West Franklin USD 287
Regular Meeting
Board Meeting
Monday, December 11, 2006
The regular meeting of the West Franklin USD #287 Board of Education was held Monday, December 11, 2006, at Pomona High School. The following board members were present:
President Neal Baker, Sheila Anderson, Janie Dillon, Randy Hermreck, Keith Milliken, Mary Ann Parkin and Nancy Reed. Administrators and staff present were: Superintendent Susan Myers, Board Clerk Teresa Hawkins, Curriculum Director Andy Azwell, Principal Mike Dorst, Principal Rick Smith, Principal Eric Koppes, Principal Robert Allen (7:20), Transportation Director Richard Adler, and Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Engel. The following staff and community members were also present: Frances Coppoc, Marilyn Staley, David Staley, Diana Macouline, Judy Simpson, Elston Horne, Gene Hirt, JR Harris, Bill Lloyd, Curt Altic, Larry Smith, Alberta Smith, Leo Kern, Stacy Hower, Betty Greer, Liz Smith, Karen Gibson, Michelle Miller, Jerry Davis, Lowel Anderson, Susan Zentz, Alexis Streeter, Nicholas Streeter, Karen Sachs, Ryan Sink, Virginia Cook, Merritta Combs, and JoAnn Hancock.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President, Neal Baker.
Principals Eric Koppes and Mike Dorst escorted those present on a tour of the Pomona facilities.
The Board reconvened at 7:40 pm following the tour.
Minutes from previous meetings and bills were presented. The wording of the motion in the land transfer section of the minutes from the previous meeting was questioned. Keith Milliken asked that the word entertain be changed to allow. Dr. Myers suggested that a call be made to KASB for legal advice on the proper procedure for handling this situation.
The board took a break at 7:45 for the superintendent and board president to make a phone call to KASB for legal advice.
The board reconvened at 7:55. KASB recommended that the board approve the previous minutes and amend the agenda to add the land transfer to the action items. Janie Dillon made a motion to amend the agenda, approve the minutes of the previous meeting and to pay the bills as presented. Sheila Anderson seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0
Reports:
Principal Eric Koppes: Reported that the State Assessment scores had been released for last spring’s testing. PES 3 rd and 4 th grades achieved the Standard of Excellence in both reading and math.
Principal Mike Dorst: Reported that PHS had achieved the Standard of Excellence in reading and met the AYP goal in math.
Principal Rick Smith: Reported that the Appanoose 4 th grade met the Standard of Excellence in math and the 8 th grade met the Standard of Excellence in reading. Mr. Smith also reported for Williamsburg Principal, Susan Wildeman, that WES had met the Standard of Excellence in several areas and the high school had met it in reading.
Curriculum Director Andew Azwell: Reported that the first report released from the state indicated that USD 287 did not meet AYP. After some discussion with the state concerning our special education students’ testing they reviewed the data and found that we actually did meet AYP. A new report has been released showing that we did indeed meet AYP.
Superintendent Dr. Susan Myers: Reported that the school district had received a plaque from the Head Start program thanking them for supporting the program. Dr. Myers showed the school board the plaque and read the inscription.
PES Successful Practice: Shawna Craig, PES technology teacher, presented a power point presentation on the Wright Flight Fly Day. She explained that students had to set and meet a personal academic goal and score 85% or better on the final exam to be allowed to attend this event. These students actually got to fly and help pilot an airplane. Alexis Streeter was one of the students who got to help fly a plane. Her academic goal was writing a children’s book with many power point slides. She shared this with the board.
Action Items:
Drivers Education Fees: Dr. Myers reported that we are currently charging a fee of $125. Last year the cost of the program was $9571. Revenues from the state and the fees the district charges each student was $6,976. Therefore the district had to subsidize the program by $2,595. The amount of fee to charge for next year was discussed. Sheila Anderson made a motion to keep the drivers education fee at $125.00. Janie Dillon seconded the motion. Motion passed 6-1
Travel Request: Dr. Myers and Susan Wildeman requested to attend the USA (United School Administrators) conference in Wichita, January 24-26. Dr. Myers is the chair of the new Superintendent’s Workshop. Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to accept the travel request. Nancy Reed seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-2
Appanoose Recreation Commission: The following resignation and appointment was submitted to the school board: Starleen Bradley; resignation and Ryan Sink; appointment. Nancy Reed made a motion to accept the resignation and appointment. Sheila Anderson seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0
Williamsburg Land Transfer: Change the wording of the motion as stated in the minutes of the previous meeting from entertain a land transfer to allow a land transfer. Keith Milliken made a motion to allow a land transfer. Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-2
Discussion Items:
Evaluation of Personnel Timeline: Dr. Myers suggested that the school board review evaluations of principals in January, certified staff in February at a special meeting on February 7 th , and non-certified staff in March or April.
