Centre insurance premium increases 30 percent years ago
No new property and liability insurance proposals were received by Centre Unified School District, board members were told Monday.
As a result, the board had no option but to approve renewal of the present policy with current coverages and an increase in deductibles from $5,000 to $10,000. The primary carrier is Pacific Insurance Company.
The $88,965.08 premium is a 29.64 percent increase and includes a $2,548 premium for school leaders professional liability coverage.
"To be dependent on one insurance company for coverage is not good," said board president Ronnie Carlson. He suggested that local agents be contacted to investigate if other options are available.
The board considered a letter of resignation from transportation director Roy Houdyshell, to be effective Dec. 2. After spending 40 minutes in executive session including high school principal Neal Weltha, 20 minutes of that with board clerk Peggy Falen, the board declined to accept the resignation. The issue was tabled until the December meeting.
In other actions, the board:
— appointed Leona Hajek and Jennifer Kassebaum to the negotiations committee. Hajek will be chief negotiator.
— conducted a first reading of several board policy revisions.
— approved a field trip Nov. 18 to Wichita State University by the anatomy and physiology class to attend the college of health professions high school tour.
— retroactively approved a field trip Nov. 8 to Hutchinson Community College by physics and Chemistry II classes to attend an open house and view live presentations and demonstrations in science and math.
— approved a field trip Nov. 19 to the University of Kansas by junior/senior high school foreign language students to view an exhibit at the Museum of Anthropology.
— approved continuation of the eighth grade science program in which selected groups present science concepts to students at Centre schools and other schools in central Kansas. The program is directed by Deb Wiles.
— approved out-of-district attendance for senior Jimmy D. Grissam who recently moved to Herington. He plans to graduate at the end of the semester.
The board reviewed preliminary specifications and a timeline presented by Superintendent Demitry Evancho for replacement of the shingles on the high school building. The plan is to install metal shingles with an overlay application.
After the board accepts final specifications at its December meeting, the district will advertise for bidders. The winning bid will be chosen in February and work will begin at the end of the school year. The project is to be completed by Aug. 1.
Superintendent Evancho was not at the meeting, but he submitted a written report stating that Kansas State Department of Education has accepted the district's technology plan.
He also reported the donation of three books by the Colberg-Smith American Legion Post at Burdick. The identical books, entitled Buna and Beyond, by Lenord Sill, tell the story of Raleigh Sill's experiences in the 32nd Infantry Division during World War II. The books will be placed in the high school library.
Weltha presented certificates of recognition from the state board of education to Leona Hajek and Jennifer Kassebaum.
The board approved checks issued in October totaling $152,264.20. The closing cash balance Oct. 31 was $1,100,626.71.
Several members will be attending the Kansas Association of School Boards State Convention Dec. 6-8 at Wichita.
