West Franklin USD 287
Regular Meeting
Board Meeting
Monday, February 12, 2007

The regular meeting of the West Franklin USD #287 Board of Education was held Monday, February 12, 2007, at Pomona High School.   The following board members were present:

President Neal Baker, Sheila Anderson, Janie Dillon, Randy Hermreck, Keith Milliken, Mary Ann Parkin and Nancy Reed. Administrators and staff present were:   Superintendent Susan Myers, Board Clerk Teresa Hawkins, Curriculum Director Andy Azwell, Principal Mike Dorst, Principal Rick Smith, Principal Eric Koppes, Principal Susan Wildeman, Principal Robert Allen, Transportation Director Richard Adler, and Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Engel.   The following staff and community members were also present:   Jon Horne, Lori Thompson, Gene Hirt, Elston Horne, Diana Macoulerie, David Staley, Marilyn Staley, Frances Coppoc, Louis Coppoc, Jr. Harris, Dannie Harris, Cody Campfield, Chuck Campfield, Stacy Hower, Cleon Rickel, Daniel Arnett, Jim Cain, Brock Cain, Becky Cain, Jim Rubick, Lowell Anderson, Jed Hermreck, Judy Simpson, Milton Ammel, Virginia Cook, Bob Dunlap, Ryan Sink, Joann Hancock, Kim Dixon, Bobby Simms, and Trisha Rogers

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm by President, Neal Baker.

The agenda was amended to add easement requests from the City of Pomona and the phone company to Action Item 3.4 – Kansas Gas Service Easement Request.   Minutes from the previous meetings and bills were presented.   Sheila Anderson made a motion to amend the agenda, approve the minutes of the previous meeting and to pay the bills as presented.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0

Reports
Principal Eric Koppes:   Reported that Pomona Elementary fourth grade students had hosted a “PowerPoint Writing Presentation” to family and friends.   The students hosted this event, including snacks and drinks, under the supervision of Mrs. Kellie Hamblin and Mr. Matt Parenti.   He also reported that the KAYS club has been involved in many community service projects.   The most recent project was “Pennies for Piggies”, which was a contest between each class to donate the most pennies.   A total of $390.67 was raised and used as a “World Project”, and was donated to a 3 rd World Country.   This was a very worthwhile and rewarding project.  

Principal Mike Dorst:   Reported that Pomona High School FCCLA sponsored presentations on domestic violence to the freshman and sophomores and substance abuse to the juniors and seniors. He also reported that the PHS FBLA chapter had just attended in the District VII Conference in Emporia and came home with thirty top ten awards.

Principal Rick Smith:   Reported that the eighth grade class had been awarded a Certificate of Merit for their Kansas Reading and Math Assessments.   This is the fourth year in a row Appanoose has received this award.   Appanoose is one of eighteen schools to receive two or more awards.   Mr. Smith congratulated the students and staff for their hard work.

Principal Susan Wildeman:   Reported that the Williamsburg Middle School Quiz Bowl Team had just competed in a tournament at MdCV and both the 7 th and 8 th grade teams won 1 st place.   This is the first time that both teams have taken 1 st place in a tournament.   Mrs. Wildeman congratulated both teams.

Principal Robert Allen:   Reported that the Learning Center is now up to twenty-six students in attendance, six of which are girls.

Curriculum Director Andew Azwell: Presented a PowerPoint presentation and hand-out relating to the District AYP.   He explained changes that have been made since the 2004-05 testing.   He also stated several points of focus for the upcoming years. 

Superintendent Dr. Susan Myers:   Had nothing further to add to her report mailed in the board packet.

Local Effectiveness Grants:   Virginia Cook thanked the school board for funding the grant program.   She also shared several of the science models that she has purchased with the grant.   The students enjoy learning with these models, which in turn makes the learning easier.   Kim Dixon also thanked the school board.   She has used her grant to provide a summer reading program for students in grades four through eight.   She met with the students each Tuesday and Thursday during the month of June.   She also provided snacks and prizes for the students.   She had an average of 15-20 students each day.   Mrs. Dixon is   using this program in an attempt to improve AYP.

06-07 School District Audit:   Dave Bogner, of Bogner and Associates,   reported to the board concerning the 2006-07 school year audit.   He reported that there were no audit violations and only a couple minor recommendations for each building.   He did comment that the unencumbered cash was beginning to get low.

