2019-11-14
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting – November 14, 2019
The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Chris Bracelin in the administrative office on the above date at 7:00 a.m. with everyone present except Danielle McAtee and Cale Rieger.
Troy Hilt made a motion to approve the agenda, adding under New Business, b) ii) contract offers; the motion was seconded by Mila Bandel and carried.
Items on the Consent Calendar were next considered. Following review of these items, Chris Hingst moved, Mila Bandel seconded, and it carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: a) The minutes of the regular Board meeting on October 9, 2019. b) The list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 1018001-1018076 and on checks numbering 11480-11500 on BANKWEST in the amount of $227,021.08 and checks numbering 14041-14118 on First National Bank totaling $136,559.24 for a grand total of $363,580.32. c) The Cash Summary Report (including three transfers: $8,338.22 from the Supplemental General Fund to the CTE Fund, $3,792.61 from the General Fund to the At-Risk Fund, and $61,004.00 from the General Fund to the Special Ed Fund), the Grade School Activity Fund Report, and the High School Activity Fund Report - all as of October 31, 2019. d) A gift offer from Keystone Learning Services-NEKESC in the amount of $1,350.00 for reimbursement of MTSS Symposium expenses; and, $15,000.00 from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, from a grant prepared by Mila Bandel for the purpose of updates in food service at the high school and grade school, specifically for new salad bar equipment.
Audiences: Shawna Blanka and J.W. Milliken were present. They are the two newly elected board members who will take their place on the Board in January.
Committee Reports – The hiring committee met with four applicants on November 13, 2019 for the paraprofessional position at the high school.
Under Old Business, the Board and administration briefly reviewed the Audit Report for FY2019 (and the accompanying management letter and governance letter) that had been completed by Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball. Following review, Mila Bandel moved to accept the Audit Report as presented; the motion was seconded by Dustin Andrist and carried.
Superintendent Penka made a recommendation to appoint Garrett Sundstrom to Transportation Director and Jerry Whitmore to Technology Director effective January 1, 2020. Troy Hilt made a motion to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mila Bandel and carried.
Superintendent Penka then went over a Fleet summary of USD 297 vehicles. It was the consensus of the Board to allow the school to start updating vehicles on a regular basis (one or two/year) as needed.
Next, under New Business, Superintendent Penka reported that a resignation had been received from Leisha Hilt as a high school paraprofessional. Mrs. Hilt has been with the school system for 10 years. A resignation was also received from Kent Kechter, retiring as Technology Director as of December 31, 2019. Mr. Kechter has been with USD 297 for 47 years. Also presented by Superintendent Penka were contract offers for Ashley Orth for the paraprofessional position and Jake Miller for the high school golf coach. Chris Hingst made a motion to accept the letters of resignation and approve the two new contract offers; motion was seconded by Troy Hilt and carried.
Next, Superintendent Penka requested a 15 minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. Troy Hilt made the following motion: Mr. Vice President, I move that the board recess into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel in order to protect their privacy pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under KOMA and that the open meeting shall resume at 7:59 a.m. The motion was seconded by Dustin Andrist and carried. Mrs. Blanka and Mr. Milliken left the meeting. Regular session resumed at 7:59 a.m. with Mrs. Blanka and Mr. Milliken returning to the meeting.
Superintendent Penka then made a recommendation to increase the base teacher salary schedule by $1,000, 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 Troy Hilt to approve the base salary schedule increase and a 2.35% increase for all other contracted employees. The motion was seconded by Dustin Andrist and carried.
Under miscellaneous items, Superintendent Penka reviewed the Annual Risk Management Report; reported on the Site Council Meeting held on November 13, 2019; Bullying Awareness Week is next week; and reported that the Wellness Committee met with our local representative, Bev Stafford, preparing for the audit in December.
Superintendent Penka reviewed with the Board the “Possible Alternative to the ACT Scholarship” put together by Principal Morrow. More discussion will take place at the December meeting.
Under school-improvement, Superintendent Penka talked about the progress being made on the MTSS process, and that he and Mr. Morrow will be attending the KESA chair training in Sublette on January 22, 2020. Principal Raile then gave an update on the MTSS process going on at the grade school.
The next regular Board of Education meeting will be held on December 12, 2019, at 7:00 a.m.
At 8:16 a.m., Troy Hilt moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Mila Bandel and carried.
