Staff writer
At its monthly meeting Monday, the Centre board of education authorized Superintendent Brian Smith to conduct interviews for a half-time preschool teacher. Superintendent-elect Susan Beeson will assist with the interviews.
Smith said eight children in the district have been identified as qualifying for preschool. They will be 4 years old by Aug. 31.
The board has yet to decide the details of the program, such as cost, transportation, and location within the school.
The board approved the $40,000 purchase of 100 reconditioned laptop computers for the Kansas Online Learning Program. The cost includes a one-year “drop warranty” that can be extended for two years.
In advocating for the purchase, coordinator Vickie Jirak said it is important for the school to have laptops available when enrollees come for orientation and when a laptop needs to be replaced.
The board also approved expenditure of an additional $2,700 that was spent to create a KOLP commercial that will air on Kansas TV stations through August. Jirak said this is the first time the program will use television advertising to recruit enrollees.
“There is a lot of competition for online learning,” she said, “and we are focusing on customer service to help us stand out from the others.”
The board approved a trip to Washington, District of Columbia for Ally and Kate Basore to compete in National History Day. The sisters finished as alternates at state competition for their skit portraying Eleanor Roosevelt and recently found out they will advance to nationals. The district will cover up to $2,325 for transportation and lodging for the girls and their sponsor.
A new table saw for the wood shop was purchased from BP Service at Pratt for $4,754. The old one will be sold.
The board authorized a republishing of the district’s 2014-15 budget. Smith said the action would add an additional $50,000 to $75,000 to the general fund. A budget hearing will be 7 p.m. June 8, prior to the monthly meeting.
The board met in executive session with Smith for 55 minutes to discuss personnel.
In open session, they employed Wayne Rziha as a high-school at-risk teacher, which is a new position. They accepted the resignation of bus driver Alysia Towey and retroactively accepted the resignation of music teacher Danielle Murrell on April 17.