Centre board discusses school improvement
District is pilot school for new federal initiative
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Chad Tischhauser, chairman of the steering committee for school improvement at Centre USD #397, appeared before the board Monday to present an enthusiastic report on the current status of district schools.
Tischhauser said the district's status as a pilot school for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal initiative means the district continues to aggressively pursue academic improvement, as required by the current Quality Performance Accreditation (QPA) program.
No Child Left Behind requirements will begin at most schools during the 2005-2006 school year, but Centre was chosen to be a "guinea pig" for the new program.
Tischhauser said Centre is a good school to be a pilot school because it is small enough to be able to focus on one student and has good test scores.
He said the district meets most of the 11 criteria for quality instruction and has excellent performance, including high participation, attendance, and graduation rates. "Quality plus performance equals accreditation," he emphasized.
The main difference between QPA and NCLB is that schools will be required to face the accreditation process every year. Under QPA, accreditation was granted or denied every five years based on fulfillment of school improvement plans.
NCLB will focus largely on state assessments and more testing will be required.
Beginning with next year's incoming freshmen, all students must have three units of science and math to qualify for graduation.
"An alternative for science and an alternative for math will no longer be allowed," Tischhauser said.
He emphasized the importance of staying on track academically. With the threat of consolidation hanging over their heads, he said, school districts could face dissolution if they don't perform.
For more information on school improvement, patrons can visit the Kansas State Department of Education website at www.ksde.org.
Class trip approved
The class of 2005 received approval for a five-day trip to San Diego after graduation. Tentative dates are May 29-June 4, 2005.
The board required the 11 who are expected to take the trip to be accompanied by one female and one male chaperone. Yvonne Burhoop is class sponsor.
It was reported the class has accumulated approximately $12,000 dollars. Burhoop said the funds will pay costs of sponsoring the junior/senior prom, caps and gowns for graduation, and most expenses of the senior trip including plane tickets. An amount of $500 has been designated for the first class reunion. No additional fund- raisers are planned.
Board member Jesse Brunner suggested the board consider a policy in the future to limit class expenditures to minimize competition among classes.
The board accepted a $7,550 bid from Jones Electric, Herington, to rewire the district-owned house. They also authorized Evancho to discuss with Jones additional costs to install electrical smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
A motion to rebid an egress window for the house was defeated on a split vote of 3-3.
A water problem in the basement of the house during times of heavy rain run-off was discussed. Evancho said the problem is controllable by keeping drain pipes clean. The board decided to address the issue at a later date.
Personnel actions
Librarian Tambra Owens was granted an extended medical leave through Friday. She has undergone cancer treatments and is expected to return to work Monday.
Margie Klenda was employed as assistant cook at Centre Elementary School at $7.25 an hour beginning April 13.
Instructor Kenna Krause was awarded a one-day emergency leave with pay. Her house in Hillsboro is in close proximity to the church which burned March 7 and was threatened with smoke and flames. She was required to meet with adjusters and inspectors the Monday following the fire to determine property loss.
A list of returning faculty members was approved for re-employment. Nancy Brockmeier will return to full-time status. She and Tana Riffel were designated to provide at-risk services, Title 1 services, and regular education. First grade will be reduced to one class due to reduced numbers.
In other actions, the board:
— accepted a $725 bid from Dittman Auto Body to refinish several bathroom stalls at Centre Elementary School.
— approved out-of-district attendance of Miranda Steiner of Marion and Ryan Richmond of Herington.
— approved the following field trips: fifth grade to Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, April 29; sixth grade to Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, April 29; three of Jennifer Montgomery's forensics/drama students to William Inge Theatre Festival at Independence Community College, April 20. District costs total $250 plus transportation.
— granted permission for use of CHS facilities for after-prom activities May 1.
— voted to retain membership with the Kansas Association of School Boards with payment of dues of $3,032.
— subscribed to Legal Assistance Fund service for $900.
— adopted the 2004-2005 school calendar. First day of classes is Aug. 19, and last day is May 26.
— approved attendance next year of foreign exchange student Mai Nguyen at Centre High School. Host parents are Marcus and Peggy Carlson.
— accepted the low bid from Don Hattan Chevrolet for the purchase of two 2004 Suburbans, with one Suburban equipped with a tow package, not to be delivered until after June 1.
— accepted the sale of a Suburban for $2,005.25 to Nick Evancho, Wichita; a 1984 Ford utility van for $675 to Matt Robert, Marion; and a 1995 19-passenger bus to Master's Transportation, Kearney, Neb., for $2,758.13.
— authorized employment of temporary workers for summer maintenance, the cost not to exceed $10,422 in wages and fixed charges.
Board member Jennifer Kassebaum encouraged other members to contact their legislative representatives and encourage them to support a house bill which would increase base pay by $100 per student. It calls for a surcharge on income tax and a two-percent increase in sales tax.
The board met in executive session with superintendent Demitry Evancho and clerk Peggy Falen to discuss staff negotiations. They also met in executive session with principal Neal Weltha and Evancho to discuss personnel.
Evancho was directed to request permission from the state fire marshal to remove the range hood in the elementary school kitchen. The current fire-suppression system needs to be replaced at a cost between $1,500 and $2,000, Evancho said, but is not needed because no frying is done.
