By MIKE NORRIS

Staff writer

Marion-Florence USD 408 will purchase two lots east of Marion Elementary School in Rocky Meadow Addition to use as part of the curriculum for Marion High School’s construction technology class.

Currently instructor Lucas King and his students are building a house at Marion County Park and Lake for an individual.

The new lots will be owned by the district, and the class will build one house next year and another during the 2010-11 school year.

USD 408 Superintendent Lee Leiker said by owning the land, the class will not be as rushed to finish projects on time, and can spend more time on the finer details of construction.

He said the current class is “going really well,” but is excited for the upcoming opportunities.

The district will pay $70-80,000 for the lots plus insurance costs.

Leiker said after the houses are finished, the district will sell them.

“We ought to have a really nice house to sell at a really attractive price,” he said.

Board member Sarah Cope raised a concern of tying up that much money for three years.

Leiker said he understood the concern but said, “The upside is by doing it as a school district, we can actually do a better job with the curriculum.”

MHS Industrial Education Teacher Roger Schwab attended the board’s regular meeting Monday and said he could incorporate his drafting class with the building projects.

Leiker also mentioned Myrta Billings’ interior design and Mark Meyer’s landscaping classes could be incorporated as well.

“We can pull those things together and maybe do a better job of branching out into different curriculums,” Leiker said.

In other business:

• The resignation of Marion Middle School English Teacher LeAnn Hansford was accepted.
• Peabody resident Jacob Middleton was hired as a lifeguard at the USD 408 Sports and Aquatics center.
• Danny Duckworth was hired as bus driver.
• A freshman class fundraiser was approved.
• A separate fundraising activity account was established for students who are going to Australia in July 2010 with MHS teacher Lisa Johnson. The students pay 100 percent of the trip, but needed permission to sell cookie dough as a fundraiser.
• KASB membership dues and the legal assistance fund for 2009-10 were approved.
• A funds transfer from a summer school account to an at-risk account was improved. The at-risk account is now the source of money for summer school.
• The board discussed a more formal procedure concerning open gym Sunday nights at MES. Leiker said he would find someone to be “in charge” of the session.
• Discussion was heard regarding the construction of a 175-foot long, two-foot high concrete retaining wall on the property line of the aquatics center. The owner of the land, who has a house on the property, was concerned of drainage water running into his yard. Leiker priced a wall with Hett Construction for $3,248.75. Leiker said he would talk to the homeowner about splitting the cost.