By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

With the purchase of personal laptops for each high school student, the Centre board of education approved policies and procedures Monday regarding their use.

Each high school student will be assigned a numbered computer for use at school and at home and will be responsible for its care and safety.

Each student’s parent or guardian will be required to attend a laptop orientation and training session at enrollment time, sign a computer use agreement, and pay a $50 user fee. The fee will go into a fund to be used for repairs.

Parents will have the right not to accept a personal laptop for their child. In that case, the student would check out a laptop at school and check it back in at the end of the day. Kemble said if parents cannot afford the $50 fee, a child could provide 10 hours of service to the school and community.

“The use of any district technology is a privilege and not a right,” the policy states.

Students will be expected to use their computers in accordance with the policy. Failure to do so will result first in a conference with the student, then a conference with the parents, and finally, cancellation of student use or access privileges if the behavior is not corrected.

Hail damage repairs

Richard Idleman, director of operations for IServe, Inc., reported on steps being taken to repair damages to the school facilities in an April 3 hailstorm.

IServe has a contract with the district to provide custodial and maintenance services.

Idleman reviewed bids received from vendors on replacement of two air conditioners, repairs to the greenhouse, and re-roofing of the new gym, agriculture education building, district office, and bus barn. Most of the cost will be covered by insurance.

The board approved:

• A floor scrubber from Williams Janitorial Supply Warehouse in Wichita for $5,390. The machine reduces the need for chemicals for cleaning floors.
• Carpet from Supreme Floor Company in Hillsboro for $5,975. It will replace carpet in the first-grade classroom and office area. The County Seat in Marion submitted a bid of $6,500.
• A contract with Clark Lumber Co. in Herington for $4,640 to replace the front steps at the district office.

The board also considered three bids from Prairieland Partners in Marion and one bid from Wichita Tractor Co. for a new 72-inch lawn mower. A special meeting will be called to make a decision regarding the matter.

The board met with Superintendent Jerri Kemble and Idleman for 27 minutes in executive session to discuss personnel. No action followed.

Vice chairman Mark Heiser presented a plaque to Jesse Brunner for his eight years of service as a board member. Amber Peterson was elected in April to replace him beginning July 1.

The board accepted two resignations and thanked the individuals for their service to the district. After 12 years as school secretary, Dawn Luna will be leaving June 30. Ron Mille has retired after more than 22 years as the district’s head custodian.

The board approved a school calendar that allows more time for staff development. Teacher Jennifer Montgomery presented information on an initiative being taken by the staff to promote “self-regulated learning” in their classrooms.

She said the goal is to increase the rigor in academics and to make learning a personal and self-motivated activity.

The 2011-12 calendar has 11 days of 2 p.m. dismissals to allow teachers to get together to share and be trained in the new initiative. Kemble said class times would be shortened on those days to allow all classes to meet.

The first day of classes will be Aug. 18. The last day will be May 22. There will be 171 student days and 183 staff days.

The board approved changes to the student handbook, including bus-riding discipline and student driving.

“Students need to know that driving is a privilege and can be taken away,” Kemble said.

The board approved a list of Centre FFA activities.

The board approved the attendance of Anastasiya Nikolayevna of Russia as an exchange student at Centre High School for the 2011-12 school year. She will be a junior, and Duane and Karen Carlson of Lincolnville will be her hosts.

After a five-minute executive session, the board ratified the 2011-12 negotiated agreement with the Centre Teachers Association. It includes a provision that a half-day of leave will be charged to a teacher when an outside substitute teacher is hired. Another added provision is that no meetings will be held on semester workdays unless necessary and agreed upon by the association and the administration.

The board spent 50 minutes in executive session with Kemble and another five minutes including clerk Peggy Falen to discuss non-elected personnel. No action was taken after the session.

Laura Klenda received approval for release time from Aug. 15 to 22, to sponsor a youth trip to Spain. Klenda will use her four personal days and will be docked two additional days.

Mark Hager, the new agriculture education teacher, received the same extra contract days as co-teacher Klenda for FFA activities.

The board also:

• Approved a classified personnel list and a supplemental duties list for the 2011-12 school year. Open positions include the kindergarten through 12th-grade secretary, senior high pep club/cheerleader sponsor, and a route driver.
• Approved enrollment in a student accident insurance plan for a premium of $5,025. It covers students in all school activities, with additional coverage for mid-catastrophic sports injuries and extended catastrophic injuries.
• Approved a $1,750 contract with Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas for environmental compliance services.
• Appointed Terry Deines as representative to the Marion County Special Education Co-op and Bud Peterson as representative to the Centre Education Foundation.