Administrative: Board of Education Meetings

March board minutes released

March 28, 2008

SILVER LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SILVER LAKE, KANSAS 66539

U.S.D. 372 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting
March 12, 2008

Members Present: Susan Runyan, Sam Grant, Cindy Hill, Clint Wichman, Cindy Hawkins, Ron Yoder, and Randy Matzke were present.

Others Present: Dr. Randy Freeman, Superintendent; Larry Winter, Jr/Sr High School Principal; Jim Lindstrom, Jr/Sr High School Vice-Principal; Ronda Pegram, Grade School Principal; Deb Howser, Special Ed Director;
Lori Campbell, Board Clerk; Brett Hamilton, Maintenance Director and guests.

Call to Order: Runyan called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in the grade school music room.

Approval of Agenda: Sam Grant made the motion to approve the agenda, Clint Wichman with the second. Approved 7-0

Approval of Minutes: The board approved the minutes of the February 13, 2008 meeting. Cindy Hill with the motion. Cindy Hawkins with the second. Approved 7-0

Welcome Guests: Runyan welcomed all guests.

Positive Comments: Cindy Hill was a judge at a recent Forensics tournament hosted by Silver Lake students at the high school. She commented on how smoothly the tournament ran and the nice job done by all. Clint Wichman recognized the SLHS wrestling team for placing 10th in the State tournament. Colin Hase, senior, state champion this year, also placed first in the Metro Classic. Cindy Hawkins congratulated grade school teacher, Deb Edwards, on receiving the Outstanding Educator award.

Public Communications:
Thank You: Crickett Johnston thanked the BOE for allowing the local Girl Scout Troops the use of a bus to transport the girls to the circus. She also requested transportation for the troop to TPAC on April 6.
A motion was made by Ron Yoder to amend the agenda to add Action Item A6 for the use of a school bus at $1.00 per mile and to act on the motion at this time. Randy Matzke with the second. Approved additional agenda item 7-0. Susan Runyan made the motion to approve the use of a bus with payment made to the district of $1.00 per mile. Sam Grant seconded. Approved 7-0
Architects Update - Treanor Architects reported five bids were received and opened for the high school project. It was their recommendation to accept the McPherson Contractor bid. Sean Reardon handed out project budget and bid sheets to the board members.
Facilities Update from Brett Hamilton: Construction is going strong.
Presentation by Mrs. Naylor’s Students: Forensics team of Michelle Taylor and Marshall Wetta presented a duo performance for the board. The two had just been crowned League champions for their duet act.

Financial Report: Dr. Freeman reviewed the three-year expense comparison.

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B O A R D C O N S E N T I T E M S
C1 Approve Payment of the Bills and Treasurer’s Report
The BOE approved payment of the bills and the treasurer’s report as presented.

C2 Employment of Personnel
The BOE approve the recommendations of Jessica Yates, as assistant softball coach, Bill Childs, as assistant boy’s golf coach, and Mark Workman, as assistant baseball coach, each coaching position for one year only. In addition, approve the recommendation of Dennis Martinek as head jr. high girl’s basketball coach and Tina Davis as the FACS teacher for the 2008-2009 school year.

Hawkins made a motion to approve the consent items and Wichman seconded. Approved 7-0

R E P O R T S
BOE Member Reports:
BOE Member Reports – Susan Runyan discussed attending a grade school site council meeting and the Kansas Career Pipeline.
Principal’s Report: (Written reports are attached with the official minutes in the district office)
Winter –
Reading assessments are complete; Math, Science and Social Studies assessments will begin after Spring Break.
Reported attending a KASB conference, which included information on cyber-bullying.
Attended Emporia University Teacher Recruitment Day for the secondary field.
The Booster Club has presented the idea of a family pass for gate admission for next year. Different options were discussed, which included the possibility of a student activity fee. More information will be presented at a later date.

Lindstrom-
Discus throwing area may need to be changed due to construction.
Junior high cross-country meets could be held in conjunction with high school meets.
Cornerstone school requested the use of the high school track during track season.
Coach Angie Bittner was awarded the State Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Community member, Larry Pfannenstiel, donated an electronic timer to the track program.

Pegram –
Lap top computers have been very helpful with the state assessment testing at the grade school. Preliminary assessment results look very good.
Cindy Priddy was commended for a job well done organizing meetings for IEP’s and the Special Education Department.
Howser and Pegram attended Kansas State University Career Day.
5th & 6th grade music programs will be held after Spring Break.
PTO Carnival will be held this spring.

