2008-11-13
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING––NOVEMBER 13, 2008
The meeting was called to order by President Bonnie Zweygardt in the St. Francis High School library on the above date at 7:30 p.m. with all members present except Pete Raile and Sherry Weeks. St. Francis Herald reporter Karen Krien was also present to observe and take notes.
John Knodel moved to approve the agenda as proposed; the motion was seconded by Mary Beth Miller and carried.
The Board reviewed and discussed the items on the consent calendar. A motion was then made by Bruce Feikert, seconded by Kelly Gienger, and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) the minutes of the regular meeting on October 9, 2008; 2) the list of bills being paid on checks numbering 8602-8697 on BankWest and numbering 5580-5660 on First National Bank for a total of $291,153.26; 3) financial reports, as follows: the Cash Summary Report (including three transfers: $3,298.39 from the Supplemental General Fund to the Vocational Fund, $7,547.30 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund, and $44,653 from the General Fund to the Special Education Fund), and the Grade School and High School Activity Fund Reports––all as of October 31, 2008.
There were no audiences and no committee reports.
Under Old Business, Superintendent Schiltz informed the Board that the access control system has been installed in the high school building and is working well.
As a result of the general election (November 4, 2008), the $2.5 million bond for the proposed gym project, with a pay-back period of 15 years, failed by 61 votes (official results were 536 YES, and 597 NO). The Administration and Board held a lengthy discussion, and will continue to do so at future meetings with the intent to bring the bond election back to the public in the future.
Under New Business, the Board was informed that Troy Hilt from Western State Bank in St. Francis had requested that Western State Bank be designated as an official depository for USD 297 funds. Currently, First National Bank and BankWest are the official depositories. A motion was made by John Knodel, seconded by Bruce Feikert, and carried to add Western State Bank as an official depository.
The Board received and read a letter from Leslie McKinney (Cheylin School District), requesting that her daughters, Alexis and Danielle Frink, be allowed to attend school in St. Francis for the remaining 2008-2009 school year. John Knodel moved, Kelly Gienger seconded, and it carried to allow these students to attend in accordance with Board Policy 5111—“School Admission” and to waive tuition charges.
Superintendent Schiltz received and distributed to Board members a letter from Lucinda Straub resigning from her position as head custodian at the elementary school building. A motion was made by Kelly Gienger, seconded by Bruce Feikert, and carried to accept Lucinda’s resignation, effective October 31, 2008.
The next item of business for the Board’s consideration was a contract-offer to Marlin Queen for head custodian at the elementary school (recently vacated by Lucinda Straub). A motion was made by John Knodel, seconded by Mary Beth Miller, and carried to approve this contract for Marlin Queen.
Superintendent Schiltz informed the Board that he is still in the process of compiling bid specs for a new boiler system in the elementary school building, and should have the bid specs ready to send out tomorrow. The bid deadline will be Thursday, November 20. Bruce Feikert moved to have a special Board meeting on Friday, November 21 at 7:45 a.m. in the Superintendent’s office to discuss, and most likely approve a bid for a new boiler system in the elementary school building. The motion was seconded by John Knodel and carried.
The Board received and reviewed some preliminary information concerning the Board of Education elections that will be held in 2009, with the general election to be on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. Three school board positions will be voted upon in the 2009 elections (Bruce Feikert, Kelly Gienger, and Pete Raile).
Superintendent Schiltz reviewed with the Board the 2008 Kansas Assessment Standard of Excellence Awards that had been received from the Kansas State Department of Education. These awards are given to schools and individual classes within the schools who have met a rigorous rubric dealing with Kansas assessment scores. It was noted that St. Francis USD 297 had received Standard of Excellence Awards in reading for grades 3, 4, 7, 8 and 11; and in math, grades 7 and 8; and in science, grades 7 and 11. A letter from Charles Volland, Chairman of Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force, had been received by Superintendent Schiltz, informing him that St. Francis High School has been awarded a Certificate of Merit as part of the 6th Annual Challenge Awards recognizing the outstanding performance on the 7th grade math assessment. Mr. Schiltz explained the tentative plan for recognizing the students and teachers who will be receiving these awards.
The Kansas Association of School Boards State Convention, to be held in Wichita, December 5-7, was briefly discussed. Any Board members who are interested in attending will notify the superintendent so that arrangements can be made.
The Board and administration presented a few other miscellaneous items for information and discussion, but no action was taken.
No report on the school-improvement process and no review of board policy were scheduled for this meeting.
The Board received and read a thank-you card from Mrs.
Schlittenhardt’s 7th grade Kansas History class expressing
appreciation for the field trip to Kearney.
At 10:12 p.m., Kelly Gienger moved that the meeting adjourn; the
motion was seconded by Mary Beth Miller and carried.
