Centre approves driver education as part of school year
By ROWENA PLETT
Reporter / photographer
At its regular meeting Monday, the Centre USD Board of Education unanimously authorized placing driver education classroom instruction into the regular school year program beginning this spring.
The motion included provisions limiting enrollment to freshmen and keeping all required graduation credits in place.
Driver education instruction will take place in the fourth quarter during time now designated for health and physical education. Some learning support time also will be used to meet the criteria for full credit in PE and Drivers Ed.
Projected cost savings will come from reduced teacher salary, paraprofessional salary, and transportation. It is estimated to be $2,600.
Current eighth grade students will enroll in driver education as freshmen in the 2003-2004 school term.
Class trip approved
The board approved a request from the Class of 2005 for a senior class trip extending from three to five days, depending on destination.
Before the action was taken, class sponsor Yvonne Burhoop said four destinations are being considered, all within the continental United States. She said she had contacted many of the parents, who said they were comfortable with an extended trip with Burhoop in charge.
The class has been raising money for the trip since they were freshmen. Burhoop noted that no qualified student will be left out of the trip because of lack of funds.
Board member Clark Davis said if the trip occurs after graduation, diplomas will be withheld until the students return.
In other actions, the board:
— accepted the resignation of Mark Pagenkopf as assistant custodian at the high school. Pagenkopf has been at the school for 13 years. He will continue to serve as drinking water and waste water operator, as well as designated asbestos plan manager, with compensation at his current hourly rate of pay.
— approved an after-lunch 12:45 p.m. dismissal for Feb. 17 to allow staff members to prepare a summary report for the state Quality Performance Accreditation team which will be visiting the district April 21.
— approved an overnight field trip for four CHS band students to participate in the tenth annual KSU Concert Band Clinic Jan. 24-26 at an estimated cost to the district of $325.
— approved a request from Nancy Thomas to take two extended-learning program students to a two-day Model United Nations event in Topeka March 3-4. The students will accompany students from Marion and Hillsboro. There will be no cost to the district.
— employed Robin Vincent of Lincolnville as a non-CDL driver at $9.50 per hour and substitute custodian at $7 per hour. She will drive the special education route which is approximately three hours per day.
— adopted polices on expense reimbursement and credit cards and the Technology Systems Technician job description.
— appointed Brent Methvin to the elementary school site council for a two-year term beginning January 2003.
— voted to take bids for the purchase of a new 53-passenger bus and trade or sell a 1991 IHC 53-passenger bus and a 1995 GMC 19-passenger mini-bus.
The board met in executive session for 20 minutes with Clerk Peggy Falen to discuss employer-employee negotiations for the 2003-2004 school year.
Written reports were received from Treasurer Falen, TEEN representative Leona Hajek, and special education representative Clark Davis.
Weltha announced that Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Salina has donated $5,313.75 to Centre High School for the improvement of student education. He said the technology committee, CHS site council, and presidents council will decide how the money will be spent.
Weltha also reported that Gail Makovec of Ramona has donated sand to CHS which will be used to replenish the long jump pit and sand green for physical education classes.
