Moving day for Centre Elementary School was June 7
Staff writer
The board of education of Centre USD 397 approved the purchase of two new nine-passenger vehicles Monday for transporting students and school personnel to extracurricular school activities.
Bids will be solicited for the vehicles and the board will accept the lowest bids with the total cost not to exceed $80,000.
Transportation Director Robert Mueller said the district should have the vehicles by the end of the month.
Two high-mileage, Chevrolet Suburbans owned by the district will be retained for local use by custodians and school personnel.
The board approved a $17,400 contract with Lankford Enterprises to remove and replace flooring and subflooring in the gym built in 1993. Warping and board separation has occurred in the northeast corner because of water damage.
The board took action after Superintendent Jerri Kemble assured members Lankford could determine the cause of water damage after the floor is pulled up.
“We need to know we have a permanent fix,” board member Jesse Brunner said.
The board requested e-mail notification of the company’s findings. Further action may be needed.
The at-risk program for 4-year-olds will be discontinued for the 2010-11 school year. With consolidation of all grades at one site, there is no space available to house the program, Kemble said. Bud Peterson voted against the action because of the concerns of parents in the Burdick area, which he represents. The board advised Kemble to seek a way to reinstate the program in future years, if possible. Jesse Brunner abstained from the board’s action. His wife, Rita, is planning to teach an at-risk program for 4-year-olds in Tampa. Four children have been enrolled so far. She can have a maximum of six at one time and could conduct two classes if the demand is there.
In two separate motions, the board approved out-of-district attendance of Mikael Antoszyk and Trever Fugitt. They live in Marion with their parents, John and Penny Antoszyk.
In other actions, the board accepted or approved:
- The resignation of Brian Mell as Centre Elementary School custodian, effective May 31.
- A list of classified personnel for the 2010-11 school year and voted to place an ad for a part-time custodian.
- Appointments of Terry Deines as special education representative and Steve Jirak and Jennifer Kassebaum as Centre Education Foundation representatives.
- Student accident insurance for a premium of $5,010.
- Contracted services with Education Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas, a cooperative headquartered in Hutchinson, for a fee of $6,060.
- The 2010-11 Centre High School student handbook.
- A list of Future Business Leaders of America and FFA activities for the coming year.
- The sale of pole vault standards to Council Grove High School for $300.
- The board clerk to make all needed year-end fund transfers with adjustments as needed in the transfer to special education.
Superintendent’s report
Elementary school classroom equipment and material was moved June 7 to the high school site. Football and volleyball players assisted school personnel and other volunteers to accomplish the task in one day. The workers were served pizza for lunch.
Prior to the regular meeting Monday, Kemble led board members on a tour of the facilities to acquaint them with the changes that are being made to accommodate the kindergarten through fourth-grade students. The district house will become the district office. A wall between two rooms will be removed and high-speed Internet service will be installed.
Kemble reported on her trip to the state FFA convention in Manhattan earlier this month. Alex Hajek received the State Star Farmer award and won a John Deere Gator in a drawing. Nellie Hill, a CHS alumna and state vice president, addressed the convention one evening.
The superintendent also reported on her trip to Washington, D.C.
“It was very invigorating,” she said. She and 10 other superintendents throughout the country met with some of Vice President Joe Biden’s staff at the White House to request federal i3 grant money to establish virtual schools. They also met with 13 Senators including two Kansas Senators.
Nine of the 13 Senators have sent letters recommending appropriation of the requested funds, she said, but noted the two Kansas senators were not among them. The district has submitted a virtual school grant application to the state.
Kirk Cusick, the master gardener who oversees the school garden, has obtained a fresh fruits and vegetables grant that can be used to purchase morning and afternoon snacks for students.