District Leadership: Meeting Notes

March 12, 2007...

...Board Meeting Notes

by Randy Rivers

March 13, 2007

The Board President called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with a number of teachers and community members in attendance.

The Board meeting opened with a new feature, a public participation forum. Despite the large audience, no one wished to address the Board.

The Board approved the CONSENT AGENDA that included:

Minutes of the February 12, 2007, Meeting
Treasurer's Report
Bills submitted for payment
Northeast Elementary and Northeast High School Activity Fund Reports

INFORMATION ITEMS

1. Principals Traul, Hill and Cleland shared information about building events with the Board.

2. Curriculum Leader Nicki Traul shared the progress of the Curriculum Council with the Board. She also provided the Board a copy of the Curriculum Councils’ Instructional Requirements for consideration at the next meeting. She also shared information about the work of the mathematics subject area committee and its progress on the math curriculum to be submitted for implementation in 2007-2008.

3. Superintendent Rivers reported that the architects have completed the plans for the addition of three classrooms to the elementary school. There will be a pre-bid conference with the architect and potential contractors on March 20th. Bids will be opened on April 3rd and the project bids will be presented to the Board on April 9th for final action. Should bids be accepted on that date, construction would commence shortly after a pre-construction conference with the contractor on April 16th.

4. Mr. Rivers also shared a Kansas State Department of Education funding forecast for the District. The forecast provided the estimated effects of changes in the second year in the three-year school finance plan approved by the 2006 Kansas Legislature. Assuming no enrollment gains or losses, Northeast schools are forecast to receive approximately $226,151 in new revenue, $28,850 of which would be a direct pass-through to the special education interlocal.

5. Mr. Rivers publicly acknowledged the kind donation of two defibrillators to the Northeast schools by Hospital District No. 1 of Crawford County and reported that they had been placed in locations in the two buildings that would provide quick access should they ever be needed.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

1. Mr. Rivers opened discussion with the Board regarding priorities for the technology budget. After meetings with teachers, the priorities were to first provide staff with new computers, most staff desiring laptops. Current desktops would be redeployed to create a junior high computer lab and to replace some of the old desktops in classroom mini-labs. The next priority would be to purchase student laptop labs for the K-5 portion of the elementary. Mr. Rivers and Mrs. Humble will develop and distribute a request for proposals for the new staff computers this spring.

2. The Board discussed its current policy on public participation. It was the consensus of the Board that the tone of the current policy was somewhat negative and that the policy should be amended. The Board directed Mr. Rivers to research policies of other districts and to provide the Board with options for amending the Northeast policy to provide guidelines for a regular public forum at the monthly meetings.

3. The Board, administrative staff and several teachers engaged in a lengthy discussion of staffing at the elementary school. With additional funding anticipated for next year, the bulk of the discussion surrounded around the need to add an additional staff position to reduce class sizes or to add a full-time counseling position. The Board approved the addition of an additional staff position at Northeast Elementary in 2007-2008 to reduce class sizes. Mrs. Traul will determine the appropriate grade level for placement of the position.

ACTION ITEMS

1. The Board discussed the progress of the block schedule at Northeast Junior High. The NEO-NEA leadership is resisting Board action on this issue pending negotiation of language in their contract. The Board directed Superintendent Rivers to draft a Resolution to be presented at the April meeting noting that implementation of a block schedule at NJH is an important strategic goal of the Board.

2. The Board approved the expenditure of up to $15,000 to move the junior high library to a larger area and to reconfigure the current library into a junior high computer lab.

3. The Board approved the purchase of two laptop computer labs for the junior high school, installation of the labs and professional development for staff that will use the labs. The Board accepted Dell Computer's proposal for $63,820.02.

4. The Board postponed action on changes to teacher evaluation criteria until the Curriculum Council has discussed the issue and provided input. This item will be placed on the May agenda.

5. The Board took action to adopt a Resolution that allowed the Board President and Board Clerk to execute a quit claim deed on the Cato Schoolhouse. This action will allow the Cato Christian Church to transfer ownership of the schoolhouse to the Cato Historical Foundation.

The Board entered EXECUTIVE SESSION to discuss non-elected personnel.

6. The Board accepted the resignation of Angie Troutman as NHS science teacher.

7. The Board employed Dennis Davied as NJH science teacher for 2007-2008.

8. The Board employed Mark Rhodes as a substitute bus driver.

9. The Board took action to re-employ all highly-qualified, certified staff members for the 2007-2008 School Year.