Staff writer
Centre will have a new school board member, a new football coach, and a new assistant volleyball coach.
The USD 397 school board reluctantly accepted Clay Simons’ resignation Monday from the board, effective June 30.
Simons, who represents the Lincolnville area, cited time-consuming work duties. His term runs until November 2017. The board will advertise the position for 15 days then appoint a replacement.
The board also accepted Tye Remy’s resignation from supplemental duties as head football coach, student council sponsor, and play director.
Remy, a paraeducator at Centre, has accepted a head football coach position at Kiowa County High School in Greensburg.
Assistant high school volleyball coach Kylie Burhoop also has resigned.
The board met behind closed doors to discuss personnel. Afterward, Matt Warta was hired as head football coach, Brandon Meyer as concession stand manager, and Amy Carlson as an elementary school teacher.
Lists of supplemental duty assignments also were approved.
Open supplemental positions are play director, student council sponsor, assistant volleyball coach, junior high girls basketball coach, and junior high volleyball coach.
New supplemental assignments include Ashley Coirier, high school cheerleader sponsor; Laura Klenda and Julie Keithline, junior class co-sponsors; Angela Basore, National Honor Society and high school Scholars Bowl sponsor; Wayne Rziha, junior high Scholars Bowl sponsor; Susan Saunders, head high school volleyball coach; and Matt Warta, junior high girls track coach.
New teachers joining the certified staff are Amy Carlson, Bethany Carlson (part time), Hillary Barlow, and Susan Saunders. An English teacher position is open.
The district also is looking for a bus driver.
After a lengthy discussion, the board approved $8,000 for a four-day workshop on cognitive coaching, teaching staff members how to be supportive of each another and promote a positive teaching atmosphere.
Mark Heiser hesitated to support the proposal until members agreed to include everyone who works in the classroom, including paraeducators, aides, and virtual school administrators.
“Conducting the workshop demonstrates the value we place on staff and our desire for everyone to have a positive experience,” Superintendent Susan Beeson said.
She suggested the workshop would further the board’s goal of retaining teachers.
Beeson reported that Dale Dennis, school finance overseer for the Kansas Department of Education, said the district was “in great shape” financially.
The board agreed to Dennis’s recommendation to pay off $199,000 remaining on a bond issue. Beeson said early repayment would save money that could be used to build up the district’s capital outlay fund or for other needs.
“We’re right where we want to be,” she said.
In other actions, the board:
- Approved a low bid of $9,885 from Supreme Floor Co. of Hillsboro to carpet three elementary school classrooms. County Seat of Marion also bid.
- Added a paragraph to the job description of supervised learning assistant forbidding simultaneous employment at another virtual school.
- Approved spending $5,340 on a student accident insurance and $13,186 on workers’ compensation insurance.
- Approved fees of $30 for instrument rental and $15 for miscellaneous expenses band members. Music books will be provided by the district.
- Named Mark Heiser to a three-year term as Centre Education Foundation representative, and Terry Deines as Marion County Special Education Cooperative representative.