Kemble presents action plan to address bullying
Board approves compensation for student learning advocates
Staff writer
At the USD 397 board of education meeting Oct. 11, Superintendent Jerri Kemble presented an action plan to combat bullying. She reported the formation of two committees that are working on how to incorporate character education into the daily curriculum.
One part of that education will be to make students aware of bullying behaviors and that such behaviors are against the law.
Junior high and high school students will be required to sign an anti-bullying agreement committing them to healthy, respectful relationships with others. Elementary school students will sign a modified version.
Physical bullying includes touching, pinching, shoving, pushing, hitting, fighting, and disrespect.
Verbal bullying includes taunting, jeers, name calling, intimidation, threats, extortion, and disrespect.
Social bullying includes ostracizing, scapegoating or blaming others, gestures, and disrespect.
Sexual bullying includes written or verbal communication of a sexual nature, and unnecessary and unwanted touching that is not consensual.
Cyber bullying is bullying using electronic devices such as e-mail, text messages, websites, blogs, and cell phones.
School personnel also will learn about the steps to be taken when bullying is reported.
The board approved a stipend of $200 per student for teachers who monitor and assist students enrolled in Centre’s online program. Currently, three teachers serve in that capacity.
The online program has added 25 students to the district’s 2010-11 enrollment. On Sept. 20, enrollment stood at 276 with a full-time equivalency of 268.5.
Senior Jacob Jirak was recognized for scoring in the top 5 percent of students taking the preliminary SAT test and for placing high in a National Future Business Leaders of America Conference test for the second year in a row.
The board accepted a $3,150 bid from Nickel Construction to install an enclosure at the east side entrance to the 1998 gymnasium. Nickel will be required to sign an independent contractor agreement for the project. Wiebe Siding and Remodeling of Hillsboro also submitted a bid.
An amendment to the TEEN interlocal agreement was approved, allowing TEEN to use any fiber optic line that may be abandoned if a school district withdraws from the network.
Jesse Brunner, Mark Heiser, and Jeff Bina were appointed to the board’s negotiating team. Brunner will serve as chief negotiator with teachers.
After 30 minutes in executive session with Kemble to discuss non-elected personnel, the board approved a 2.5 percent wage increase for technology technician Dusty Wiegert, retroactive to the start date stated in his current Letter of Employment.
Jennifer Montgomery and Lynley Remy were assigned supplemental duties as play directors for the 2010-11 school year.
The board accepted an audit report presented by Jay Langley of Clubine and Rettele of Salina.