nergy-saving practices
Staff writer
A new electronic information system, Skyward, has been installed by Centre USD 397 school district. The new system will provide information on students to parents, staff, and students themselves.
At parent-teacher conferences scheduled for Oct. 27, parents will receive instruction on how to access and use the system online. Each parent will be assigned a password.
At Monday’s meeting of the board of directors, instructor Karen Nickel and technology director Dusty Weigert gave a Skyward presentation. The system provides information on each student including a monthly calendar of assignments and activities, grades, attendance, etc.
Teachers are expected to upgrade each file on a daily basis. In the near future, students will be provided with password-protected access to their own individual file.
Superintendent Jerri Kemble reported the district is instituting ways of “going green.” She said the high school reduced its usage of electricity in September by 4,149 kilowatts by doing such things as having fewer lights on in the gym, turning lights off in rooms when not in use, monitoring classroom temperatures, and shutting down computers at night.
The Centre FFA chapter is promoting recycling of paper.
Kemble reported preliminary test results reveal that Centre has exceeded the AYP (average yearly progress) targets in all areas of study, as set by the state. An official report is forthcoming.
Kemble announced results of a survey taken of patrons at the fall homecoming game. When asked if the home side at Cougar Field should be moved from the east to the west, 49 were in favor and 12 opposed. When asked about changing the home side in the basketball gymnasium from the south to the north, 20 were in favor and 37 were opposed.
Weigert was authorized to list three used basketball scoreboards and a phone system from Centre Elementary School on several online auction sites.
The board approved a 12:30 p.m. dismissal of students on Oct. 23 due to the district hosting the junior high Tri-County League volleyball tournament beginning at 1 p.m. Elementary school students will be released at 12:20 p.m.
Mark Heiser and Jesse Brunner were appointed, 6-0, to the negotiations committee. Jennifer Kassebaum abstained.
Dusty Weigert was hired to fill the position of assistant boys’ basketball coach at the high school.
The board authorized Kemble to renew a property insurance contract with Copeland Insurance Agency at a premium not to exceed $46,000.
The company had submitted an estimated premium of $44,044, with the final figure to be established before the Nov. 7 renewal date. The estimate is an increase from the $41,958 premium paid this past year and is due to the increased value of district properties.
Kemble said she was pleased with the response the district received from the company after the December ice storm.
Principal Nadine Smith said a KASB attorney rejected a proposed detailed policy she developed on how to handle reports by students and staff of lost or stolen items. She said she was told the school should simply reinforce its policy that the district is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal property.
After prodding by Brunner, Smith said she will remind music instructors Lynley Remy and Chris Waclawik to lock the music room when they plan to be away for a period of time.
In a 6-0 vote, the board approved participation in Tri-County Telephone Association’s new multi-media program which will allow school programming and announcements to be aired on TCT TV Local Channel 2. Kassebaum abstained.
A purchase order/requisition not to exceed $6,995, for the necessary equipment also was approved. The district will be reimbursed by TCT.
More details will be announced later.