Staff writer
Insurance premiums went down and driver education fees went up, a result of actions taken Monday at the Marion-Florence USD 408 Board of Education meeting.
The total 2011-12 insurance premium for the district of $97,400 is a decrease of $2,114, Alex Case of Case & Son Insurance said.
“The best news on the renewal is the decrease in the premium on the work comp and linebacker lines due to the district’s improved loss ratio,” Case said.
The linebacker policy provides liability and defense cost protection in the event of wrongful acts that occur in the process of conducting district business.
Case said the decrease in worker compensation claims in the district led to the premium reduction for this area.
“Either we’re getting lucky, or the district is doing better putting safety practices in place,” Case said.
The board unanimously approved the insurance package.
Superintendent Lee Leiker asked the board to consider revisions to the fees charged for driver education, which have been $100 for in-district students and $200 for out-of-district participants. Hillsboro charges $150 per student for driver education, and Peabody charges $190.
“With the size of class we’ll probably have, all costs considered, we’d get about $6,000 in, and it costs us about $12,000 to run the program,” Liker said, noting that the program is not expected to break even financially.
Board member Jan Helmer moved to raise the in-district fee to $125 per student. The motion, seconded by Chris Sprowls, passed unanimously.
Marion High School teachers Kelly Robson and Gary Stuchlik presented the annual improvement plan for the high school. Robson reported math scores were in line with annual yearly progress targets established by the Kansas Department of Education, and noted significant increase in two areas specifically emphasized by the school. Stuchlik said reading scores also met state standards.
In other business:
- The board approved the district technology plan.
- The board approved a revision in the Marion High School student handbook excluding students with class grades of D from qualifying for open lunch.
- Oliver Good was hired as a part-time custodian at a rate of $8.75 per hour.
- Athletic director Grant Thierolf and Marion High School Principal Tod Gordon reported on the Marion Classic basketball tournament and previewed the Marion County Winter Duals wrestling matches on Friday.
- Board members visited classrooms at the three district school buildings, and had lunch at Marion Elementary School.