The regular meeting of West Franklin USD #287 Board of Education was held on March 8, 2004 at the Education Center in Pomona, Kansas. The following board members were present: President Neal Baker, Mr. Jeff Piersol, Mrs. Mary Ann Parkin, Mrs. Sheila Anderson, Mrs. Janie Dillon, Mr. Randy Hermreck, and Mrs. Nancy Reed (7:50). Also present were: Superintendent Susan Myers, Curriculum Director Mary Schleicher, Appanoose Principal Rick Smith, Learning Center Principal Robert Allen, Pomona Elementary/Middle School Principal Jody Cole, Pomona High School Principal Royce Powelson (7:05), Williamsburg Principal Tracy Maring, and Deputy Board Clerk Cherree Keeton. Others present included: Mr. Rob Conway, Ms. Elise Woodbury, Ms. Merritta Combs, Ms. Karen Chaney, Ms. Barb Engel, Ms. Kim Dixon, District Maintenance Technician Jerry Engel, Ms. Eloise R. Bennett (7:15), Dr. and Mrs. Kent Stewart (7:30), and Ms. Patty Nelson (7:35).

President Neal Baker called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

The agenda was amended with action item 3.7 Recreation Commission Appointment and Personnel item 6.25 Termination.

Mary Ann Parkin moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, to pay the bills as presented and to accept the amended agenda. The motion was seconded by Janie Dillon and the motion passed 6-0.

The principals' report began with Pomona Elementary/Middle School Principal Jody Cole. She gave an overview of the testing that was going on in her buildings. Math and writing tests were completed. Test results look good. She also added that the fourth graders really enjoyed taking their tests in the lab.

Principal Tracy Maring of Williamsburg stated that Williamsburg had done very well in sports lately, as runner up in both regionals and sub-state. Testing results are fabulous, with one fourth grader scoring as exemplary. High school students' test scores have improved. Math testing is still on-going. Williamsburg's Science Fair is Wednesday night and she extended an invitation to the group to visit.

Principal Rick Smith said Appanoose fourth and fifth graders still had work to do, according to their test scores. He said he was pleased with the seventh and eighth grade students' test scores and that no one in either class had scored in the bottom two categories.

Pomona High School Principal Royce Powelson said that twenty-five had signed up for Baseball, with one of those being from Williamsburg. Twenty-one (fourteen from Pomona and seven from Williamsburg) have signed up for Golf. Mr. Powelson said the Site Council had met and discussed several things. One of the topics discussed was graduation requirement changes. Another was Cheerleading Squad criteria; specifically getting judges from the outside and reducing squad members from fourteen to seven. He brought up that the cost of a Cheerleading uniform is now $450. Student Handbooks were also discussed.

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Monday, March 8, 2004

Mary Schleicher, Curriculum Director, shared that the online testing at Appanoose School is finished, Williamsburg is about half of the way through with their testing and Pomona High School is finished. Grades three through five plan to attend the Literature Festival.

Dr. Susan Myers, Superintendent, talked about updates from KASB and legislation regarding education. She encouraged anyone that was interested to lobby for education on March 30th.

Local Effectiveness Grant Reports began with Rob Conway of Pomona High School. The money he received from the grant was used to purchase books on World War I & II. He wanted his students to learn to use books as resource material instead of the internet, as is often required of College students. Grant amount used: $250.00.

A Morning Tutoring Program is held every morning at Pomona Elementary by teachers Ryan Horne, Heather Conway, and Kim Dixon. They used $1500 from the Local Effectiveness Grant to target students with low test scores. Students are taught test taking strategies and helped in areas where they are struggling in their schoolwork. Other students that desire extra help are also attending. The program has been very successful.

Elise Woodbury and Beverly Bird, teachers at Williamsburg, have used their grant money to for a Literacy Centers & Writing Workshop. Their goal is to promote excitement and a love of writing in students.

Two travel requests were considered. Charles Kessinger, Band Teacher, requested permission for the band to attend the Ozark Country Band Festival. Merritta Combs, FACS teacher, asked that a group of her students be allowed to attend the FCCLA Leadership Conference. Janie Dillon made a motion to approve the travel requests and the motion was seconded by Mary Ann Parking. Motion passed 5-1.

