2009-10-08
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting––October 8, 2009
The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Kelly Gienger in the St. Francis Board Room on the above date at 8:02 p.m. with all members present except Mary Beth Miller and Derrick Tice. Mary Beth Miller arrived later. St. Francis Herald reporter Karen Krien was also present to observe and take notes.
Superintendent Schiltz requested an addition to the agenda under New Business—a supplemental contract offer for a coaching position. Bonnie Zweygardt moved to approve the agenda, including the addition of 6b under New Business; the motion was seconded by John Knodel and carried.
The Board reviewed and discussed the items on the consent calendar. A motion was then made by John Knodel, seconded by Sherry Weeks, and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) The minutes of the regular meeting on September 10, 2009. 2) A list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 0918001-0918074 and on checks numbering 9268-9285 on BankWest and numbering 6335-6407 on First National Bank for a total of $287,681.25. 3) The Cash Summary Report (including two transfers: $2,809.48 from the Supplemental General Fund to the Vocational Fund, and $7,281.19 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund), and the Grade School and High School Activity Fund Reports––all as of September 30, 2009; and 4) A gift-offer of $541.23 from NexTech Wireless (school rebate program).
Under Audiences, Dr. Ed Mills, President of Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland, shared a PowerPoint presentation informing Board members of the initiatives that NWKTC is taking to build programs and encourage support from surrounding schools.
There were no committee reports.
Under Old Business, the Board and administration returned to the discussion of possible salary increases for the 2009-2010 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 sometimes been done in past years, 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, 2009, through October 31, 2010. 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, John Knodel moved, Bonnie Zweygardt seconded, and it carried for the school to pay an additional amount, as follows: $40 per month (for a total of $275 mo.) on each single plan and $80 per month (for a total of $550 mo.) on each plan other than a single. This school payment will be paid from the school’s General Fund (current payments) and the Contingency Reserve Fund (this year’s additional payments).
The Board received a summary of the official enrollment on September 21, 2009. Official 2009-2010 FTE enrollment in USD 297 is 286.3, which is a decrease of 11.2 from the 2008-2009 FTE enrollment (297.5). Actual head-count enrollment is 296, down from 307 in 2008-2009.
The Board also received a summary of the KSHSAA Classifications for activities in 2009-2010. St. Francis continues to be a Class 2A school in the KSHSAA, with an enrollment of 78 in the top three grades 10, 11, and 12. This year’s enrollment range for Class 2A schools is from a low of 77 to a high of 120 students in grades 10, 11, and 12.
A contract amendment for David Morrow, adding junior high boys’ basketball coach, was presented for consideration. Following discussion, John Knodel moved, Bonnie Zweygardt seconded, and it carried to approve this added assignment to Mr. Morrow’s contract, with the salary for this position to be in accordance with the supplementary salary schedule.
Under miscellaneous items, Superintendent Schiltz reported on the current status of the bat situation in the elementary school building. Cheyenne County Hospital Administrator Les Lacy recently notified Mr. Schiltz that a second complaint had been registered with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Mr. Schiltz and Mr. Lacy referred the matter to Cheyenne County Health Nurse, Mila Bandel, who then contacted Dr. Ingrid Garrison, KDHE, who recommended an EPA indoor air quality kit for testing in the elementary school building. Even though last year’s air quality test, performed by the Kansas Department of Labor following the first complaint to the KDHE, reported that no hazards were found as a result of the on-site inspection performed on September 30, 2008, and the working conditions were deemed safe and healthy, Mr. Schiltz agreed with CCHN Mila Bandel’s request to schedule another walk-through for a structural inspection and to check the heating and air conditioning filters, etc. in the elementary school. In order to maintain transparency, Mr. Schiltz asked that Mrs. Bandel schedule the date and time (as opposed to him setting the date and time) for a walk-through and to perform the air quality test. CCHN Bandel will invite Cheyenne County Commissioner Andy Beikman as well as any school officials, janitors, and school board members who would also like to be present.
Also under miscellaneous items, Superintendent Schiltz reported that an estimate had been received for installing a sprinkler system on the elementary school playground. He also had estimated costs for buffalo grass seed and pipe/meter installation. With the goal in mind of improving the elementary playground area and gaining control of the sticker problem, the total estimated cost of this project would be approximately $15,800, which would be paid from Capital Outlay funds. It was Board consensus to move forward on this project.
Mr. Schiltz also reported that Goodell Greenhouse, Marino Inc., had delivered numerous trees and shrubs (at a discount of 20% to the school) to be planted along the north side of the elementary school building. Pastor David Butler and members of the St. Francis Community Church are planning a community service activity this coming weekend and will plant all the trees and shrubs at the grade school.
Miscellaneous items continued with a report from Superintendent Schiltz, who had attended the monthly superintendent’s meeting in Oakley on Wednesday morning and then the Fall Region 9 Kansas Association of School Boards meeting in Brewster Wednesday afternoon and evening. The State’s financial picture is still uncertain and bleak. The Board discussed ways to inform voting members of the community of the need to notify our legislators in reference to raising taxes statewide. As things stand now, it will be up to local boards to raise local taxes in order to help offset the statewide deficit and to help maintain the quality programs that schools currently have but may lose due to legislative budget cuts.
A few more miscellaneous items were brought-up and discussed. Follow-up reports will be given at the next regular meeting on November 12, 2009.
There were no agenda items under Review of School-Improvement.
Under Review of Board Policy, the Board reviewed Policy 1330 “Building Rental” and the “Building Use Agreement.” It was noted that some parts of this policy need to be changed in order to match current procedures and expenses. Following review and discussion, a motion was made by Mary Beth Miller, seconded by John Knodel, and carried to increase the daily rate to $50 per day’s usage, not to exceed $150 per event (the rate has been $5 per hour, not to exceed $10 per day, since February 1994). It was also noted that signs should be posted, and announcements made at home events, indicating that there is to be no smoking on school grounds (inside or outside).
At 10:31 p.m., Kelly Gienger moved to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Ed Marin and carried.
