2010-04-08
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING––APRIL 8, 2010
Vice-President Kelly Gienger called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. in the St. Francis administration office on the above date with all members present except Mary Beth Miller and Bonnie Zweygardt. Reporter Karen Krien was also present to observe and take notes.
Superintendent Schiltz requested the addition of one item under New Business: consensus to draft a retirement incentive document. John Knodel moved to approve the agenda with this addition; the motion was seconded by Derrick Tice and carried.
Items on the consent calendar were reviewed and discussed. A motion was then made by John Knodel, seconded by Ed Marin, and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) The minutes of the regular meeting on March 11, 2010. 2) The list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 0319001-0319073 and on checks numbering 9372-9388 on BankWest and numbering 6717-6772 on First National Bank for a total of $256,531.22. 3) The Cash Summary Report (including three transfers––$3,289.54 from the Supplemental General Fund to the Vocational Education Fund, $7,298.69 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund, and $23,599.00 from the General Fund to the Special Education Fund), and the Grade School and High School Activity Fund Reports––all as of March 31, 2010.
There were no audiences and no committee reports, but the Scholarship Committee indicated that they were planning to meet on Thursday, April 15, at 4:00 p.m.
Next on the agenda was a review of licensed and non-licensed personnel and their current and proposed assignments. At this time Superintendent Schiltz requested a 20-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. John Knodel moved to go into executive session for the time-period of 8:20 to 8:40; the motion was seconded by Sherry Weeks and carried. Reporter Karen Krien left the meeting at this time and did not return. At 8:41 p.m., regular session resumed.
The Board was informed that by current law, a school board must notify a teacher in writing on or before May 1 if said teacher’s contract will not be renewed; and a teacher must notify the school board in writing on or before May 15 if (s)he is resigning from their teaching contract. However, Senate Bill 362 has been written to change the date that a school board must notify a teacher in writing, if their contract will not be renewed, to on or before the third Friday in May (May 21 this year); and a teacher must notify the school board in writing on or before 14 days after the third Friday in May (June 4 this year) if (s)he is resigning from their teaching contract. It is anticipated that the Governor will sign this bill, which has already been approved by the Legislature. Since the status of school funding is still unclear, Mr. Schiltz indicated it would be best to wait until on or shortly before the new date (May 21) to notify teachers if their contracts will not be renewed. If the Governor does not sign SB 362, a special Board meeting will be called to approve offering contracts before the May 1 date.
Contracts to non-licensed personnel for 2010-2011 will be reviewed again and acted upon at a later meeting.
Mr. Schiltz informed the Board that he had met with licensed personnel who are eligible to retire with full KPERS (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System) benefits, and presented them with a possible health insurance benefit if they choose to retire effective at the end of this year’s teaching contract. Following discussion, it was Board consensus that Superintendent Schiltz proceed with drafting a retirement incentive document for use with eligible licensed personnel.
The Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) Region 9 Meeting, to be held on Monday, April 19, in Quinter, was briefly discussed. Superintendent Schiltz will plan to attend, along with any other Board members whose schedules will allow.
It was reported that a number of students have completed the 2010 Kansas Assessments and the preliminary results are impressive, once again. Mr. Schiltz was complimentary of the teachers and students for their hard work.
High School Commencement is scheduled for Sunday, May 23, beginning at 2:00. It was Board consensus to approve Mary Beth Miller as the Board member to present diplomas at commencement.
A few other miscellaneous items were introduced 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.
At 9:55 p.m.., John Knodel moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Derrick Tice and carried.