Action Items:
Travel Request:   Darrell McCune, Steve Taylor and Adam Dean requested to attend the Kansas Music Educators Conference in Wichita, February 24-26.   Andrew Azwell requested to attend a meeting in Salina concerning the State’s KIDS program, February 26-27.   This is a mandatory meeting, as he is the KIDS coordinator for the district.   Merritta Combs requested to attend the State FCCLA Competition in Wichita, April 1-3.   Nancy Reed made a motion to accept all travel requests.   Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed 6-1

07-08 Vocational Agriculture Facility:   Dr. Myers explained the three options:   convert a current storage/concession building, remodel the old gym, or purchase a shop building across the street from the district office.   Keith Milliken presented the importance of the program and also the pros and cons of each option.   Storage/concession building may not be large enough for VoAg and then not sure where the storage would be moved to.   Remodeling the old gym will be very expensive and there will still be a need for the extra gym.   Purchasing the shop from Jerry Hardsaw would cost $70,000 plus closing costs.   This is already set up for shop use and is an excellent size.   There would also be room for additional parking.   The shop would have to have a few upgrades such as emergency lighting, handicap restroom, fire alarm, exit lighting, and locks keyed to match the district locks.   The architect’s estimates was that this could all be done for $20,000.   There are a few pieces of equipment the school board would like to stay with the building and Mr. Hardsaw is in agreement with this.   An environmental study would also have to be done costing approximately $1,500 - $2,000.   If after Phase 1 of this study things were not satisfactory the school district would be able to terminate the contract.  Two different contracts had been drawn up for the school boards review.   Sheila Anderson made a motion to enter into the original contract with Jerry Hardsaw, closing date to be on or before May 31, 2007.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed 5-1-1 (Neal Baker sustained from voting)

Audit Proposal for the 06-07 Budget::   Dave Bogner, of Bogner and Associates, submitted a proposal for the 2006-07 audit.   He proposed a maximum fee of $4,150.   Mr. Bogner has done the school district audits for many years.   Sheila Anderson made a motion to stay with Bogner and Associates for the 06-07 audit.    Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed 5-2

Utility Easement Requests:   The City of Pomona has received a grant to improve the intersections.   This will include improving the grade in front of the high school and making a turn lane in the middle of the street.   Signed easements are needed for the City of Pomona, Kansas Gas Service, and KDOT in order to move or upgrade their utilities during this KDOT, K-68 Highway project in Pomona.   Keith Milliken made a motion to allow all easements as presented.   Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0

Building Names for 07-08:   The joint site council met and recommended the following names for the schools in the West Franklin District for the 07-08 school year:   West Franklin High School, West Franklin Middle School, Appanoose Elementary, and Williamsburg Elementary.   Questions were asked and answered as to why a middle school opposed to a junior high.   Sheila Anderson made a motion to approve the names of the schools for the 2007-08 school year as presented.   Nancy Reed seconded the motion.   Motion passed   7-0

Sick Leave Transfer Request:   JoAnn Stigal requested to transfer 1 sick day, Traci Pearce 4 sick days, and Shelly Welch 2 sick days, all to Becky Macklin.   Becky has been ill for an extended time.   Sheila Anderson made a motion to allow the sick leave transfers   requested.   Keith Milliken seconded the motion.   Motion passed   6-1

The board took a 10 minute break at 8:15 pm

An audience member, Gene Hirt, asked Dr. Myers for savings information.   Dr. Myers did not have this with her and left at 8:25 pm to gather the information from the district office.   She returned at 8:30 pm and presented the information to Mr. Hirt.

Superintendent Search Process:   President, Neal Baker asked the board’s feeling on hiring KASB to do the superintendent search.   It was the board’s suggestion to hire KASB.   The option of hiring an interim for 1 year was also discussed.   The possibility of looking for a superintendent, and if no qualified candidates are found, then searching for an interim, was also discussed.   KASB would not charge if a qualified, full time candidate is not found.   Nancy Reed made a motion to hire KASB to do the superintendent search.   Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed   5-2

Discussion Items:
School Mascots and Colors:   The joint site council met   and recommended names of mascots and school colors for the middle and high school for the 07-08 school year.   These recommendations will be voted on by the 5 th – 11 th grade students in the next couple of weeks.   The recommendations were:   Mascot:   Falcons and Jaguars       Colors:   Blue, silver and black, and Maroon, silver and black.   White would also be a color in both choices.

Personnel:
Executive Session:
Nancy Reed made a motion to enter executive session at 9:00 pm for 10 minutes for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed.   Janie Dillon seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0

The board came out of executive session at 9:10 pm

Neal Baker made a motion to re-enter executive session at 9:12 pm for 10 minutes for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed.   Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0

The board came out of executive session at 9:22 pm

Employment Recommendation:

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

Sheila Anderson seconded the motion.   Motion passed 7-0

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:22 pm.

Nancy Reed made the motion to adjourn the meeting.   Neal Baker seconded the motion.   Motion passed   7-0

_____________________
Neal Baker, Board President

_____________________
Teresa Hawkins, Clerk

Minutes are not official until approved at the next board meeting.