Howser –
All staff received a 2 ½ hour in-service presented by Greenbush regarding Bullying Prevention. This in-service will be required each year.
4th-11th grade students participated in a computer-based survey concerning bullying. Results will be tabulated by Greenbush and given to us to use for strategic planning.
Deborah Edwards, elementary special education teacher, was presented with the Outstanding Educator awarding during the Awards Dinner at the Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders on February 21, 2008. Howser and Freeman attended the Awards Dinner in support of Mrs. Edwards.
Observed a Northern Hills Junior High classroom using the Read 180 reading intervention program.

Superintendent Report/BOE Discussion:
Freeman –
Encouraged Board members to attend the KASB Spring regional meeting at Emporia High School on April 23.
Collected and shared requested statistical information on out-of-district students.

Prior Discussion: None

New Discussion:
Stadium Bleachers: Dr. Freeman will seek bids to update home side football stadium seating.
Roof Treatment Schedule: Discussed putting a coating on a portion of the high school roof to extend the life of the roof.
Tractor: Brett Hamilton will seek bids to replace the current 1996 tractor used for mowing, planting, etc., with a 37 horsepower tractor.
2008-09 Student Fees: Proposed fee schedules were presented for consideration.
Review of Jr.-Sr. High Course Description Handbook: Changes were addressed. Approval was requested from the Board. A motion was made by Runyan to amend the agenda to add Action Item A7 to approve the Jr.-Sr. High Course Description Handbooks. Grant with the second. Approved 7-0
Operation Recognition: The Board gave approval for Dr. Freeman to proceed with Operation Recognition. This is a program to provide diplomas to veterans that left school before graduating to participate in foreign wars. Former Silver Lake High School students would be honored around Veteran’s Day during an assembly.

B O A R D A C T I O N I T E M S
It was determined that no executive session was needed before proceeding with Action Items.

A1 Approval of High School Construction Project
Cindy Hill with the motion to go forward with the recommendation from Treanor Architects to accept the proposal from McPherson Contractors with Alternates 3 and 4 for $2,264,000. Grant with the second. Approved 7-0

A2 Consider Approval of American Fidelity as the District’s 125 Provider and 403(b) Administrator
The BOE approve American Fidelity as the plan provider for 125 and the plan administrator for 403(b) administration. Matzke made the motion for approval. Yoder with the second. Approved 7-0

A3 Track Re-Surface
The BOE a contract from Midwest Tennis and Track to install a topcoat to the high school track at a cost of $43,915. Motion to approve by Cindy Hill; Hawkins with the second. Approved 7-0.

A4 Purchase of Used Car
A motion was made by Hawkins for the BOE to authorize the superintendent to purchase a used vehicle not to exceed $8,000. Wichman with the second. Approved 7-0

E X E C U T I V E S E S S I O N

There was a 12-minute break.

At 9:00 pm Hawkins made a motion to go into executive session for 15 minutes for review of non-tenured personnel. Wichman seconded the motion. The board moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters for non-elected personnel and that the board return to the open meeting at 9:15 pm in this room. The executive session is required due to protect the privacy interests of an identifiable individual. Approved 7-0

The board returned to the regular meeting at 9:16 pm.

E X E C U T I V E S E S S I O N

The board moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters for non-elected personnel and that the board return to the open meeting at 9:15 pm in this room. A motion was made by Hawkins with a second by Wichman to go into executive session for 30 minutes beginning at 9:17 pm. Approved 7-0

The board returned to the regular meeting at 9:47 pm.

A5 Administrative Contracts
The BOE approve administrative contracts as amended for superintendent, high school principal and assistant high school principal. Grant made the motion. Hawkins with the second. Approved 7-0

A6 Bus Use (see Public Communications)

A7 Review of Jr.-Sr. High Course Description Handbook
A motion was made by Runyan to accept the Jr.-Sr. High Course Description Handbook as presented to the Board. Hawkins with the second. Approved 7-0

Adjournment- Hawkins made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Matzke seconded. Approved 7-0

Meeting adjourned at 9:52 pm.

______________________________ ___________________________________
Susan Runyan, Board President Lori Campbell, Board Clerk

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Dated
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