West Franklin USD 287
Regular Meeting
Board Meeting
Monday, May 14, 2007

The regular meeting of the West Franklin USD #287 Board of Education was held Monday, May 14, 2007, at Pomona High School.   The following board members were present:

President Neal Baker, Randy Hermreck, Keith Milliken, 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, Transportation Director Richard Adler, and Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Engel.   The following staff and community members were also present:   David Staley, Lou Coppoc, Lori Thompson, Milton Ammel, Virginia Cook, Gene Hirt, Jon Horne, and Judy Simpson

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President, Neal Baker.

Mr. Baker asked for public comments.   Mr. Gene Hirt and Mr. Louis Coppoc addressed the board.

Minutes from the previous meetings and bills were presented.   A motion was made by Nancy Reed and seconded by Keith Milliken to approve the minutes from the previous meetings and pay the bills as presented.     Motion passed 4-0

Reports

Principal Eric Koppes:   Thanked the PTO for the many things they have done to help improve the education at Pomona Elementary.   He gave a special thank you to Debbie Steed, Sue Crosby and Kris Radcliffe.   He also thanked the site council members Donna Morris, Tammy Adell, Heather Conway, Kris Radcliffe, Kellie Hamblin, Karen Sachs, Mike Honn, Debbie Steed, and Christy Myers for all their time and dedication.

Principal Mike Dorst:   Highlighted the last month of activities at Pomona High.   He also congratulated Evan Brann for being selected this year’s Governor’s Scholar.   Mr. Dorst informed the board that Pomona High will be hosting a Parent Information Night on May 23, 2007 to help make a smooth transition for 07-08.

Principal Rick Smith: Reported that his staff is working very hard to make next year’s transition a smooth one.

Principal Robert Allen:   Had nothing to report

Curriculum Director Andew Azwell: Had nothing further to add to his report mailed in the board packet.

Superintendent Dr. Susan Myers:   Presented Randy Hermreck and Neal Baker appreciation plaques for their years of service on the West Franklin School Board.   Mr. Hermreck has been a board member for four years and Mr. Baker for eight years.

Learning Center Successful Practice:   Robert Allen, Learning Center Principal and Jon Horne, teacher’s aide presented a Power Point presentation showing a brief history of the Learning Center and the changes that will be made next year.    Mr. Allen hopes to see most of his students mainstreamed back into the West Franklin High School.   He feels this will help improve achievement scores by having exposure to stronger curricular area teachers.

Local Effectiveness Grants:   Michelle Graf and Paula Howard thanked the board for the Local Effectiveness Grant program.   Their grant was used for a program that allowed the 5 th grade students to write and publish their own book.    One of the books published was shared with the board.   This project counted toward the student’s English and computer skills grade.   A digital camera and scanner was also purchased for use with this program.

Action Items:

Approve Student Handbooks:   A motion was made by Keith Milliken and seconded by Randy Hermreck to approve the student handbook for the 07-08 school year.   Motion passed 4-0

Travel Request:   Robert Allen requested permission to travel to both Kansas City, Mo and St Louis, Mo for the Learning Center’s end of the year trip.   Kris Hassler requested to attend State Golf and Susan Zentz requested to attend State Track if they have qualifiers.   Troy Ifland requested permission for the Williamsburg Senior class to travel to Osage Beach, Mo for their senior trip.   Mike Dorst requested permission to attend a Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals seminar in Emporia during the summer.   Nancy Reed made a motion to accept all travel requests.   Keith Milliken seconded the motion.   Motion passed 4-0

Sick Leave Transfer Request:   The following people requested to donate sick days to Jeanette Walters:   Cindy O’Bryhim; 1 day, Amy Weien; 1 day, JoAnn Stigall; 2 days, Ryan Stephans; 10 days, Terry Altic; 3 days, Janet Ashburn; 1 day, Joni Jones; 3 days, Jan Pele; 5 days.   Kris Hassler also asked to donate leave to Shannon Hassler as needed.   Nancy Reed made a motion to allow all sick leave transfers.   Keith Milliken seconded the motion.   Motion passed   4-0

End of Year Transfers:   A motion was made by Neal Baker and seconded by Nancy Reed to allow Dr. Myers to make all transfers needed at the end of June to pay bills that come in late.   Motion passed 4-0

VoAg Shop Bid Opening:    Bids from Taylor Brothers Construction; $60,080.00 and Loyd Builders; $48,070.00 was presented to the board.   Dr. Myers also gave the board a balance sheet showing the balance of the Capital Outlay fund.   A motion was made by Keith Milliken and seconded by Nancy Reed to accept the low bid from Loyd Builders for the total project.   Motion passed 4-0.   The bid summary document is made a part of these minutes.

