Staff writer
The USD 408 board of education approved two transition-to-work requests Monday.
Senior E.J. Obermeyer was released from his fifth- and sixth-hour classes to work either at Flint Hills Clay Works or for his parents at their farm. Animal sciences and advanced chemistry are the classes Obermeyer is dropping, but he is still taking agriculture fabrication, composition 2 through Butler Community College, calculas, and concert choir.
He was released on the condition of maintaining a C average in his classes. He is attending Kansas State University after Marion High School graduation.
“He’s done very well through high school and to me it’s not an issue,” MHS principal Brenda Odgers said.
Senior Blake Crawford was also approved for a work request, dropping his first and second hour classes. He has talked with Marion Police Chief Josh Whitwell about working with the Marion Police Department; Crawford plans to pursue a degree pertaining to law enforcement.
Crawford will continue to take weights, construction, choir, reading, and English. Activities director Tod Gordon cautioned Crawford that he needed to maintain a C average to play baseball this spring.
Fundraising
The board discussed a group of MHS students — MHS Students For International Travel — who had a bake sale and raffle at an MHS basketball game Jan. 4 and is planning to produce supersaver cards — cards that give customers discounts for local businesses.
Along with sponsored fundraisers like students selling roses during Valentine’s Day or any number of FFA related fundraisers, the board approved the group for fundraising efforts that were on a list approved in September.
“I don’t feel the school should be associated with it,” Jan Helmer said. “They’re just a bunch of people going on an adventure.”
Alicia and Caitlyn Maloney also operated a fundraiser at a MHS basketball game Dec. 10 — a raffle for a television. They were raising money to go to Europe, also a private, nonschool sponsored trip. The fundraiser, although it was approved by Odgers, was not on the September list of approved fundraisers.
The board agreed that they would not take any action on the groups fundraising for international travel this year, but would review fundraisers in June before they come up for approval.
“It goes back to disclosure, letting the public know what is school sponsored,” Lyle Leppke said.
In other business:
- After a 15 minute executive session, the board appointed Duane Kirkpatrick and Chris Sprowls to represent the board in teacher contract negotiations.
- The board also extended superintendent Lee Leiker’s contract through June 2013.
- Leiker discussed a cell phone policy, barring school employees from using their phones while driving a vehicle with students. In instances where the school would need to reach a bus — for instance if a sporting event is canceled yet the bus is halfway to the event — another person on the bus would be reached, such as a coach. The board agreed such a policy was a good idea and Leiker said he would bring a written policy to the next meeting Feb. 14.
- Marion Elementary Students who achieved exemplary scores on state assessments will be recognized at halftime of Friday’s MHS home basketball game against Hutchinson Trinity. Board members will present medals to students.
- Odgers said she is planning to propose a policy dealing with concurrent enrollment — classes offered at MHS and online through the Marion County Learning Center will be taken at MHS unless there is a definite scheduling conflict.
- The soup supper before the Dec. 21 MHS basketball game raised $1,800 for the Raglands and Palics.
- MHS senior Landon Leiker was named to the National Honor Band. He will play with the band at Carnegie Hall Feb. 19 in New York City on his 18th birthday.