WEST FRANKLIN USD 287
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF EDUCATION
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2005

            The regular meeting of West Franklin USD #287 Board of Education was held on April 11, 2005 at the Education Center in Pomona , Kansas .   The following board members were present:   Mr. Neal Baker, Mrs. Sheila Anderson, Mr. Randy Hermreck ,   Mrs. Mary Ann Parkin, Mrs. Nancy Reed, and Mr. Jeff Piersol ( 7:10 pm ).   Mrs. Janie Dillon was absent.   Administrative staff present were: Superintendent Susan Myers, Curriculum Director Mary Schleicher , Transportation Director Richard Adler, Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Engel, and Board Clerk Robin Bigham    Principals present were:   Robert Allen (West Franklin Learning Center), Royce Powelson (Pomona High School), Eric Koppes (Pomona Elementary/Middle School), Rick Smith (Appanoose), and Susan Wildeman (Williamsburg).  Others present included:   Virginia Cook, Elston Horne, David Staley, Sarah Wigger, Dean Wigger, Autumn Reece, Jill Gottschamer, Keith Milliken, Judy Simpson, Cheryl Thomas, Kim Dixon, Michelle Miller, Kortny Miller, and Kerri Butler.

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

            Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to amend the agenda (Add 2.6 Pomona FBLA and postpone Item 4.1 to the May 2005 meeting), approve the minutes of the previous meeting and to pay the bills as presented.   The motion was seconded by Sheila Anderson.   Motion passed 5-0.

            Principal Eric Koppes reported that Kansas Assessments have been completed.   As an incentive, the PTO had a pizza party for those classes showing improvement, and classes meeting the Standard of Excellence are to receive and extra activity.   Staff will continue to address areas of concern.   He also stated that PES/PMS was recommended for endorsement from the NCA visit.  

            Mr. Koppes also praised his PTO for the money made from fundraisers put back in to the school through such things as the Accelerated Reader program, things for the playground, Guided Reading, and teacher appreciation.   He also thanked the community for their support.

            Mr. Koppes also reported the annual Vera Mae Schultz Math Day was a success.   He is also looking at alternative middle school schedules for next year.

            Principal Rick Smith passed around his final NCA document and said the NCA visit would be Wednesday, April 13 th at 1:00 pm .   He also passed out an invitation to a reception for retirees of the district to be held May 6, 2005 from 4:00-6:00 pm at Appanoose.   Mr. Smith also said that assessments had been completed and it looks like many individual goals had been met and that Standard of Excellence may have been met in middle school math and reading.

            Principal Susan Wildeman passed out samples from Mike’s Sporting goods for mats.   The money for the mats has already been set aside.   She also reported on assessments and should meet AYP.   Mrs. Wildeman was also happy to report that next year, WHS would offer several dual credit classes through NCCC.  

            WHS play is scheduled for Saturday, April 16 at 7:00 pm at Pomona High School multi-purpose room.   Everyone is invited to attend.

            Principal Royce Powelson reported that PHS will have a third resource room teacher next year and that he had set in on the interviews on April 8th.   Mr. Powelson also reported that the drug dogs had visited PHS and all was clean.   He also talked briefly about the Breaking Ranks conference he and several other attended and that we will be hearing more about it in the future.  

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Monday, April 11, 2005

            Principal Robert Allen had no additions to his report.

            Curriculum Director Mary Schleicher reported that assessment results were not yet official until the principal’s had checked on the data.   She also said that schools were placed on improvement for not meeting AYP for two years.   Mrs. Schleicher said that all data was preliminary but that it was looking good.

            Superintendent Susan Myers thanked the teams that went to Wichita for the Breaking Ranks conference.

            Mrs. Kim Dixon addressed the board regarding the PES/PMS Site Council.   She said the committee reviews the mission and rules of the site council annually. She also said that Mr. Koppes keeps the council well informed on the NCA process, test results and the discipline plan.        

            Mr. Robert Allen shared with the board his Successful Practice at the Learning Center .   He wrote and received a federal grant in the amount of $33,000 to improve academic performance of students at the Learning Center .   He used the grant money to send several students to the Flint Hills Vocational School .   Students had to apply, go through a screening process and pass tests to be accepted at the school.   Any junior attending this year has to pass to be able to attend next year.  The following students all spoke to the board on their experiences thus far and all were very positive and excited about the school:   Tommy Williams, Dylan Phillips, Levi Allender, and Justin Williams.

