Enrollment up by 26 at Centre USD #397 years ago
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Official enrollment figures for the 2005-06 school year at Centre Unified School District came in at 291 on Sept. 20, the day when final figures were reported. This compares to 265 the previous year. Full-time equivalency enrollment is set at 282 compared to 256.5 the previous year.
The head count is as follows: kindergarten, 18; first grade, 24; second, 17; third, 21; fourth, 23; fifth, 24; sixth, 17; seventh, 23; eighth, 17; freshmen, 27; sophomores, 28; juniors, 26; seniors, 22; special education, 4.
At the Oct.10 meeting of the board of education, Superintendent Bob Kiblinger presented information received from Bowman Bowman Novick engineering firm on estimated costs of a science classroom/lab project at Centre High School.
Estimates included a cost of $157,100 to remodel the home economics classroom into a science classroom and lab and a cost of $96,000 to remodel existing science facilities for district office and classroom use. Total cost: $253,100.
An option to replace windows in the remodeled rooms would cost an additional $29,800. Architectural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical engineering fees through the bidding process would be approximately $26,800.
Kiblinger also presented information on the cost of two modular ranch-style units which could be placed at the high school site in a future move to consolidate K-12.
Wardcraft Homes, Inc., of Clay Center provided a current estimate of $140,766 per unit. Each unit would contain two classrooms and bathrooms.
Kiblinger submitted sketches of possible locations for the units west or north of the fifth and sixth grade classrooms.
The board approved purchase of 20 Hewlett Packard laptop computers, one HP laser printer, and a mobile cart for the 5-12 building at a cost of $19,575.02. The money will come from a federal REAP grant of $25,227.
The board approved a contract with Jeanne Rziha of Tampa for nursing consultation and services for the 2005-06 school year.
The superintendent was authorized to accept a bid from Sunflower Insurance Group for district property/casualty insurance at a premium not to exceed $90,000.
Clark Davis was appointed chief negotiator and Jesse Brunner a member of the board's negotiations team.
The board spent 15 minutes in executive session with Kiblinger to discuss matters related to non-elected personnel.
In open session, the board adjusted the employment contract for Sharon Matz, effective Sept. 19, to $13.294 per hour for bus driving duties and to reduce her duties as pre-K and classroom aide to four days per week, payment remaining at $8.69 per hour.
Kiblinger reported on the district's attempts to keep current with the 11 quality criteria requirements associated with the Kansas Quality Performance Accreditation program.
He also relayed a request from Bud Peterson, driver's education instructor, to provide classroom teaching in driver's education during the second semester instead of during the summer. Peterson also wants to begin student driving after school during the second semester, with an approximate finish date of June 30.
Peterson said conducting classes during the second semester would cut down on the expense of transporting students to the high school during the summer.
Kiblinger presented a Kansas Communities That Care report. It outlined risk factors for behavioral problems and the protective factors which provide a buffer against them. These factors are provided by the community, family, school, and peers and other individuals.
Centre students surveyed rated higher than the state average in citing community rewards, school opportunities and rewards, social skills, and belief in moral order as influential in their lives.
