RE-1 Board Hires Staff, Approves 2004-05 Budget
July 9, 2004
The Kiowa County School District RE-1 Board of Education met in regular session June 29 with board members Bill Woelk, Marlynn Eikenberg, Larry Watts and Keith Crow present. Board members Marty Miller, Ralph Berry and John Weirich were absent.
Athletic Director Larry Gifford presented a proposal to adjust the extra curricular pay scale for staff members. The majority of the proposal increases coaching and club sponsorship pay by $40 to $60 per season. The board indicated that it would review the proposal for action next month.
Glenn Smith, Superintendent, submitted a written report to the board in which he stated that work on the elementary plumbing project, which is primarily funded through a grant, has started. New lighting was not expected to be installed at the athletic fields prior to the start of baseball tournaments set to begin July 10. Since work hadn’t been started, Smith suggested that the board might need to find another electrician. During the meeting, Smith said he hoped to have a signed contract with a new electrician within a few days, with the work to be completed by August 1.
The board approved a budget for the 2004-2005 school year. Appropriations and expenditures for the year totaled just under $2.9 million.
Board members accepted the resignations of Deb Kliesen as a cook and Lorena Melius as the middle school cheer coach. The board also unanimously approved hiring Shannon Ellenberger for the business teacher position, Chris Rehm as a preschool aide. Sharon Frazee was hired as assistant cook, with board members Woelk, Eikenberg and Crow voting in favor and Watts voting against.
Board member unanimously voted to approve offering a month-to-month contract to Precision Pest Control and advertising for bids to replace the district’s 10-year-old lawn mower. Watts suggested obtaining information about snow removal attachments for a mower. Crow suggested that prices should be obtained and compared for mower accessories, which could vary considerable between brands.
Smith stated that he is considering placing computers at each teacher’s station which would be used to submit grades, purchase orders and other information. With new software that is being implemented, it will be possible to review budget figures instantly rather than monthly. Funds are available for the computers and prices are being obtained for the project.
Smith suggested that the board should consider having Judy Bean teach dual high school/college credit courses, which could also be offered to other schools via the distance learning system. Similar programs are available to the district from other schools, but are subject to changes by those schools which impact the district’s students. In addition, the district could earn money from tuition fees rather that paying other schools. Watts asked Smith to look into the possibilities further and come back to the board with a concrete proposal for consideration.
The meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held July 27.