2009-05-14
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING--MAY 14, 2009
President Bonnie Zweygardt 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 John Knodel, Mary Beth Miller, and Sherry Weeks. Also present were newly-elected Board members Ed Marin and Derrick Tice who had been invited. St. Francis Herald reporter Karen Krien was also present to observe and take notes.
Kelly Gienger moved to approve the agenda as proposed; the
motion was seconded by Bruce Feikert and carried.
The Board reviewed and discussed the items on the consent calendar.
A motion was then made by Bruce Feikert, seconded by Pete Raile,
and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the
following items: 1) The minutes of the regular meeting on April 8,
2009. 2) The list of bills, which now includes direct deposit for
salary payments, being paid on deposit slips numbering
0417001-0417075 and being paid on checks numbering 9176-9190 on
BankWest, and numbering 5983-6044 on First National Bank for a
total of $268,860.48. 3) The Cash Summary Report (including three
transfers: $3,204.63 from the Supplemental General Fund to the
Vocational Education Fund; $7,415.80 from the General Fund to the
At-Risk Fund; and $35,807 from the General Fund to the Special
Education Fund), and the Grade School and High School Activity Fund
Reports––all as of April 30, 2009.
There were no audiences.
The Scholarship Committee (Scott Carmichael, Rob Schiltz, Sherry
Weeks and Mary Beth Miller) reported that they had met and made the
recommended selections for one 2009 Alice Gillispie Academic
Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 (non-renewable) and for seven
2009 Walter and Lucille Stephenson Memorial Scholarships in the
amount of $500 each (all non-renewable). Bruce Feikert moved, Pete
Raile seconded, and it carried to approve the list of eight
recommended scholarship recipients; the names of the recipients
will be kept confidential until they are announced at High School
Commencement on May 17, 2009.
Under old business, Superintendent Schiltz reported on the status of various projects that have been discussed throughout the year. He also reported on projects that are currently in progress.
New Business began with discussion of school finance for 2009-2010. Mr. Schiltz estimated a loss of approximately $186,028 in the general fund budget for next year due to cuts made by the legislature and a decline in enrollment. Mr. Schiltz reviewed with the Board a list of ideas for cutting expenditures. Following extensive discussion, Bruce Feikert moved to have all-day kindergarten beginning in the fall of 2009 (eliminating the noon bus routes); also, to eliminate sack lunches for high school activities. The motion was seconded by Kelly Gienger and carried. These cuts, along with cuts made prior to this meeting (and some other savings’ measures) account for approximately $54,719 in savings. It was Board consensus that the remaining shortfall be covered with the local option budget (LOB), as needed.
The Board was informed that 2009-2010 contracts from 32 licensed personnel had been signed and returned for the Board’s signature. Kelly Gienger moved, Bruce Feikert seconded, and it carried to approve these contracts for signature.
The Board next considered non-licensed staffing for 2009-2010. A list of non-licensed personnel and their current positions was reviewed and discussed. Following discussion, Pete Raile moved to offer contracts for 2009-2010 to all non-licensed personnel who have not had their position eliminated (certain assistant coaching positions), and to reässign Talley Morrow from assistant high school volleyball coach to head high school volleyball coach; the motion was seconded by Kelly Gienger and carried.
The school’s Title I program was briefly reviewed. Bruce Feikert
then moved to approve the administration’s recommendation that the
Title I program be continued in grades K-6 for the 2009-2010 school
year with the employment of one certified teacher. The motion was
seconded by Pete Raile and carried.
Plans for summer programs in 2009 were briefly reviewed: Shirley
Swihart and Tammy Grice will teach in the grade school summer
school program; in addition, the summer weightlifting program will
be supervised by Scott Carmichael and Nathan Smith. Contracts for
these positions will be prepared for the Board’s approval at the
June Board meeting. It was Board consensus that most likely, summer
school will be phased-out after this year due to budget cuts.
Board members were given a list of current student fees and adult
meal prices, and were asked to consider approving increases as
proposed by Superintendent Schiltz in order to help offset
expenditures for the schools. Following discussion, a motion was
made by Bruce Feikert, seconded by Kelly Gienger, and carried to
approve the following increases:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Kdg. Book Rental $15 (from $10)
1-6 Book Rental $25 (from $15)
Activity Ticket $7.50 (from $5)
Breakfast $1.15 (from $.95)
Lunch $1.60 (from $1.40)
JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL Book Rental $25 (from $15)
Activity Tickets $11 (from $8.50)
Drivers Ed Permit no change, still $2
Science Goggle Fee no change, still $6
Yearbook & DVD no change, still $35
Towel Fee no change, still $7
Breakfast $1.45 (from $1.25)
Lunch $2.00 (from $1.80)
ADULT MEALS Breakfast $1.75 (from $1.40)
Lunch $2.95 (from $2.60)
Superintendent Rob Schiltz, who serves as the Testing Coördinator
for the Kansas Assessments in St. Francis, reported on the
preliminary results for this year’s assessments. Overall, the St.
Francis students have done extremely well on the Kansas
Assessments, and Mr. Schiltz commended these students and their
teachers for their impressive performances.
Thank-You letters from the 5th graders who attended the Estes Park field trip had been received, expressing their appreciation for the great learning experience.
Administrators and Board members presented a few other
miscellaneous items for information and discussion, but no action
was taken.
No review of the School-Improvement Process and no review of Board
Policy were scheduled for this meeting.
At 9:55 p.m., Kelly Gienger moved that the meeting adjourn; the
motion was seconded by Bruce Feikert and carried.
