The next step forward in the process of determining the future of Centre USD 397 school facilities was taken Monday when the board of education approved a feasibility study on relocation of pre-kindergarten through fourth grade students from Lost Springs to the high school site.

Kent Stewart, a professor at Kansas State University, and Craig Elliott, a retired superintendent, will conduct the study at a cost to the district not to exceed $1,990.

Stewart said they will address such things as whether relocation will produce cost savings or increases, classroom and office space needed at the high school site, whether the change would benefit students, and how parents feel about it.

The men expect to complete their study by late October, with a report and recommendations to be made to the board at the November meeting.

Wimmer receives award

Principal Nadine Smith reported that vocational education instructor Gaea Wimmer recently was recognized at the K-ACTE Conference in Wichita as the “Outstanding Career and Technology Educator of the Year.”

Superintendent Jerri Kemble reported that teachers are receiving special training in identifying learning problems early and using swift intervention to keep children out of special education.

Preliminary enrollment figures are as follows: pre-k 15, kindergarten 24, first grade 10, second 10, third 22, fourth 18, fifth 19, sixth 20, seventh 20, eighth 21, ninth 12, 10th 19, 11th 18, 12th 21.

The figures reflect a drop of 19 from the previous year.

2008-09 budget adopted

A brief budget hearing was held at the beginning of the meeting, and the board later adopted the 2008-09 budget as published, with a spending limit of $4,022,162.

The mill levy was increased from 43.427 the previous year to 45.422. Taxes levied include general fund, 20 mills; supplemental general fund, 17.343 mills; capital outlay fund, four mills, and bond and interest fund, 4.079 mills.

The district will receive an estimated $807,590 in taxes, approximately $23,600 more than the previous year. The district’s bonded debt stands at $670,000.

In other actions, the board:

• Accepted the resignation of Dawn Kaiser as concession manager and employed Mary Ann Mille to take her place.
• Approved out-of-district attendance of Veronica Carlson, Christopher McLeod, and Abigail McLeod, children of Nancy McLeod of Herington. The children attended school at Centre Elementary this past year.
• Approved a request from Kemble to change the date of the September meeting due to a family-related health matter. The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in the high school library.

Calendar changes

Smith reported the following calendar changes: FFA leadership school and creed CDE, Harper, moved from Nov. 6 to Nov. 13; FFA livestock/floriculture CDE, Hutchinson, moved from April 8 to April 1; FFA Ag Mechanics contest, Pratt, moved from April 15 to April 8.