2011-09-08
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING––SEPTEMBER 8 , 2011
The meeting was called to order by President Derrick Tice at 7:00 p.m. on the above date in the administration office with all members present except Ed Marin, who arrived a few minutes later. Assistant Board Clerk Traci Neitzel and St. Francis Herald reporter Karen Krien were also present.
Superintendent Schiltz requested the addition of two items under Consent Calendar: Add d) Adoption of a resolution for the Cheyenne County/USD 297 Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Plan, and e) Acceptance of gift-offer.
Mila Bandel moved to approve the agenda, including the additional two items; the motion was seconded by Sherry Weeks and carried.
The Board reviewed and discussed the items on the consent calendar. A motion was then made by Mary Beth Miller, seconded by Kelly Gienger, and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) The minutes of the regular Board Meeting and Budget Hearing on August 11, 2011. 2) A list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 0819047-057 and on checks numbering 9697-9705 on BankWest, and numbering 7827-7898 on First National Bank for a total of $98,460.19. 3) The Cash Summary Report (including two transfers: $90.55 from the Supplemental General Fund to the Vocational Education Fund and $727.57 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund), and the Grade School and High School Activity Fund Reports––all as of August 31, 2011. 4) Adoption of a resolution for the Cheyenne County/USD 297 Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Plan. 5) Acceptance of a gift-offer in the amount of $871.62 from NexTech Wireless (second-quarter school rebate).
There were no audiences, no committee reports, and no old business items.
The Board received and read a letter from an out-of-district family, Tammy Frink, requesting that her children, Christina and Caleb, be allowed to attend school in St. Francis during the 2011-2012 school year. Kelly Gienger moved, Mary Beth Miller seconded, and it carried to allow these students to attend in accordance with Board Policy 5111 “School Admission” and to waive tuition charges.
Mr. Schiltz presented his thoughts and concerns regarding the financial ability of the school to increase salaries of all contracted employees, effective with the November 2011 payroll. Following a review of Form 150, “Estimated Legal Maximum General Fund Budget,” and a productive discussion, it was agreed that a final decision on the subject will be scheduled at the regular October Board meeting.
The Board was informed of the new monthly Blue Cross–Blue Shield (BC-BS) premium rates for the health-insurance group of school employees, effective with the new plan from November 1, 2011, through October 31, 2012, and discussed the possibility of the school paying an additional amount toward the premiums. (Information received from BC-BS indicates an average increase of 4.4% in premiums.) The focus of discussion was whether or not the Board was interested in increasing what the school pays toward the premiums by about the same amounts as in the past. The administration will schedule this item for the Board to consider for final approval at the October Board meeting.
A summary of the preliminary 2011-2012 school enrollment compared with the official 2010-2011 school enrollment was reviewed. The total head count enrollment of 295 is down by 5 students at this time. The official 2011-2012 enrollment will be determined on September 20, 2011.
The Board next considered an amendment to Marlin Queen’s contract, adding 38 days (from 187 days to 225) with an end-date of June 30, 2012. Following discussion, a motion was made by Mila Bandel, seconded by Mary Beth Miller, and carried, approving this amendment making Mr. Queen full-time.
For about two years, Superintendent Schiltz has been looking for a smaller coach-style activity bus to replace the two older yellow activity buses. His research has located a 1998, 24-passenger bus with 52,000 miles, from American Bus Sales located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Following discussion, a motion was made by Ed Marin authorizing the administration to purchase the bus at the agreed-upon price of $33,000 (which includes the agreement that American Bus Sales will paint this bus to match USD 297’s big Indian bus). The motion was seconded by Cory Busse and carried.
The KASB Region 9 Fall Meeting will be held at Colby Community College on Thursday, October 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. An email reminder will be sent to Board members prior to October 6.
Superintendent Schiltz requested Board permission to designate Monday, September 19 as a district-wide in-service day. There would be no school for students on this day. All teachers and paraprofessionals would travel to Oberlin for a multi-school in-service day. All other contracted employees would have a regular work-day. Following brief discussion, Mila Bandel moved to approve this request, as stated above; the motion was seconded by Sherry Weeks and carried.
Principal Carmichael presented a few miscellaneous items for information and discussion, including the start-up of the program “Walkable Schools.” He stated that the elementary school had already started the program and that the junior-senior high would begin next week.
No report on the school-improvement process and no review of Board Policy were scheduled for this meeting.
A thank-you note had been received and read from two coaches expressing their appreciation for the Administration and Board’s support allowing them to attend the 79th Annual KSHSAA Coaching School in Wichita.
At 8:55 p.m., Mila Bandel moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Kelly Gienger and carried.
