2019-12-12
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting – December 12, 2019
The meeting was called to order by President Cale Rieger in the administration office on the above date at 7:02 a.m. with everyone present.
Superintendent Penka made one addition to the agenda: add under New Business 6)b)3 request for a 10 minute executive session. Troy Hilt made a motion to approve the agenda with the one addition; the motion was seconded by Chris Bracelin and carried.
Items on the Consent Calendar were next considered. Following review of these items, Mila Bandel moved, Dustin Andrist seconded, and it carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: a) The minutes of the regular Board meeting on November 14, 2019. b) A list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 1119001 – 1119074 and on checks numbering 11501-11515 on BANKWEST, and checks numbering 14119-14167 on First National Bank for a total of $339,455.71. c) The Cash Summary Report (including two transfers: $10,390.39 from Supplemental General Fund to the CTE Fund, and $3,880.58 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 November 30, 2019. d) A gift offer from Wheeler Mercantile Equity was received in the amount of $1,000 designated to expenses for State football.
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.
There were no Committee Reports.
Under Old Business, Principal Morrow reviewed with the Board the “Possible Alternative to the ACT Scholarship,” adding to his original document a tie-breaker. After discussion, Chris Hingst made a motion to accept the terms for the scholarship; seconded by Danielle McAtee and carried.
Under New Business, Superintendent Penka went over the Kansas Can Star Recognition Program.
Superintendent Penka reported that Garrett Sundstrom and Jerry Whitmore have returned their contract amendments for their new positions back to the Board for signature. Also returned were all but two of the contract amendments for salary increases. Troy Hilt made a motion to approve the contract amendments; motion was seconded by Mila Bandel and carried.
Next, under New Business, Bruce Swihart has submitted his letter of resignation effective at the end of the school year. Mr. Swihart has been with USD 297 for 42 years. Mila Bandel made a motion to accept the resignation; seconded by Chris Bracelin and carried.
Next, Superintendent Penka requested a 10 minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. Troy Hilt made the following motion: Mr. 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 7:55 a.m. The motion was seconded by Chris Hingst and carried. Mrs. Blanka and Mr. Milliken left the meeting. Regular session resumed at 7:55 a.m. with Mrs. Blanka and Mr. Milliken returning to the meeting.
Upon resuming the regular meeting, Chris Bracelin made the following motion: I hereby move that the hiring committee has the authority to hire a new maintenance person after the interviews have been completed. The motion was seconded by Chris Hingst and carried.
A special thank you was extended to Mila Bandel and Chris Bracelin for their many years on the St. Francis School Board; Mr. Bracelin has served 4 ½ years and Mrs. Bandel has served 8 ½ years.
There were numerous miscellaneous items discussed by the Board.
The next scheduled Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.
At 8:20 a.m., Mila Bandel moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Chris Bracelin and carried.
