2008-10-09
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting––October 9, 2008
The meeting was called to order by President Bonnie Zweygardt in the St. Francis High School library on the above date at 8:00 p.m. with all members present except Bruce Feikert, John Knodel and Mary Beth Miller. Mary Beth Miller arrived later. St. Francis Herald reporter Karen Krien was also present to observe and take notes.
Sherry Weeks moved to approve the agenda; the motion was seconded by Pete Raile and carried.
The Board reviewed and discussed the items on the consent calendar. A motion was then made by Kelly Gienger, seconded by Sherry Weeks, and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) the minutes of the regular meeting on September 11, 2008; 2) the list of bills being paid on checks numbering 8508-8601 on BankWest and numbering 5515-5579 on First National Bank for a total of $273,580.89; 3) the Cash Summary Report (including two transfers: $3,030.83 from the Supplemental General Fund to the Vocational Fund, and $12,090.94 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund), and the Grade School and High School Activity Fund Reports––all as of September 30, 2008.
There were no audiences and no committee reports.
Under Old Business, the Board and administration returned to the discussion of possible salary increases for the 2008-2009 school term. It was the administration’s recommendation and Board consensus to wait until closer to the end of the school year to see if a “salary adjustment” for all employees, which has been done in the past, can be made at that time.
The Board and administration discussed the possibility of the district paying an additional amount toward the premiums of the school’s health-insurance group, effective with the new plan beginning November 1, 2008, through October 31, 2009. The Board agreed with the idea of continuing to help with health-insurance costs for school employees, thus trying to retain those employees already in the group and perhaps attracting others to join the group. After discussion, Mary Beth Miller moved, Sherry Weeks seconded, and it carried for the school to pay an additional amount, as follows: $30 per month (for a total of $235) on each single plan and $60 per month (for a total of $470) on each plan other than a single. This school payment, an estimated overall total of $104,340 for the 2008-09 plan-year, will be paid from the school’s General Fund (current payments) and the Contingency Reserve Fund (this year’s additional payments).
Superintendent Schiltz reported on the progress that has been made in informing the public about the details of the proposed gym project. The Community Builders Group has arranged a public information forum to be held in the St. Francis High School auditorium on October 16 at 7:30 p.m. with the intent that voters will obtain more knowledge before going to the polls on November 4 to vote on the bond election for this project.
Under New Business, a contract amendment for Susan Dinkel, adding assistant high school girls’ basketball coach, was presented for consideration. Following discussion, Pete Raile moved, Mary Beth Miller seconded, and it carried to approve this added assignment to Susan Dinkel’s contract, with the salary for this position to be in accordance with the supplementary salary schedule.
A letter had been received from Daryl Loyd resigning from his position as assistant high school wrestling coach. Following discussion, Sherry Weeks moved, Kelly Gienger seconded, and it carried to accept this resignation. At this time, plans are to not fill this vacancy.
The school had received a gift of 168 green and yellow cafeteria serving trays (valued at $819) from the Alumni Association. In accordance with Board Policy 1313 “Gifts,” a motion to accept this gift was made by Pete Raile, seconded by Mary Beth Miller and carried.
The Board received a summary of the official enrollment on September 22, 2008. Official 2008-2009 FTE enrollment in USD 297 is 297.5, which is a decrease of 10 from the 2007-2008 FTE enrollment (307.5). Actual head-count enrollment is 307, down from 319 in 2007-2008.
The Board also received a summary of the KSHSAA Classifications for activities in 2008-2009. St. Francis is back to a Class 2A school in the KSHSAA, with an enrollment of 81 in the top three grades 10, 11, and 12. This year’s enrollment range for Class 2A schools is from a low of 81 to a high of 121 students in grades 10, 11, and 12.
Under miscellaneous items, Mr. Schiltz reported that the same company (Get Bats Out) who had been hired to extract the bats from the schools and seal-up the buildings was hired to remove bat guano, sterilize, and deodorize selected attic-areas of the elementary school building.
In conjunction with this clean-up, Mr. Schiltz contacted Meriam Thompson from the Kansas Department of Labor who came to St. Francis on September 30 and took air quality samples from the elementary school building. Official results had not been received by Board meeting time; however, Ms. Thompson called Mr. Schiltz the morning following the Board meeting expressing that there was no evidence of a mold problem in the elementary school building. Official results will be mailed to keep on file.
Two thank-you letters addressed to the Board, administration,
and staff had been received: 1) Yost Ford, expressing appreciation
of the school’s business, and 2) Plum Creek 4-H Club (along with a
plate of cookies and snacks), expressing appreciation for the
school’s continued support throughout the years.
There was no Review of School-Improvement.
Under Review of Board Policy, the Board reviewed Policy 5131.7 “Bullying” which had been adopted on November 13, 2007. Superintendent Schiltz distributed the USD 297 Bullying Plan which had been completed by the Bullying Committee. Following review of this plan, Kelly Gienger moved to approve the USD 297 Bullying Plan. The motion was seconded by Sherry Weeks and carried.
At 9:45 p.m., Kelly Gienger moved to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Pete Raile and carried.
