Centre board purchases equipment for ag department
Enrollment decline continues
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
At its regular October meeting Monday, the Centre USD 397 board of education voted to approve the purchase of several welders for the agricultural education department.
With 18 students enrolled in the first-hour welding class, instructor Cary Granzow had requested the additional welders to accommodate the enrollment and to keep the inventory in good shape.
Current inventory includes five mig welders (one of which dates back to the 1980s), and six arc welders.
The new equipment includes two mig welders for $1,599 each and two arc welders for $305 each.
No welders have been purchased by the district since 2003, and additional state dollars generated by vocational classes are for use to supplement the higher cost of equipment.
Superintendent Jerri Kemble presented official enrollment figures for 2007-08 as determined on Sept. 20.
Total K-12 enrollment is 250. This is a drop of 18 students from the previous year.
Broken down by grades, enrollment is as follows: kindergarten 11, first grade 11, second 23, third 20, fourth 16, fifth 21, sixth 24, seventh 21, eighth 14, ninth 18, 10th 18, 11th 21, and 12th 32.
There are 15 children enrolled in the Four Year Old At-Risk program, of which five qualify as "at-risk."
The board authorized purchase of 2007-08 property-casualty and fleet insurance for a premium not to exceed $83,249. The current policy expires Nov. 8.
The above limit was arrived at based on a quote from Sunflower Insurance Group. After the board took the action, Kemble presented a second quote which had just been received from Copeland Insurance Agency, Inc., for $39,228.
The board advised the superintendent to get more information on the company. If necessary, a special meeting will be held Nov. 5 to vote on the second proposal.
The board received a favorable audit report from Clubine and Rettele and thanked clerk Peggy Falen for her good work.
Lori Soo Hoo, the new coordinator for Marion County Parents as Teachers, gave a presentation on the program. At the present time, 10 families in the Centre school district are being served.
Don Zaideman of Tampa, the new transportation director, was introduced to the board.
After a discussion about the current fleet of buses, the board authorized the transportation director and superintendent to obtain bids for a new 53-passenger bus for regular route use.
In-service days scheduled
At Kemble's request, the board approved two additional release times for staff development.
On Nov. 26, staffs at Centre Elementary School and Centre Jr./Sr. High School will receive training in bullying prevention. They also will be reviewing the reading curriculum.
On Jan. 3, staff members will be trained in web page development and design.
According to Kemble, web pages are an excellent resource for student learning and community communication. In addition to classroom web pages, she will encourage teachers to develop their own web pages.
The board re-appointed Jesse Brunner and Mark Heiser to serve as the 2007-08 negotiations committee. Brunner will be the chief negotiator.
Board members received evaluation forms to fill out on Kemble.
Parents Ana Maria Krause and Janet Matz spoke to the board about a revitalized role for the Centre PTO Booster Club.
Krause is president and Matz is vice president of the organization. Other officers are Julie Kerbs, treasurer, and Sandra Svoboda, secretary.
The long-term goal of the group is to promote communication between parents and teachers and to assist teachers any way they can.
They hope to encourage attendance at ball games and other school activities by providing incentives.
Principal Nadine Smith said several senior girls, former cheerleaders, have expressed interest in cheering during the basketball season.
The school has no official cheer squad at this time purportedly because no one signed up for it in the spring.
Brent Methvin noted that cheerleaders boost school spirit and are a vital part of the sports program.
Brunner said if the seniors are allowed to cheer, they should be given the responsibility to recruit younger cheerleaders to carry on in future years.
Smith will present a recommendation regarding the issue at the November board meeting.
Smith reported that students in junior and senior high who are on the ineligible list the Friday prior to the first or third Monday of each month are required to attend extended learning sessions from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on those Mondays.
She also said student support teams are being formed to provide help to students with specific problems, be they academic, social, or health issues.
"The SST's are put in place to solve a mystery," she said. "The goal is to find what works for an individual student to be successful."
At the request of instructor Christopher Waclawik, a 7-12 fall concert will be presented at 7 p.m. Oct. 29.
