USD 408 also adopts more lenient grading scale
Managing editor
The 2009-10 school year for USD 408 students will be two days shorter.
After a 10-minute executive session Monday evening regarding negotiations with the teachers’ union representative, the board approved the school calendar.
Christmas vacation will begin Dec. 22, and school will let out May 26.
The board also approved changes to school handbooks, including a more lenient grading scale for grades 3 through 6, the grading scale as is used at Marion Middle School.
The new grading scale calls for grades 90 to 100 percent to earn A’s, 80 to 89 for B’s, 70 to 79 for C’s, and 65 to 69 for D’s.
The old grading scale had the cutoff for A’s at 94, B’s at 86, C’s at 75, and D’s at 68. It still in use at Marion High School.
Principal Brenda Odgers asked the board about changing it and was told the board would not act without first hearing from teachers.
New wall
The board reluctantly agreed to pay $3,248 for a concrete retaining wall south of the USD 408 Aquatics and Sports Center after a neighboring landowner complained of water running on his property.
Superintendent Lee Leiker said a neighbor had asked the school district to erect a wall to control water that runs across his property.
Board member Keith Collett said he would be in favor sharing the expense with the homeowner. Leiker said the neighbor considers thought it was a legal issue and is the responsibility of the school district, not his.
Leiker said he also was concerned how the baby pool at the complex was going to be drained without flooding the neighbor’s property.
Leiker said the owner planned to erect a fence around his property to keep those walking and riding bicycles to the swimming pool off his property.
Jan Helmer asked whether the owner had a case legally. President Chris Sprowls said it would cost the board at least $1,624 in legal fees if the homeowner wanted to fight this issue.
Duane Kirkpatrick moved to pay the entire estimate of Hett Construction for building the wall. Collett and Helmer opposed. Lyle Leppke was absent.
The board also accepted the resignation of Judy Versch as sophomore class sponsor and Jim Versch as MHS yearbook sponsor.
Special meeting
A special meeting for year-end business was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. June 29 at the district office.