Centre district sees drop in enrollment
Special meeting to be held Nov. 3
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Official 2003-2004 enrollment figures were presented to school board members of Centre USD #397 at their Oct. 13 meeting. The total head count of 266 students is a drop of 15 from the previous year.
Full-time equivalency (FTE) enrollment is 258.5, down 13 from 271.5. FTE is the number upon which state subsidies are based.
Kindergartners and some special education students are not full-time and receive a fractional count. The FTE decrease means the district's budget authority also will decrease.
Centre Elementary School has an enrollment of 137 students. Centre High School has 128.
Broken down by grades, figures are as follows: Kindergarten, 14; first grade, 20; second grade, 23; third grade, 20; fourth grade, 15; fifth grade, 24; sixth grade, 16; seventh grade, 22; eighth grade, 27; ninth grade, 22; tenth grade, 22; eleventh grade, 15; twelfth grade, 20; special education, 6.
One pre-school student and five kindergartners are enrolled in special education.
The board agreed to hold a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Centre Elementary School library to review and act on insurance proposals. Members also will set goals for the district.
The meeting, like all board meetings, is open to the public.
In other actions, the board:
— rejected all bids on the CES roofing project and tabled a decision because results of a comprehensive inspection are not yet available.
— declined a request for sick leave with pay from a classified employee who wanted to accompany a sister with an ill son. Board policy on sick leave with pay does not include provisions for nephews or nieces, and the board thought it best not to deviate from it.
— employed Alisa Jirak of Marion, a student teacher in CES fifth grade, as assistant junior class sponsor. Compensation is not to exceed $207.12.
— approved a science team proposal presented by instructor Deb Wiles and commended her continued efforts to provide an outstanding science program. Comprised of eighth graders, the science team develops and presents a program demonstrating science principles in other schools.
According to Superintendent Demitry Evancho, the science team program has become a Centre school calling card that brings credit to the district and reinforces student mastery of science concepts and communication skills.
— authorized a field trip by business students to Salina on Oct. 23. They will tour the K-State Salina campus, Designs by Cunningham, and KSAL radio station. Pilsen State Bank in Lincolnville will cover the cost of the fuel and driver.
— approved an out-of-district attendance request for first grade student Joseph Pierce, whose mother Silka Neuhaus, has moved to Herington.
— appointed Leona Hajek as the district's voting delegate to the annual Kansas Association of School Boards convention, to be held Dec. 5-7 in Topeka. All other members are alternates.
— appointed Leona Hajek as chief negotiator and Jennifer Kassebaum as her assistant in negotiating terms and conditions for employment of certificated personnel.
The board tabled action on a written request from Superintendent Demitry Evancho that it authorize a correction to appear in The Herington Times regarding the report on the Aug. 27 special meeting.
Evancho said the statement that he and Houdyshell were included together in an executive session with the board was not correct. He also said he had contacted the Times and a correction had not been forthcoming.
Reporter J.R. Sparkes said he did not print a correction as requested because his report was based on official minutes approved by the school board.
Board members discussed whether or not an amendment could be made to the approved minutes so that a correction could be printed in the newspaper. They tabled the matter until the issue can be researched.
Board member Jesse Brunner suggested the district make special cell phones available for bus drivers when they transport students on long trips. He said the phones could be pre-programmed, managed by the transportation director, and checked out for emergency use only. He also said the phones would have no monthly service fee.
Board president Leona Hajek asked Principal Neal Weltha to consult with the superintendent and transportation director on the suggestion.
Weltha announced that Travis Burns and Laura Klenda have been nominated to work as student athletic trainers at Barton County Community College. The work would help them pay for books and tuition.
Weltha encouraged board members to check out the centreschools.com web site. He said it contains school menus, newsletters, and other items.
In a written report, Evancho noted that corrective action has been taken to prevent water from entering band room and special education doorways during rainfall. He noted that water damage in other areas of the 1993 addition has sparked a dispute between the manufacturer's parent company and the district. He said a resolution to the dispute is being sought.
Treasurer Peggy Falen reported a closing cash balance as of Sept. 30 of $984,368.39.
The board spent five minutes in executive session to discuss a student matter.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