Transition Planning Timeline: Dr. Myers gave the board a handout showing the eight phases of this process. The process will go through the end of June. She also reported that she had met with an architect regarding the renovation of the shop at Pomona and he was going to charge a $8,000 fee for preliminary plans. She also reported that she plans to check with several local architects as to what their fees might be.
Each principal discussed a section of Phase 1 and asked for comments and questions from the school board.
Topics Discussed:
Eric Koppes: Playground equipment at PES and what could be done with it and the possibility of using the extra space for overflow parking.
Renovation of the shop area was discussed and questions answered.
Rick Smith: Explained what was happening with the middle school league (Sunflower League) and that West Franklin would not be allowed to remain in the league. Mr. Koppes and Mr. Smith have both visited the high school league (Flint Hills League) and would suggest we join that league since Pomona High School already belongs.
Mike Dorst: Explained what was happening with the high school basketball tournaments. This was the final year for the pre-season tournament at Osage City, therefore the high school will need to find another tournament. Central Heights will also be dropping the West Franklin Tournament, which will leave only two teams next year. Mr. Dorst suggests that the new high school participate in the Flint Hills League tournament and also in the Central Heights pre-season tournament.
He gave the board a handout with information gathered from Gary Musselman, Executive Director of Kansas State High School Activities Association, explaining the waiting period if students choose to transfer to a different district and what would happen with playoff games for next year. Appanoose middle school and Williamsburg middle and high school students can transfer anywhere without penalty. The Pomona students would have an eighteen week waiting period if they choose to transfer to another district.
Andy Azwell: Explained that he and Tim Larkin, district technology systems analyst, are working to gather e-mail addresses from the community so that information can be distributed in mass to the district and community.
Rick Smith: Explained the NCA cycles. The improvement plans the district now has will be in effect until a new one is adopted. In 07-08 we will start over with the base line year, gathering information, looking at a mission statement and building profiles.
He also gave the board a hand out of the schedule the administrators would like to follow for selecting names, mascots, and colors for the buildings. They would like for the site councils to make recommendations and then two members from each site council meet and narrow the recommendations and then take those recommendations to the school board. They would also like to involve the students in the mascot and color selections by having them vote on the final selection.
Mike Dorst: Explained the new graduation requirements that will affect sophomores and freshmen. He also stated that discussion on schedules and sections of classes will begin.
Dr. Myers: Reported that the current negotiated agreement will be alright and work with the reconfiguration. She also stated that one person had talked to her about retirement. She will meet with Jennifer Barnhart and Kathy Mickelson, Three Lakes Coop directors, to begin planning for special education teacher needs.
She also reported that KASB had informed her that as long as there is a high school at Williamsburg that teaches vocational agriculture the income from the DeVore Trust fund will continue, but if the high school is closed the funds will end.
Andy Azwell: Reported that the E-Rate reports would be filed as usual and then changes would be made after reconfiguration takes place. VE2 reports would also be filed as usual and then add/delete forms would be filed for the courses after final decisions are made.
Eric Koppes: Reported that Kindergarten Roundup would take place as usual on February 2 & 16 and March 2. Each parent will at this time be told which attendance center their child will attend in 07-08.
The administration plans to have a staffing plan to the board in January
Charter Renewal: Mr. Robert Allen explained that the original charter for the learning center was in 2000 and has to be renewed every two years. It is time again to renew this. He gave a few pros for continuing such as 1) program helping students who can’t make it in the traditional setting 2) 4 th oldest charter in the state 3) AYP testing held separate. His only con was the paperwork. His recommendation was to renew the charter.
The board took a 5 minute break at 9:10 pm
Personnel:
Executive Session:
Employment Recommendations:
Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to enter executive session at 9:18 pm for 20 minutes for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed. Sheila Anderson seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0
The board came out of executive session at 9:38 pm
Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to accept the following employment recommendations:
Administration assignments for the 07-08 school year, with a two year contract: Susan Wildeman; south building, Eric Koppes; north building, Rick Smith; Jr. High, Mike Dorst; High School, Robert Allen; Learning Center. Currimulum Director Andy Azwell, 1 yr contract. All salaries to be determined at a later date. Dorothy Messick as cook at Williamsburg Schools.
Nancy Reed seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0.
Evaluation of Superintendent:
Nancy Reed made a motion to enter executive session at 9:42 pm for 30 minutes for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed. Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0
The board came out of executive session at 10:12 pm
Nancy Reed made a motion to extend the contract of the superintendent for the 07-08 school year, with the salary to be determined later. Sheila Anderson seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-2
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:14 pm.
______________________
Neal Baker, Board President
______________________
Teresa Hawkins, Clerk
Minutes are not official until approved by the board at the next regular meeting.