Changes made to the 2004-2005 calendar were discussed. Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to approve the changes. Shiela Anderson seconded the motion. Motion passed, 6-0.

After discussion, a motion was made to renew Local Effectiveness Grants at $6,500.00 by Jeff Piersol and seconded by Janie Dillon. Motion passed, 6-0.

Eloise R. Bennett went over the progress being made regarding the grant for the proposed new library in Williamsburg. The committee is working closely with the Department of Commerce, and so far, has consulted with an architect, various contractors, and recently mailed out an RFP to eleven eligible certified administrators.

Susan Myers read the stipulation that was decided upon by the Board of Education in a previous meeting in regards to the library request for a house building bid. The board members concluded that the criteria had not yet been met. However, when the library does receive a proposal, they are to contact the board.

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Monday, March 8, 2004

A House Building Bid from Tim and Karen Chaney was opened. The bid was at 17%, with the address being at 738 Jackson Road. Jeff Piersol made a motion to accept the bid, which was seconded by Mary Ann Parkin. The motion passed, 6-0.

Mary Schleicher introduced the teachers in attendance that served on the Communications Committee: Kim Dixon (Pomona Middle School), Patty Nelson (Appanoose Elementary), Michelle Graf (Librarian at Williamsburg), Rob Conway (Pomona High), and Barb Engel (Appanoose Middle School). She answered a question regarding changes in state communications standards. A motion to approve the new Communications Curriculum was heard from Jeff Piersol, seconded by Janie Dillon, and passed, 6-0.

Requests to transfer sick leave were considered from teachers Jim Prothe (2 days) and Ryan Horne (5 days) to Angie Corwine, whose baby has been ill for some time. Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to allow the donation of sick leave as requested. Shiela Anderson seconded the motion and the motion passed 6-0.

A motion to appoint Starlene Bradley to the Appanoose Recreation Commission to fill the position vacated by Nancy Reed was made by Jeff Piersol. The motion was seconded by Shiela Anderson, and passed 6-0.

At 7:50 p.m., a ten minute break was taken.

Dr. Kent Stewart went over the preliminary draft of the Facilities Study Report. The draft covers several things including, but not limited to, an enrollment study; housing developments and population growth affecting West Franklin; descriptions, capacities and conditions of the school buildings; curriculum and how it affects enrollment; recommendations. The board discussed things they wanted included in the finished draft.

During the course of the discussion, Jeff Piersol asked for a breakdown of costs for general repairs. He'd like that broken down by labor, travel and parts, due within the next 60 days. Dr. Myers said it would be available.

The board would also like to put together a committee in August to discuss the future of West Franklin schools.

It was agreed that the most pressing issue was the growing student enrollment at Williamsburg. Modular housing for the Learning Center was discussed, but no decisions were made.

At 9:45, Neal Baker made a motion for the board to enter executive session for ten minutes for evaluation of non-certified staff. Justification of the executive session is to protect the privacy interests of identifiable individuals. Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0.

The board came out of executive session at 9:55 p.m.

A motion was made by Mary Ann Parkin to enter executive session for another thirty minutes to discuss personnel issues. The motion was seconded by Janie Dillon and passed 7-0. Executive session was entered into again at 9:55 p.m. and lasted until 10:25 p.m.

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A motion by Mary Ann Parkin was made to accept employment recommendations. The motion was seconded by Jeff Piersol and passed, 7-0. The recommendations were:

David Clayton Mid School Girls' Track Coach Pomona Resignation
Tammy Gorton Dance Team Williamsburg Resignation
Jennifer Hamlet Asst Girls' Basketball Coach Pomona Resignation
Tara Henton English Teacher Williamsburg Resignation
Ryan Horne Mid School Girls' Track Coach Pomona Employ
Jeff Lantis Custodian Williamsburg Termination
Tracy Maring Principal Williamsburg Resignation


The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.

______________________________ ________________________________
Cherree Keeton, Deputy Clerk Neal Baker, Board President

(Minutes are not offical until approved at the following board meeting.)