2007-06-14
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING––JUNE 14, 2007
The meeting (which had been preceded by a tour of the new bus and athletic storage building from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.) was called to order at 8:10 p.m. by President Kelly Gienger in the high school library on the above date with all members present. St. FrancisHeraldreporter Karen Krien was also present to observe and take notes.
Mr. Werner requested the addition of one item to the agenda––under Consent Calendar, add “D. Approval of a new three-year participating district agreement with the Northwest Kansas Technical College (NWKTC) in Goodland. 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 Bruce Feikert, and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) The minutes of the regular meeting on May 10, 2007. 2) The list of bills being paid on checks numbering 7057-7152 on BankWest–St. Francis and numbering 4308-4373 on First National Bank–St. Francis for a total of $347,338.87. 3) The Cash Summary Report (including three transfers: $3,217.51 from the Supplemental General Fund to the Vocational Education Fund; $3,419.73 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund; and $35,893.00 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 May 31, 2007. 4) Approval of a new three-year participating district agreement (July 1, 2007––June 30, 2010) with the Northwest Kansas Technical College (NWKTC) in Goodland.
There were no audiences and no committee reports.
Under Old Business, the Board and administration again briefly reviewed the status of the proposed new gymnasium project. No additional drawings or specifications had been developed since the last meeting. The administration indicated it may be that currently we just can’t afford the gymnasium we need.
In New Business, the Board received two letters of resignation: 1) from Anthony Lampe, resigning from his position as a grade school custodian after two years in that position; and 2) from Judy Gienger, resigning from her position as a grade school cook after nine years in that position. Bruce Feikert moved, Cliff Raile seconded, and it carried to accept these resignations.
The administration recommended three new contracts for 2007-2008 for Board approval: 1) Kathy Vandike to be re-hired as a cook at the high school at a reduced rate-of-pay that is in accordance with earnings regulations for a retired employee; 2) Kristi Guthmiller as a co-sponsor for the cheerleaders / pep club / drill team, with pay in accordance with the supplementary-pay schedule; and 3) Kyle Buffington as a coaching aide in high school wrestling, with pay in accordance with the supplementary-pay schedule. John Knodel moved to approve these three contracts as recommended; the motion was seconded by Bonnie Zweygardt and carried.
Five 2007 summer contracts were presented for Board consideration and approval. Proposed contracts for summer school teaching personnel were reviewed, with the salaries figured at the same hourly rate as regular school year instruction: Tammy Grice and Shirley Swihart, each to be contracted for 110 hours in the grade school summer school. In addition, contracts for the summer weightlifting program were reviewed for Ted Busse, Tim Lambert, and Scott Carmichael, with the total supplementary pay usually paid for this program being split equally among these three coaches. Bonnie Zweygardt moved to approve these five 2007 summer contracts as presented; the motion was seconded by John Knodel and carried.
The Board was informed that 2007-2008 contracts from 1 additional certified employee and from 17 noncertified personnel had been signed and returned for the Board’s signature. Sherry Weeks moved, Bruce Feikert seconded, and it carried to approve these contracts for signature.
The Board received and read a letter from Kris Jardine of Haigler, Nebraska, requesting that her 7th-grade son be allowed to attend school in St. Francis for the 2007-2008 school year. Following brief discussion, John Knodel moved, Bonnie Zweygardt seconded, and it carried to approve attendance by this out-of-district student in accordance with Board Policy 5111--“School Admission” and to waive tuition charges. Transportation arrangements will be worked-out with the family.
The Board was advised that an appointment to the Northwest Kansas Technical College (NWKTC) Board in Goodland needed to be made so that NWKTC can plan their July organizational meeting; this appointee must be a current or former member of the USD 297 Board of Education. Following brief discussion, Bonnie Zweygardt moved, Sherry Weeks seconded, and it carried to reäppoint Myra Douthit, who has been actively serving in this position for several years.
The Board was reminded that an appointment will need to be made to the Recreation Commission at the July meeting to fill the position now held by Clay Keller. It was reported that Clay is agreeable to being reäppointed to this position if the Board desires.
Superintendent Werner indicated that a special meeting of the Board near the end of June will be necessary in order to approve the final business transactions of this fiscal year. Cliff Raile moved to schedule a special breakfast meeting at a local restaurant at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, June 29, 2007. The motion was seconded by Bruce Feikert and carried.
Assistant Superintendent Rob Schiltz reported to the Board that the two used school buses offered for sale on e-bay had both been successfully sold: the 1996 23-passenger GMC was sold to Luke and Heidi Payne of Missouri, for $5,000; and the 1996 23-passenger Chevrolet was sold to Rocky Mountain Bus Sales of Monument, Colorado, for $4,050.
Mr. Schiltz also reported that the preliminary Kansas Assessment results for the St. Francis third-graders (who completed the paper-and-pencil version of the tests) had now been made available; the third-graders performed extremely well, with 100% of the students scoring “Meets Standard” or above in both mathematics and reading. Mr. Schiltz also indicated that the preliminary AYP (“adequate yearly progress”) reports show the St. Francis Schools again making AYP in every category reported.
Mr. Schiltz and K-12 Principal Scott Carmichael also briefly reported on some projects being completed on the school grounds at both the grade school and high school involving the “Join Hands” organization and also a Boy Scout Project. Mr. Carmichael reported that a load of pea gravel to use in the grade school projects had been donated to the school by Pete Jensen of St. Francis.
At 9:15 p.m., Bonnie Zweygardt moved that the Board enter into executive session for five minutes in order to protect the confidentiality of student matters dealing with scholarships; the motion was seconded by John Knodel and carried. St. FrancisHeraldreporter Karen Krien left the meeting at this time.
At 9:20 p.m., the Board resumed the regular session, and St. Francis Herald reporter Karen Krien returned to the meeting. No action was taken as a result of the executive session.
No reviews of school-improvement items or of Board Policy were scheduled for this meeting.
Board President Kelly Gienger presented a plaque to outgoing Board member Cliff Raile in appreciation for his long term of dedicated service to St. Francis USD 297 as a Board member for the last twenty-four years. Mary Beth Miller will be assuming this Board position in July.
At 9:25 p.m., Bruce Feikert moved to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Sherry Weeks and carried.