Recreation Commission:   A motion was made my Neal Baker and seconded by Keith Milliken to accept the resignation of Betty Simpson from the Appanoose Recreation Commission.   Motion passed 4-0

Athletic Trainer Support Agreement:   Dr. Myers explained that Ransom Memorial Hospital provides the district with athletic trainer services.   Cost for 07-08 will be $1,000.00.   Nancy Reed made a motion to continue the Athletic Trainer Support Agreement with Ransom Memorial Hospital.   Keith Milliken seconded the motion.   Motion passed   4-0

Pomona Playground Equipment:   All playground equipment located at Pomona Elementary was purchased by the Pomona PTO.   The PTO is willing to allow the City of Pomona to relocate the equipment to the city park.   Neal Baker made a motion to authorize the disposal of fixed assets (playground equipment), to be removed by June 15, 2007.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed   4-0

Discussion Items:

Transition:   Rick Smith explained the recommendations for athletic participation and sites for middle school games.   Mike Dorst explained the recommendations for all athletic trophies, awards and records.   Andrew Azwell explained the proposed bussing schedule for shuttles taking athletes to and from practices.

The board took a 10 minute break at 8:45 pm

Natural Gas Transportation:   Dr. Myers explained that in the past the district has purchased natural gas utilizing transportation through the Greenbush Consortium, but had stopped using this and gone back with the utilities.     She has again looked into the prospect of transportation, with two options.   One option is to go directly with the utility through Oneok and the second option would be to go with the consortium.   Dr. Myers recommends transporting through the Greenbush Consortium.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Rates for 07-08:   Dr. Myers explained that rates have increase between 19% and 40%.   She also explained the different options for next year and the one that most closely matches the plan currently used by West Franklin.

Kindergarten Position for 07-08:   Dr. Myers reported that more kindergarten students than expected had enrolled for next year at Williamsburg.   Currently Williamsburg is expecting 25-26 and Appanoose is expecting 28-29 kindergarten students for 07-08.   Therefore, another kindergarten teacher is needed.

Personnel:

Executive Session:

Neal Baker made a motion to enter executive session at 9:14 pm for 15 minutes for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed.   Mike Dorst was asked to join the executive session.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed 4-0

Mike Dorst exited the executive session at 9:18 pm

The board came out of executive session at 9:29 pm

Employment Recommendation:

A motion was made by Neal Baker and seconded by Keith Milliken to accept the following resignations.   Motion passed 4-0

A motion was made by Neal Baker and seconded by Randy Hermreck to accept the following terminations.   Motion Passed 4-0.

A motion was made by Neal Baker and seconded by Randy Hermreck to accept the following employment recommendations.   Motion passed 4-0

Executive Session:

Keith Milliken made a motion to enter executive session at 9:35 pm for 25 minutes for the purpose of matters relating to employer-employee negotiations to protect the district’s right to confidentiality of its negotiation position, and the public interest.     Neal Baker seconded the motion.   Motion passed 4-0

The board came out of executive session at 10:00 pm

A motion was made by Keith Milliken and seconded by Neal Baker to ratify the teachers contract (4.13% raise which includes health insurance), accept changes made to the negotiated agreement in section G; Lunch Room Duty, Article VI; Length of Day, and Article VIII; Retirement Incentive, accept administrative salaries, accept non-certified salaries, accept the new supplemental pay schedule, and accept the 07-08 calendar which reflects the new hours.   Motion passed 4-0. All the above documents are made a part of these minutes.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:05 pm.

Neal Baker made the motion to adjourn the meeting.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed   4-0

________________________ 
Neal Baker, Board President                                                                                                                                 

________________________
Teresa Hawkins, Clerk                        

Minutes are unofficial until approved at the next board meeting.