Centre school board adopts bullying policy
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Centre USD 397 board of education approved a new policy Monday on bullying.
It reads as follows: "The board of education prohibits bullying in any form on school property, in a school vehicle, or at a school-sponsored activity or event. The administration shall propose, and the board shall review and approve a plan to address bullying.
"The plan shall include provisions for the training and education of staff members and students and should include appropriate community involvement as approved by the board.
"Students who have bullied others in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension and expulsion. If appropriate, students who violate the bullying prohibition shall be reported to local law enforcement."
The policy was implemented to comply with the new state law mandating such a policy.
New budget adopted
No patrons showed up at the hearing conducted at the beginning of the meeting on the proposed 2007-08 USD 397 budget.
After the hearing, the board adopted the budget as published in The Herington Times, with a total mill levy of 43.501 and tax revenue of $782,076. The 2006-07 mill levy was 43.149.
The district's assessed valuation is down slightly from a year ago. The local option mill levy was increased from 15.375 to 15.758, and is expected to raise $425,000 compared with $415,000 the previous year. The district's outstanding indebtedness is $715,000.
Maximum expenditures are set as follows: general fund, $2,535,170; supplemental general fund (local option budget), $425,000; capital outlay, $266,678; driver training, $15,000; food service, $190,910; professional development, $18.300; summer school, $10,525; special education, $482,359; vocational education, $122,000; federal funds, $78,400; KPERS contribution, $122,254; 4-year-old At Risk, $28,100; K-12 At Risk, $145,000; and bond and interest, $79,398.
Personnel actions taken
The board accepted the resignation of Steve Smith, transportation director, effective Aug. 24. Smith will assume the position of Marion County EMS director Aug. 27.
After a 10-minute executive session which included Superintendent Jerri Kemble, the board voted to employ Tina Novak as assistant cook at Centre Elementary School at $7.50 per hour.
Jesse Brunner and Steve Jirak excused themselves from an executive session to discuss a teacher's aide position. Kemble and Clerk Peggy Falen were included in the private session.
In open session, the board voted, 5-0, (Brunner and Jirak excluded) to employ Vickie Jirak as elementary school teacher's aide at $7.25 per hour.
Three out-of-district students were approved for attendance at Centre USD during the 2007-08 school year: Matt Ryff, junior, a current student whose parents have moved to Herington; Hannah Kemble, senior; and Matt Kemble, eighth grader. The latter two are the children of Superintendent Kemble, who lives at Herington.
Instructor Patrick Schoenhofer was approved for an increase in salary after completing nine hours of undergraduate study.
The board increased bus driver pay for IEP meetings, defensive driving/First Aid classes, activity trips, transportation help, and drug testing by one dollar per hour to $7.75, effective Aug. 13.
Kemble presented a preliminary enrollment count of 272 students, including 14 pre-K and 34 seniors. Official enrollment figures will be released Sept. 20.
'Expectations' session planned
The board voted to hold a special session later in August with KASB field representative Max Heim at $125 per hour.
The action came after Heim gave a presentation on how he could help the board and the community in setting goals and achieving them. He offered a community-based comprehensive planning session at a cost of $2,500 plus expenses.
After Heim left, Jennifer Kassebaum noted that the board already has gone through the process of setting goals for the district, but suggested they take him up on an offer to assist in other areas. They voted in favor of doing so.
The meeting, not to exceed four hours, will include an "expectation setting" session in which Heim will facilitate a discussion on what the board members expect from the superintendent and what the superintendent expects from them.
A "boardsmanship" session will outline and discuss the responsibilities of the superintendent and board.
If time allows, Heim will assist the board and superintendent in developing action plans to achieve the short-term and long-term goals they have set for the district.
