Summary of USD 408 board action years ago
The Marion-Florence USD 408 Board of Education met in regular session Monday night.
Following is a summary of action taken.
The board:
— Gave its consensus allowing baseball and softball scheduling to continue. However, the hiring of assistant coaches will wait until it is determined there are sufficient players to warrant extra coaches. Also, staff was directed to continue seeking cooperative agreements with other area (smaller) school districts and find other ways to trim the athletic budget.
— Approved a proposal creating a transitional first grade program. The program will be for kindergarten students who would otherwise be retained or have to repeat kindergarten. (See related story).
— Approved a proposed restructuring of Marion Elementary School fifth and sixth grade classes by a 6-1 vote without approving any particular schedule. The restructuring will "departmentalize" classes. (See related story).
— Approved transportation requests from the Marion REC swim team to use district transportation to attend two swim meets during the summer. Superintendent Gerry Henderson said this was the same agreement as in past years.
Also, a transportation request was approved from Prairie View to transport children to a summer camp in Hillsboro. Prairie View will provide reimbursement for drivers and the cost of running buses.
— Approved a proposal allowing all three district schools to become QPA (Quality Performance Accreditation) pilot schools for the next round of accreditation. Henderson said the schools would "get better service from the state department" if they become pilot schools.
— Heard from Henderson who thanked the board for participating in a Wellness Fair.
— Congratulated the Marion High School forensics squad and instructor Janet Killough for the team's fourth place finish at State Champs.
— Presented service awards to the following employees:
10-year awards — Tammy Jirak, Judy Versch, and Jane Whitwell.
15-year awards — Betty Ehlers, Anita Hancock, Mary Alice Hiebert, and Lois Smith.
20-year awards — Mary Griffith.
25-year awards — Judi Stewart and Becky Summerville.
30-year awards — Linda Allison.
— Approved allowing student council to sell an activity shirt to students which allows the wearer access to sporting events. The cost of the shirt will be $25 due to increased gate prices charged by the MCAA, the league the district will join officially during the upcoming school year.
— Approved disposing of a 1992 Suburban owned by the district. Bids will be taken.
— Approved the creation of the Doug Regier Memorial Scholarship Fund which will be offered to MHS graduates beginning with the 2004-05 school year. It will follow all guidelines of other district scholarships.
— Accepted the resignation of Elaine Shannon, MES media specialist, and Ginger Robert, MES sixth grade teacher. The board approved the resignations by a 6-1 vote with Collett casting the "nay" vote.
During the April meeting, the board voted to non-renew Shannon's contract due to budget cuts.
— Approved supplemental contracts. Board president Rex Savage left the room during the vote due to a conflict of interest. The contracts were approved, 6-0.
— Received copies of the new foreign language and agri-science/applied technology education curriculums. The board will review the curriculum guides before approving them at the June meeting.
Special ed board
will meet Monday
Marion County Special Education Cooperative board of directors will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the special ed conference room at 302 W. Eighth Street, Florence.
