WEST FRANKLIN USD 287

REGULAR MEETING

BOARD OF EDUCATION
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

            The regular meeting of West Franklin USD #287 Board of Education was held on September 12, 2005 at the Appanoose Facility, Pomona , Kansas .   The following board members were present:   Mr. Neal Baker, Mrs. Mary Ann Parkin, Mr. Randy Hermreck, Mr. Keith Milliken, Mrs. Janie Dillon, Mrs. Sheila Anderson, and Mrs. Nancy Reed.   Staff members present were Superintendent Susan Myers, Board Clerk Robin Bigham, Principal Rick Smith, Principal Eric Koppes, Principal Royce Powelson, Principal Susan Wildeman (8:10 pm), Principal Robert Allen, Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Engel, Transportation Director Richard Adler, Mrs. Virginia Cook and Mrs. Liz Smith.   Others present were Lori Thompson, Judy Simpson, Courtnee Butler, Kortney Miller, and Sonia Ahuja (Ottawa Herald).

            President Neal Baker called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm .   Appanoose Principal Rick Smith escorted board members on a guided tour of the Appanoose facilities.

            Sheila Anderson moved to amend the agenda to include bus routes and a request to use a bus, approve the minutes of the previous meeting as presented and to pay the bills as presented.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0.

            Pomona High School Principal Royce Powelson reported that students remaining at the school on early release Monday were about the same students as last year, but those students were getting one-on-one instruction during that time.

            Appanoose Principal Rick Smith reports that Appanoose enrollment is at 180, which is up from last year.

            Pomona Elementary/Middle School Principal Eric Koppes recognized PES/PMS staff for the smooth transition of new programs started and initiated this year.   The middle school block scheduling is going well and the back-to-school BBQ hosted around 300 people.

            West Franklin Learning Center Principal discussed the two dissemination grants the Learning Center had received.   The first grant was used to send five students to the Flint Hills VoTech School .   The second grant was going to be used to continue the program, but found out that would not be acceptable this year.   The second grant is now being used to update technology at the Learning Center site.

            Curriculum Director Mary Schleicher handed out a draft copy of the Social Studies Curriculum.   She also pointed out that a few of the textbooks to be adopted were available for review.   A few grade level teachers will be at the October meeting to answer any questions.           

            Superintendent Susan Myers reported that the current headcount in the district is 891, and the FTE is 864.   The budget is based on an FTE of 862.   She also discussed the new KIDS program that Mary Schleicher is currently working on.

Regular Board of Education Meeting
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Monday, September 12, 2005

            Pomona FBLA members Kortney Miller and Courtnee Butler gave a presentation to the board on the national convention they qualified for and attended in Orlanda , Florida over the summer.   PHS graduates Sarah Wigger and Autum Reece also attended.   They thanked they board for their support of FBLA.

            Site Council applications were presented from Rachel Keim, Kaci Gull and Mike Pickman for PHS, and from Lynnett Burroughs, Johna Snethen and Diane Humerickhouse for Williamsburg .   Keith Milliken made a motion to approve the Site Council applications as presented.   Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0.  

            Randy Hermreck agreed to be the KASB Governmental Relations contact for the board and Mary Ann Parking agreed to be the KASB Convention Delegate for the board with Nancy Reed as the alternate.   Neal Baker made a motion to approve these representatives as stated.   Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0.

            Travel requests were received from Cherie Blanchat to attend a Social Worker’s Conference and from Tim Davis and qualifying members of FFA to attend the National FFA Convention in Louisville , Kentucky .   Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to approve the travel requests.   Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0.

            A new deputy clerk for board needs to be appointed because of the resignation of Cherree Keeton.   Since the deputy clerk is in the job description of the Curriculum Secretary, the position should be appointed to Melissa Horne.   She has agreed to fill the role.   Sheila Anderson made a motion to appoint Melissa Horne as Deputy Clerk.   Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0.

            Vehicle bids were discussed and reviewed.   A recap of the bids is enclosed as a part of these minutes.   Sheila Anderson made a motion to accept the highest bidders of the used vehicle bids.   Janie Dillon seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0.   (Money from the sale of the vehicles goes into the Capital Outlay fund).

             The following board policies were reviewed:   Policy AE – School Year, Policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions, JGCA – Local Wellness Policy, and MI – Quality Assurances.   Updates to the handbook and personnel manuals for next year included hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying and menacing , and student privacy rights and acceptable use of computers for staff.   Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to approve the policies and updates as presented.   Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0.

            The board took a 10 minute break from 8:40 to 8:50 pm .

            The board looked at and discussed the five board goals.   On board goal #5, the board would like to have more detailed information for strategic planning.   Susan Myers will try to get samples from other districts, as well as calling a federal mediator to talk about the IBB process.  

Regular Board of Education Meeting
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Monday, September 12, 2005

            Specifications for a new school bus and the bid for the bus were reviewed.   Changes to the specifications are to be made and reviewed again at the October meeting.

            Board Negotiators for 2006/07 were discussed.   Currently, Neal Baker and Mary Ann Parkin serve as negotiators and have done so for several years.   They would like to see someone else from the board become familiar with the process.   Keith Milliken agreed to take the IBB training and to learn about the negotiating process.

            A couple of questions on bus routes have arisen regarding students being on the bus for too long.   One route was reviewed by Dr. Myers, Richard Adler and the driver and changes were made.   Another route may have the same problem and will be looked at and the district will try to be as accommodating as possible and in the best interest of students.

            In regards to the Citizen’s Advisory Committee Recommendations and the study sessions that have taken place, Neal Baker introduced a new idea and presented a few documents with numbers and savings.   The idea is to build one high school where the current PHS football field is, close the outlying schools (Appanoose & Williamsburg), and build a sports field at the Pomona Recreation Commission site.   Neal Baker and Susan Myers are to attend a KASB workshop that deals with schools considering construction.

            Neal Baker moved to accept the following employment recommendations:             

Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0.

Regular Board of Education Meeting
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Monday, September 12, 2005 

            Mrs. Sheila Anderson made a request for the use of a school bus on behalf of the nursing students at Neosho County Community College to drive to Texas on Thursday ( September 15, 2005 ) to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina.   After much discussion, it was the consensus of the board to deny the request due to time constraints, current policy restrictions on out-of-state travel, insurance requirements, contacting attorney’s, and getting a qualified driver.

            There being no further business, Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 pm .   Neal Baker seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0.

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Neal Baker, Board President

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Robin Bigham, Clerk                                                           

Minutes are not offical until they are approved at the next board meeting