            Mrs. Cheryl Thomas told the board that several FBLA students attended the state conference in Topeka and qualified for nationals.   The students are:   Sarah Wigger and Autumn Reece gave an oral speech and presented a handbook on Partnership with Business and placed 2 nd; and Kortny Miller place 2 nd in Word Processing II by typing tests, reports and agenda’s and was graded on how much was completed in a time limit.   Several others placed in the top ten but only the top two places qualify for nationals.   Also, Courtney Butler was elected as District VI Vice President, which means that PHS will host the conference again in January 06.  

            The board discussed diploma presentations for the upcoming graduations.   The schedule is as follows:

            Appanoose:       Sheila Anderson and Nancy Reed

            PES/PMS:         Janie Dillon

            Pomona High :   Sheila Anderson, Janie Dillon and Nancy Reed

            WES/WMS:       Jeff Piersol and Randy Hermreck

            W’burg High:      Mary Ann Parkin and Randy Hermreck

            Regarding the boiler specifications from last month, Mrs. Myers reported that the firm of Hoss & Brown wanted $5,780 just to write the specs for the project.   Mrs. Myers found the engineering firm of Pearson , Kent McKinley & Raaf, who wrote a couple of options.   (Mrs. Myers passed out the report from Scott McKinley)   She is comfortable with Scott McKinley doing the specs for the boiler but she suggested the board set a special meeting to tour the 1934 Appanoose building before making a decision.   Mrs. Myers will look at schedules and set a date for the tour.

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Monday, April 11, 2005

            The board discussed and questions the board policies that were handed out at last months meeting.   Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to approve the policies as presented.   Jeff Piersol seconded the motion.   Motion passed 6-0.

            Board Policy EDD was reviewed and discussed.   Nancy Reed made a motion to approve Board Policy EDD.   Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed 6-0.

            Travel requests were presented as follows:   District to send teachers to Reading is Fame training; FCCLA to attend National Convention in San Diego, PHS FBLA to attend National Convention in Orlando, Jenna Hirsch to attend State Solo Contest, Pomona Band to use a district bus for the trip to Branson, and Mr. Allen and WFLC Students to go to Osage Beach, MO.  Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to approve the travel requests as presented.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed 6-0.

            Extended contracts for the 2005/06 school year were discussed.   Mary Ann Parkin made a motion to approve extended contracts for 05/06 as follows:   PHS Counselor-20 days, Williamsburg Counselor-10 days, and House Building Teacher-10 days.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed 6-0.

            The KASB Membership Renewal was received at $7,539 which includes legal services.   Neal Baker made a motion to renew the KASB membership.   Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion.   Motion passed 6-0.

            The board took a 10-minute break.

            Susan Myers passed out (3) handouts regarding possible budget savings for next school year.   One handout had current enrollment numbers, one showed a three year average on FTE, and the last had potential budget savings and expenses using different scenarios.   Budget saving plans will be placed on the agenda in May as an action item.  

            Neal Baker made a motion for the board to enter executive session at 9:01 pm for 30 minutes for discussion of personnel matters of non-elected personnel.   Justification of the executive session is to protect the privacy interests of identifiable individuals.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion the passed 6-0.          

            The board came out of executive session at 9:31 pm .

            Neal Baker made a motion for the board to enter executive session at 9:31 pm for 30 minutes for discussion of personnel matters of non-elected personnel.   Justification of the executive session is to protect the privacy interests of identifiable individuals.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion the passed 6-0

            The board came out of executive session at 10:01 pm .

            Neal Baker made a motion for the board to enter executive session at 10:01 pm for 20 minutes for discussion of personnel matters of non-elected personnel.   Justification of the

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executive session is to protect the privacy interests of identifiable individuals.   Mary Ann Parkin seconded the motion.   Motion the passed 6-0

            The board came out of executive session at 10:21 pm .

            Neal Baker made a motion for the board to enter executive session at 10:21 pm for 15 minutes for discussion of personnel matters of non-elected personnel.   Justification of the executive session is to protect the privacy interests of identifiable individuals.   Jeff Piersol seconded the motion.   Motion the passed 6-0

            The board came out of executive session at 10:36 pm .

            Neal Baker made a motion to accept the following employment recommendations:  

Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed 6-0.                                  

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:39 pm .

______________________________
Neal Baker, Board President  
 

________________________________
Robin Bigham, Board Clerk                                                

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