the high school building, especially on the west side, and refurbishing the exterior brick work on both buildings, especially the west side of the high school.
A letter of resignation had been received from Kathy Vandike, resigning from her high school cook position at the end of the 2006-2007 school year, after 26 years as a school cook, so that she can retire effective June 1, 2007. John Knodel moved, Bruce Feikert seconded, and it carried to accept this resignation.
The administration recommended that the Board approve a contract for Ben Killingsworth to be the industrial arts teacher, grades 7-12, and assistant high school boys’ basketball coach, beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, with salary to be in accordance with the teacher salary schedule and supplementary-pay schedule. Following discussion, Bonnie Zweygardt moved to approve this contract as proposed; the motion was seconded by John Knodel and carried.
The Board was informed that 2007-2008 contracts from 35 certified personnel had been signed and returned for the Board’s signature. Bonnie Zweygardt moved, Bruce Feikert seconded, and it carried to approve these contracts for signature.
The Board next considered noncertified staffing for 2007-2008. A list of noncertified personnel and their current positions was reviewed and discussed. After some discussion of various noncertified positions, Bruce Feikert moved to offer contracts for 2007-2008 to all noncertified personnel who have not resigned; the motion was seconded by Bonnie Zweygardt and carried.
The school’s Title I program was briefly reviewed. Sherry Weeks then moved: 1) to approve the administration’s recommendation that the Title I program be continued in grades K-6 for the 2007-2008 school year with the employment of one certified teacher; and 2) to authorize the administration to apply for any other eligible state and federal programs within the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. The motion was seconded by Bruce Feikert and carried.
Plans for summer programs in 2007 were briefly reviewed: Shirley Swihart and Tammy Grice will teach in the grade school summer school; in addition, the summer weightlifting program will be supervised by Tim Lambert, Ted Busse, and Scott Carmichael. Contracts for all of these positions will be prepared for the Board’s approval at the June Board meeting.
The Board was reminded that Clay Keller’s position on the Recreation Commission expires at the end of June and that the Board will need to appoint someone to that position at the July Board meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Rob Schiltz, who serves as the Testing Coördinator for the Kansas Assessments in St. Francis, reported on the preliminary results on this year’s assessments. Overall, the St. Francis students tested have done very well on the Kansas Assessments, and Mr. Schiltz commended these students and their teachers for their impressive performances.
Administrators and Board members presented a few other miscellaneous items for information and discussion, but no action was taken.
No review of Board Policy was scheduled for this meeting.
At 9:55 p.m., Bruce Feikert moved that the Board enter into executive session for fifteen minutes in order to protect the confidentiality of student matters dealing with scholarships; the motion was seconded by Sherry Weeks and carried. St. FrancisHeraldreporter Karen Krien left the meeting at this time and did not return.
The Board returned to regular session at 10:10 p.m. Bruce Feikert then moved, John Knodel seconded, and it carried to approve the list of nine recommended recipients of the Alice Gillispie Academic Scholarship and the Walter and Lucille Stephenson Memorial Scholarships, as amended; the names of the recipients will be kept confidential until they are announced at High School Commencement on May 20, 2007.
Some additional discussion ensued, but no action was taken.
The Board also acknowledged a note of appreciation and support from the First Baptist Church women, as well as the two plates of cinnamon rolls that had been provided for snacks during the meeting.
At 10:20 p.m., John Knodel moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Bruce Feikert and carried.
