2019-05-08
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting –May 8, 2019
The meeting was called to order by Board President Cale Rieger in the administration office on the above date at 7:03 a.m. with everyone present. Kattie Aldaco and Erin Perrigo were also present.
Superintendent Schiltz made a couple of changes to the agenda: 1) delete 6d) 2018-2019 KESA report and 2) there will not be a discussion on assessment scores. These two items will be on the June agenda. Mila Bandel made a motion to approve the agenda with the two changes. The motion was seconded by Chris Hingst and carried.
The Board reviewed and discussed the items on the consent calendar. A motion was then made by Chris Bracelin, seconded by Mila Bandel, and carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: a) The minutes of the regular Board meeting on April 11, 2019. b) A list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 0419001 – 0419072 and on checks numbering 11361-11374 on BANKWEST, and checks numbering 13632-13674 on First National Bank for a total of $303,302.19. c) The Cash Summary Report (including three transfers: $8,726.04 from Supplemental General Fund to the Career & Tech Education Fund, $3,753.20 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund, and $34,361.00 from General Fund to the Special Ed Fund)¸ and the High School Activity Fund Report and Grade School Activity Fund Report – all as of April 30, 2019. d) The Board approved the following gift offer: 1) $1,000 from Carol & David Huffman for the Ray and Rachel Huffman Memorial Scholarship fund; 2) $1,000 from Yost Farm Supply for the Bob & Arnita Yost Memorial Scholarship; and 3) $3,000 given anonymously for two scholarship recipients.
Kattie Aldaco and Erin Perrigo were present to provide an update on the Kansas Reading Roadmap program.
Troy Hilt reported that the hiring committee had met and will be recommending a contract offer to Holly Hingst to fill the Elementary/Junior High Physical Education opening and the Junior High Girls’ Basketball coaching position.
The Board was reminded that by law (K.S.A. 72-5411), a school board must notify a teacher in writing on or before the third Friday in May (May 17th 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 (May 31st this year) if (s)he is resigning from their position.
Superintendent Schiltz continued with a report on the status of various projects. The following projects/expenditures are currently in process:
- Transportation
- Activity bus – order placed on October 30, 2018. $165,042
- Small route bus – order placed on May 2, 2019. $ 47,890
- Walk-in freezer/refrigerator at HS – ordered from Heartland on April 12, 2019. $35,519.90
- New intercom system for the GS – order placed with Communications Engineering, Inc. on April 16, 2019. $26,948
Superintendent Schiltz highly recommended that the board consider a new boiler for the high school next year; it will cost between $90,000-$100,000. He reported that the redundant boiler is not in good shape.
Next under New Business, the board received a letter of resignation from Brandon Seger, resigning from his position as the Industrial Arts instructor. The Board also received a letter of resignation from Dylan Loyd resigning his position as head wrestling coach. Other resignations were verbally received from Dustin Zuege as high school custodian and Terrance Lamb as junior high football coach. Chris Bracelin made a motion to accept the resignations; motion was seconded by Chris Hingst and carried.
Next, the hiring Committee recommended Holly Hingst be hired for the 2019-2020 school year as the Elementary/JH Physical Education teacher and the JH Girls’ basketball coach. Troy Hilt made a motion to hire Mrs. Hingst; motion was seconded by Chris Bracelin and carried.
The school’s Title I program was briefly reviewed. Mila Bandel moved to approve the Title I program be continued in grades K-5 for the 2019-2020 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 Dustin Andrist and carried.
The St. Francis Educational Foundation Fund has a 3-year average balance of $114,820 as of May 2, 2019. The current Board of Education and current superintendent of schools make the decision on how to spend this money. We are allowed to spend up to 5% of the 3-year average in the fund in a given year. It has been suggested to initiate three St. Francis Educational Foundation Scholarships - two for $1,000 each to be awarded to the recipients of the KSHSAA Citizenship Award that is given each year to a senior boy and a senior girl, and one for $500 to be given to the recipient of the Dale M. Dennis Award. Also suggested this year was to add two more scholarships, one for $1,500 and one for $1,000. These awards would be based on the top two ACT scores in the Senior class as well as being in the top one-third of the class. The total amount of scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year would be $5,000. Action to fund these scholarships must be taken each year by the Board. Chris Bracelin made a motion to approve the scholarships for the class of 2019, seconded by Danielle McAtee, and carried.
A few other miscellaneous items were discussed. There is a Fire Marshal issue with the room in the high school being remodeled. Superintendent Schiltz is trying to work out the issue. Dr. Watson, the Commission of Education, was in the school last week for a visit. While here, he was able to hand out diplomas to the Kansas Reading Roadmap family graduates. Also in the school this week was a “Future Maker Lab” which highlighted real-life skills to the students.
The next scheduled Board meeting will be held on June 13, 2019, at 7:00 A.M.
At 8:26 A.M., Mila Bandel moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Chris Bracelin and carried.
