Centre passes resolution to keep capital outlay levy at four mills
A resolution authorizing an annual levy of 4 mills on taxable tangible property in the school district for capital outlay for another five years was approved Monday by the Centre USD #397 Board of Education.
The current five-year resolution will expire at the end of the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
The new resolution is expected to generate approximately $63,350 per year, to be used to support continued operations. These include acquisition, construction, repair, remodeling, additions, furnishing, and equipping of buildings, asbestos control projects, purchase of school buses, and paying a portion of the principal and interest on bonds.
District patrons can petition to oppose implementation of the resolution. The petition must be signed by not less than 10 percent of qualified electors and filed with the county election officer within 40 days of the final publication of the resolution.
If a petition is filed, the county election officer will authorize a public vote on the resolution at a special election or at the next general election.
Roof project considered
The board reviewed four bids on new roofing for Centre Elementary School. Action on the bids was tabled when several board members questioned the wisdom of replacing the roof if the building might be abandoned in five or 10 years.
Consideration of the proposed $85,000-$90,000 roof project led to a discussion about the long-term goals of the district.
Board member Jennifer Kassebaum commended Superintendent Demitry Evancho for having a good maintenance plan. Based on comments heard from patrons, she wondered how much longer the district will use the building. Others wondered if the roof could be repaired.
One of the bidders, John O'Bray from Roofworks in Herington was present and told board members the flat roof was in remarkably good shape for its age except for the corners, where water tended to pool. He said it would be difficult to repair the corners without causing pooling elsewhere. He also said the flashings are cracked and in bad shape.
"If you were to replace the flashings, you might as well replace the whole roof," he recommended.
The board approved a proposal by Clark Davis to table the bids and direct Superintendent Evancho to ask the adjuster from the district's insurance company to assess the roof and submit a written report.
They also tentatively agreed to meet Nov. 3 for a preliminary planning session to begin studying long-term goals.
Other actions included:
— employment of Casey Jarvis as a Rule 10 assistant volleyball coach. Jarvis is a paraprofessional assigned to Centre High School.
— decision to award a diploma and allow graduation at the end of the school year of foreign exchange student Irina Kormarnitskyaya upon successful completion of requirements. She is classified as a junior but past course work and present enrollment in many senior-level courses will qualify her as a Kansas Regents Scholar.
— an extension of part-time custodian Holly Hemmer's hours from 20 to 22.5 hours per week.
— adoption of new policies regarding HIPAA (privacy rules), professional development, student privacy, and homeless students, and adoption of numerous revised policies.
— acceptance of an audit report presented by Jay Langley of Clubine & Rettele. Langley said no violations were found.
— approval of a new $3,900 contract with Clubine & Rettele for the 2003-2004 year. "They do an outstanding job," said board member Clark Davis.
— approval of an October field trip to Crown Uptown Theatre in Wichita for Extended Learning Program students.
— approval of a fleet policy with State Farm Insurance for a premium of $16,881.33. This is $2,087.02 less than the previous year's premium. Evancho called it a "Cadillac" plan.
— adoption of the 2004 Local Consolidated Plan. The plan articulates the implementation of regulations of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and allocates funds at the local level for special title programs. These provide for school improvement, teacher improvement, education technology, maintaining a drug-free school, and programs for At-Risk students.
Evancho was pleased the federal government is providing more than $14,000 to the district to assist two teachers with provisional certificates to become fully certified and "highly qualified," as required by the No Child Left Behind Act.
Administrators' reports
Evancho reported a current student head count of 263, with an average class size of 20. Numbers by grade are: kindergarten, 19; first, 20; second, 23; third, 20; fourth, 15; fifth, 24; sixth, 16; seventh, 22; eighth, 27; ninth, 22; 10th, 22; 11th, 15; and 12th, 18. There are an additional two special education students.
He was happy to report the casualty and liability insurance premium coming due in November likely would increase by only 10-15 percent.
He said Delores Svoboda, assistant cook at the high school, will take KPERS retirement at the end of November. She plans to take 30 days off and return to work in January. KPERS requires that employees cannot return to work for the same employer for 30 days following retirement.
Level I certificates from the Kansas Association of School Boards were presented to Kassebaum and board president Leona Hajek for the hours they accumulated attending seminars and educating themselves in setting board policies and procedures.
High school principal Neal Weltha said a third science course and third math course need to be added to the curriculum by the 2005 or 2006 school year to meet state requirements which will become effective for 2009 graduates.
