2018-10-10
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting – October 10, 2018
The meeting was called to order by President Cale Rieger in the administrative office on the above date at 6:01 p.m. with everyone present. Amanda Moberly was present from The Saint Francis Herald to observe and take notes.
Troy Hilt made a motion to approve the agenda; the motion was seconded by Chris Hingst and carried.
Audiences: Gary Sechrist from KASB was present to visit about the Superintendent’s search process. He reviewed with the Board the different phases of this process. November 20, 2018, will be our next meeting with Mr. Sechrist; at that time he will be meeting with different groups in the community to identify characteristics for a new superintendent. The Board took final action to accept the contract with KASB for the Superintendent search at a fee of $3,750 plus mileage.
Items on the Consent Calendar were next considered. Following review of these items, Chris Bracelin moved, Chris Hingst seconded, and it carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) The minutes of the regular Board meeting on September 12, 2018. 2) The list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 0919001-0919071 and on checks numbering 11258-11271 on BANKWEST in the amount of $212,324.32 and checks numbering 13170-13228 on First National Bank totaling $122,414.24 for a grand total of $334,738.56. 3) The Cash Summary Report (including two transfers: $7,811.76 from Supplemental General Fund to CTE Fund and $6,074.81 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund), the Grade School Activity Fund Report, and the High School Activity Fund Report - all as of September 30, 2018. There were no gift offers.
There were no committee reports.
The Board and administration discussed Blue Cross/Blue Shield rates for the new year; currently there is an average increase of 13.67% in premiums. Superintendent Schiltz recommended to leave the amount the school pays toward a single plan at $435/mo. and to leave the amount the school pays for any other “tier” at $870/mo. As of November 1, 2016, it was reported that USD 297 has reached the 50 FTE employee threshold for the Affordable Healthcare Act. For this reason, we offer insurance to additional employees of the district. The amount the school is required to pay on their premium is based on a formula for potential new group members. Troy Hilt made a motion to approve the school-paid amounts, and the amounts offered to new group members based on the Affordable Healthcare act formula; motion was seconded by Chris Bracelin and carried.
Superintendent Schiltz then made a recommendation to increase the base teacher salary schedule by $1,000.00, which is an average increase of 2.35% for licensed teachers, and to increase all other employee salaries not tied to the salary schedule by 2.35%. The increases will take effect with the November payroll. After discussion, a motion was made by Chris Bracelin to approve the base salary schedule increase and a 2.35% increase for all other contracted employees. The motion was seconded by Danielle McAtee and carried.
The Board received a summary of the official enrollment on September 20, 2018. Official 2018-2019 FTE enrollment in USD 297 is 261.5, which is a decrease of 16.5 from the 2017-2018 FTE enrollment (278).
The Board also received a summary of the KSHSAA Classifications for activities in 2018-2019. St. Francis is now a Class 1A school in the KSHSAA Classifications, with an enrollment of 87 in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Superintendent Schiltz reported that USD 297 has the opportunity to receive a Kansas Reading Roadmap program grant in the amount of $122,680.96. This grant would be used to set up an after-school and summer reading program for qualifying students in grades K-3. Dustin Andrist made a motion to accept these grant funds, seconded by Troy Hilt, and carried.
Next, Superintendent Schiltz reported that we have one contract amendment to approve for additional college hours for Marian Ochsner. Mila Bandel moved to approve the contract amendment; motion was seconded by Danielle McAtee and carried.
The Board and administration briefly reviewed the Audit Report for FY 2018 (and the accompanying management letter and governance letter) that had been completed by Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball. There will be a second review of the audit at the November Board meeting for final approval.
The Superintendent presented to the board the three-year renewal rates received from Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball for our annual financial audit. Their fees for this contract are as follows: 2019-$8,315; 2020-$8,565; 2021-$8,820. Chris Hingst made a motion to approve entering into a contract with Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, seconded by Chris Bracelin, and carried.
Superintendent Schiltz has been working with three bus companies to get comparative bids on a new activity bus in conjunction with the Clean Diesel grant we received from KSDE; the grant will pay 25% of the cost of a new bus. Superintendent Schiltz requested approval to go ahead and order the bus once he has gathered all information as new prices will go into effect November 1, 2018. Chris Bracelin made a motion for Superintendent Schiltz to order the new activity bus once all information is received; motion was seconded by Dustin Andrist and carried.
Next, Superintendent Schiltz conducted an annual review of the St. Francis Educational Foundation Fund, how it is funded, and what it can be used for. Currently, the balance of the fund is $129,075.93.
Superintendent Schiltz updated the Board on the progress being made toward the implementation of KESA (Kansas Educational Systems Accreditation) and MTSS (Multi-Tier System of Supports).
The next Board of Education meeting will be held on November 8, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
At 8:43 p.m., Mila Bandel moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Chris Bracelin and carried.
