MHS activity shirts approved
USD 408 Board of Education met Monday and approved the purchase of an activities T-shirt for high school students.
Ken Arnhold, Marion High School principal, told the board that a T-shirt could be sold to students at a cost of $10 which would gain the studetns admittance to the rest of the home sporting events.
"Judy (Versch, attendance officer) had called area schools regarding passes," said Arnhold. The passes ranged in price from free to $5 to $20 to $40.
Gate prices are $2 for students but will raise to $3 next year when the high school changes leagues.
"Players, band members, and concession workers don't have to pay admission," said Arnhold. "But I think some of these kids may buy shirts anyway."
The MHS Student Council (STUCO) is facilitating the purchase by distributing them.
Discussion of the action plan led to discussion of the roof at the elementary school.
Martin Tice, business manager and board clerk, said that the building was constructed in the early 1960's. A concrete roof was poured and sky lights were added. Deterioration and removal of some of the sky lights has caused the roof to leak.
A metal roof, similar to the one on the new addition, could replace the concrete roof.
"When we do this, we need to keep in mind that this will effect the lighting in the rooms," said Tice. Some of the classrooms at the school have sky lights and when the roof is replaced, the sky lights will be covered.
Rex Savage, board president, asked if grant money was available. Savage said that the high school received an efficiency grant and had 50 percent of the cost of new lighting paid through the grant.
The board instructed Tice to contact an architect and gather information for repairing the roof, including grant information.
Mike Fruechting, district technology coordinator, presented a server specifications list for gathering bids for two new servers.
Cost estimates for the two servers are $4,754.50 each. The servers should last about five years.
"These servers are more reliable and should save us money in the long run," said Fruechting.
Fruechting has contacted other schools regarding the type of servers used.
"They're using these type of servers," said Fruechting. "This isn't groundbreaking."
The servers the district is currently using cost $2,400 each and last about five years. When the district servers are replaced, the old servers are used by classes.
"The usability by other classes when these new servers are replaced is limited," said Fruechting.
Henderson reiterated that the servers needed to be updated with better equipment.
Kathy Meierhoff, board member, asked if the replacement of the servers will reduce the likelihood of having the "domino" effect that recently occurred.
"These servers are built to handle a failed hard drive," said Fruechting. Often times the user won't even know there's a problem.
The board agreed that if a problem hadn't occurred with the current servers, new servers would not be discussed.
The board authorized the purchase of two new servers with local vendors being contacted.
Other discussion and action items were:
— Casey Case of Case and Son Insurance presented a preliminary cost estimate for insurance. Currently the insurance premium is $46,378. Insurance for next year will be $48,387. Case will present an official proposal at the December board meeting.
— Crisis Plan: Henderson reported that he has had positive feedback regarding his article in the Marion County Record regarding memorials.
Stan Ploutz, elementary school principal, said that the school recently had a drill and interrupted a funeral dinner. He commented that better communication will occur next time with Eastmoor Church.
The Marion Presbyterian Church is the location for the middle school to evacuate and the Marion Christian Church is for the high school.
The Marion Police Department provided a CD to the school about crisis intervention.
— Section 125 Plan: Tice reported that Blue Cross/Blue Shield is providing a dental plan to the employees. Over 50 percent of the employees signed up for it. The dental plan will be added to the health insurance plan.
— The board approved the shift of responsibilities for Jim Versch and Carolyn Moore. Versch and Moore had been sponsors of the high school yearbook. Due to additional duties for Moore, Versch will now be the only sponsor.
— Chris Sprowls, board member, asked the board for some direction regarding a high school life skills class becoming a part of the required curriculum.
As a representative to the District School Improvement Team (DSIT), he had been asked about the status of the program.
The class is available as an elective for non-band class members and teaches banking, financial, and other lifestyle skills.
Board member's concerns were the full class schedule the students have already, the affect this class would have if presented as a math class, and whether this class infringed on a student's privacy.
"Financial issues are personal and not up to the school district," said Keith Collett, board member.
Sprowls added that he didn't want to see it as a required class but wants the information available.
Gene Bowers, board member, asked if the information could be presented at the elementary level.
The board recommended that the DSIT give a recommendation to the board.
— Sarah Cope, board member, attended the Special Education Cooperative meeting in Collett's absence. She reported that the board settled on salaries.
— Bowers encouraged a conservation plan for the school district, especially the gyms.
— Two executive sessions were held. The first was for 55 minutes regarding personnel and the second was for 20 minutes for preliminary discussion of acquisition of real property. No decisions were made.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at the central office.
