2016-05-13
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting –May 13, 2016
The meeting was called to order by Board President Shannon Grover in the administration office on the above date at 7:02 a.m. with everyone present. St. Francis Herald reporter Amanda Miller was also present to observe and take notes. Other guests were Jessica Matthies and Robin Petersen.
Mila Bandel made a motion to approve the agenda with one addition: to add under New Business 6)f) J R Landenberger visiting with the board about street repairs. The motion was seconded by Troy Hilt and carried.
The Board reviewed and discussed the items on the consent calendar. A motion was then made by Derrick Tice, seconded by Chris Bracelin, and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: a) The minutes of the regular Board meeting on April 14, 2016. b) A list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 0419001 – 0419066 and on checks numbering 10750-10763 on BANKWEST, and checks numbering 11344-11391 on First National Bank for a total of $255,928.58. c) The Cash Summary Report (including three transfers: $3,881.37 from Supplemental General Fund to the Vocational Fund, $5,617.77 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund, and $30,082.00 from General Fund to the Special Ed Fund)¸ the Grade School Activity Fund Report, and the High School Activity Fund Report – all as of April 30, 2016. d) The Board approved a gift offer from the St. Francis Recreation Commission for $3,000.00 to pay for the summer weights program.
Audiences: Jessica Mattthies was present to discuss some concerns she had regarding 6th grade moving to the Junior High. Robin Petersen was there to observe; she had voiced some concerns regarding the Grade School earlier to Mr. Schiltz.
This hiring committee has been called back into action now that we have elementary positions to fill. Membership on the committee has changed some due to openings in the elementary school. Jean Ann Confer will replace Jeff Olofson as the teacher member. Mr. Morrow, Cale Rieger, Troy Hilt, and Mr. Schiltz are the other members.
Next, under Old Business, the Board continued their discussion regarding moving 6th grade to junior high. Superintendent Schiltz gave the board members some documents setting out his thoughts on the decision and also the financial impact of the decision. After substantial discussion, Derrick Tice made a motion to move 6th grade to junior high, seconded by Cale Rieger; with a vote of 5 affirmative and 2 negative, the motion carried.
Superintendent Schiltz continued with a report on the status of various projects that have been completed and some new projects that have been discussed throughout the year. Roger Jensen had visited with Superintendent Schiltz about the possibility of locating the new city swimming pool at the north end of the grade school front yard; the Board was in favor of pursuing this possibility. The grade school fort will be demolished this summer with plans for a new playground in the works. It was also suggested by Mila Bandel, that KDOL be contacted to conduct another air quality control test at the grade school. Several other projects are slated for completion as well.
At 8:55 a.m., Derrick Tice made a motion to go into Executive Session for 30 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. The motion was seconded by Chris Bracelin and carried. Reporter Amanda Miller and other guests left the room. At 9:25 a.m., regular session resumed.
Chris Bracelin then made a motion to re-assign Darla Raile from her teaching position to the Elementary School Principal position. Superintendent Schiltz will then move back to the office in the High School building as Superintendent. The motion was seconded by Ed Marin and carried.
Under New Business, the Board and administration received a letter of resignation from Shirley Swihart, resigning from her position of 2nd grade teacher. Mrs. Swihart has taught in the St. Francis schools for 29 years and plans to retire. Also received was a letter of resignation from Robin Burr, resigning from her position as the K-6 special education teacher. Mrs. Burr has taught in the St. Francis schools for 38 years and plans to retire. Also received was a letter of resignation from Adam Guthmiller, resigning from his position of 6th grade teacher. Ted Busse also turned in a resignation from his duties as Junior High Football coach. Coach Busse has been the head coach for four years. A motion was made by Chris Bracelin, seconded by Mila Bandel, and carried to accept the four resignations.
The Board was reminded that by law (K.S.A. 72-5411, as amended), a school board must notify a teacher in writing on or before the third Friday in May (May 20th this year) if said teacher’s contract will not be renewed; and a teacher must notify the school board in writing on or before 14 days after the third Friday in May (June 3rd this year) if (s)he is resigning from their position.
A roster of elementary and secondary licensed personnel was once again reviewed. Following discussion, including re-assignments of some duties, a motion was made by Cale Rieger to offer 2016-2017 contracts to all current licensed personnel who have not resigned and subject to the provisions that the contracts paid partially or fully from federal funding are dependent on USD 297 receiving sufficient federal funds for those contracts; the motion was seconded by Ed Marin and carried.
A roster of non-licensed personnel was once again discussed. Ed Marin moved to offer contracts for 2016-2017 to all non-licensed personnel as proposed on the roster; the motion was seconded by Derrick Tice and carried.
The school’s Title I program was briefly reviewed. Mila Bandel moved to approve the administration’s recommendation that the Title I program be continued in grades K-6 for the 2016-2017 school year with the employment of one licensed teacher, if USD 297 receives sufficient Title I funds to maintain the program. The motion was seconded by Chris Bracelin and carried.
Superintendent Schiltz indicated the summer weightlifting program will be continued again this summer. Coach O’Loughlin and Coach Yates will run this program. The $3,000.00 given by the St. Francis Recreation Commission will be split between them. Further discussion will take place at the regular June meeting.
Superintendent Schiltz reported that the 2016 Kansas Assessments have all been completed.
A few other miscellaneous items were discussed
No report on the school-improvement process or review of any school policies were scheduled for this meeting.
The next scheduled Board meeting will be held on June 9, 2016, at 7:00 P.M.
At 9:45 A.M., Shannon Grover moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Troy Hilt and carried.
