By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

After a “whirlwind” week, Brian Smith met with Centre’s school board Monday for the first time since his hiring as superintendent and principal. Many routine actions were taken.

Mark Heiser was elected president, and Steve Jirak was elected vice president. New member Clay Simons replaced Brent Methvin.

The board accepted a bid of $4,500 from the Herington school district for a 2001 23-passenger GMC bus.

After a 10-minute executive session with Smith, Kylie Burhoop was hired as assistant volleyball coach.

The board purchased four tankless water heaters for $17,200 from Stroda Plumbing, Herington, to replace a water heater that failed.

The MyOn online reading program for kindergarten through eighth-grade students was renewed for $5,310.

New science textbooks for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders were approved for $7,977.

Six out-of-district students were approved: Rebecca, Victoria, and Jack Reneau of Herington; and Jordan, Taylor, and Audrey Smith of rural Marion. The Smiths are the children of the new superintendent. He and his wife, Nissa, have rented a farm home from Vickie Kraus of Marion.

Board member appointments include Jeff Bina to Technology Excellence in Education Network, Rick Basore to governmental relations, and Steve Jirak to the Centre Summer Ball Association.

The board approved a 10-cent increase across the board for lunch and breakfast meals.

Workers’ compensation coverage rose from 0.08 percent to 0.1 percent, $29,945.

The board spent 30 minutes with Smith to discuss non-elected personnel. After returning to open session, they approved eight days of release time in October for Laura Klenda to complete her master’s degree. She will have four days of personal leave and four days of unpaid leave.

The board will meet at 6 a.m. July 19 to discuss the 2013-14 budget.