WEST FRANKLIN USD 287

REGULAR MEETING

BOARD OF EDUCATION

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2005

   The regular meeting of West Franklin USD #287 Board of Education was held on February 14, 2005 at the EducationCenter in Pomona, Kansas. The following board members were present: Mr. Neal Baker, Mrs. Sheila Anderson, Mr. Randy Hermreck, Mrs. Janie Dillon, Mrs. Nancy Reed, Jeff Piersol, and Mary Ann Parkin. Also present were: Superintendent Susan Myers, Curriculum Director Mary Schleicher, Learning Center Principal Robert Allen, Pomona High School Principal Royce Powelson, Pomona Elementary/Middle School Principal Eric Koppes, Appanoose Principal Rick Smith, and Board Clerk Robin Bigham. Others present included: District Transportation Supervisor Richard Adler, Mrs. Virginia Cook, Diana Macoubrie, Lori Thompson, Tara Dold, Elston Horne, David Staley, Judy Simpson, Patty Nelson, Dave Nelson, Joann Hancock, Edward Ramsey, Stephanie Worthington, and Alan Radcliffe.

   President Neal Baker called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

   Jeff Piersol made a motion approve the minutes of the previous meeting and the special board meeting of 02/09/2005 and to pay the bills as presented. The motion was seconded by Nancy Reed. Motion passed 7-0.

   Principal Eric Koppes thanked Mary Schleicher and Greenbush for their assistance in applying for an $80,000 technology grant that would benefit students in four classrooms. They should hear in late February or early March if the grant was approved.

   Principal Rick Smith reported that attendance at the Chili Supper was down by about 50%, probably due to inclement weather.

   Principal Robert Allen reported that five students had started at the FlintHillTechnicalSchool. Four of the five are taking computer courses and one is taking auto mechanics. These students are putting in really long days and all seems to be going well.

   Principal Royce Powelson reported that February 21 will be parent/teacher conferences from 8:00 am to Noon. The other half of the day will be used to identify students who need to make improvements on assessments. March 9 th at 1:00 pm will be the 3 rd NCA team visit at PHS. Also, the early release Monday’s discussed in January are going very well. The first week, 74 students were either failing or missing assignments, and that number has dropped to 47.

   Curriculum Director Mary Schleicher expanded on the Technology Rich Classroom grant that Mr. Koppes discussed earlier. She also handed out ITBS Test Results and discussed them with the board.

   Superintendent Susan Myers discussed Board Goal #2: Recruitment and Retention with the board. She informed the board of attending career fairs at several universities, included KansasState, Emporia, Ottawa and others. The district utilizes kansasteachingjobs.com to advertise for open positions. There is also a link on the district website to apply for teaching jobs in the district. As for retention, the use of IBB appears to have a positive affect on retention.

     Dr. Myers informed the board that the copier in the District Office is at the end of it’s life. The copiers in the district have been on an every five year replacement and the district office

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Monday, February 14, 2005

copier is already five and a half years old. The PomonaHigh School copier is also in bad shape and maybe will last another year.

   Dr. Myers also discussed some of the data coming out of the plans from the state to fund education. One proposed plan would drop vocational weighting which would have a detrimental affect on the USD #287 budget.

   Teacher Patty Nelson gave a report to the board on money she received from the Local Effectiveness Grant. She used the money to purchase books, supplies and items that would benefit a student in her classroom with Asberger’s (a form of autism) Syndrome. Mrs. Nelson was apprehensive at the beginning of the year, but the student has made a lot of progress and the other students have shown great compassion towards this student.

   Mr. Ed Ramsey and Stephanie Worthington made a presentation and request to the board for the PHS Senior Class of 2004 to participate in an overnight Senior Trip to the Kirkwood Lodge at Osage Beach, Missouri. Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to allow the senior class of PHS to attend an overnight Senior Trip, and to allow future senior classes at PHS the same opportunity. Sheila Anderson seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0.

   Mr. Alan Radcliffe informed the board of a tower project being proposed for emergency communications in FranklinCounty. The Franklin County Commissioners would like to enter into an agreement with USD #287 West Franklin to provide an easement at Appanoose to erect the tower. In return, the school district would be able to place antennas on the tower for better communication within the district. A sample Tower Agreement was presented and the board asked that the following be added to the agreement: the tower needs to be erected before the start of next school year or work would have to be done around sports practices (making sure the site is secure), allow the district three mounts instead of two, and only government entities would be able to add mounts. Sheila Anderson made a motion to allow the Board President to sign the Tower Agreement, once the wording has been updated and corrected. Janie Dillon seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0.

   Travel requests were presented as follows: Janet Ashburn to attend KMEA, Chris Bradley, Heather Conway, Becky Macklin, Kerri Smith and Eric Koppes to attend an Kagan Training in Little Rock Arkansas, and Susan Myers, Susan Wildeman, Rhonda Coffman, and Diane Humerickhouse to attend a VPL Conference. Jeff Piersol made a motion to approve the travel requests as presented. Nancy Reed seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0.

   Authorization was requested to combine the Appanoose and Pomona junior high football teams. Randy Hermreck made a motion to combine the football teams for the 05/06 school year only and to revisit the issue again next year. Nancy Reed seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0.

   A proposed school calendar for the 2005/06 school year was presented. Jeff Piersol made a motion to approve the 2005/06 school calendar as presented. Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0.

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   Susan Myers briefly reviewed information from small school lobbying groups in regards to proposed changes in low-enrollment weighting, which would create a major loss of monies to the district. Nancy Reed made a motion to pass a resolution to oppose changes to low-enrollment weighting, with letters to be signed and mailed to district representatives and senators. Sheila Anderson seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0.

   The board took a ten minute break from 8:50 pm to 9:00 pm.

   Susan Myers updated the board on possible budget savings for next school year. Current enrollment numbers were looked at, as well as possible savings in the elimination of two bus routes. More information will be gathered on budget saving possibilities and presented again at the next regular monthly board meeting.

   The three-year summer maintenance schedule was reviewed. Part of cost will come out of capital outlay. However, the capital outlay fund will not go below $300,000 as requested by the board.

Rural Water District #5 out of DouglasCounty contacted Richard Adler in regards to Appanoose hooking in to their rural water line at a cost of about $10,000. The board would like to see more details on this proposal.

The boiler in the old AppanooseBuilding is leaking. It is possibly the gaskets and the repair cost would be around $6500. The cost of a new boiler is between $16,000 and $20,000. A forced air propane heater would cost around $18,500 and would heat the gym only. Neal Baker made a motion to get some specifications written for a new boiler. Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0.

   Neal Baker made a motion for the board to enter executive session at 9:42 p.m. for 20 minutes for discussion of personnel matters of non-elected personnel. Justification of the executive session is to protect the privacy interests of identifiable individuals. Sheila Anderson seconded the motion. Motion the passed 7-0.

   The board came out of executive session at 10:02 pm.

   Neal Baker made a motion to accept the following employment recommendations:

and to renew contracts for all principals with salaries to be determined. Janie Dillon seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0.

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Monday, February 14, 2005

   Neal Baker made a motion for the board to enter executive session at 10:07 p.m. for 10 minutes for discussion of personnel matters of non-elected personnel. Justification of the executive session is to protect the confidentiality of its negotiating position and the public interest. Jeff Piersol seconded the motion. Motion the passed 7-0.

   The board came out of executive session at 10:17 pm.

   There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:18 p.m.

 ________________________________

 Neal Baker, Board President

______________________________     

Robin Bigham, Board Clerk