Centre facilities committee complete
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
A facilities committee made up of school personnel and representatives of the board of education has been formed at Centre USD 397 to consider the feasibility of moving Centre Elementary School students to the high school site sometime in the future.
Members are Laura Vinduska, Nadine Smith, Tana Riffel, Jennifer Kassebaum, Jerri Kemble, Susan Carlson, Gail Lorson, Megan Stuchlik, Karen Nickel, Lynley Remy, Peggy Falen, Terry Deines, and Dawn Luna.
At the monthly board meeting June 6, Superintendent Kemble reported that the committee has met three times within the past month. As a first step, it is identifying the critical questions that need to be answered in order to give the board a thorough look at the positives and negatives of relocation.
Questions include: Why is the move being considered — cost? convenience? need? Is there adequate space? What are parental concerns of having younger children with high school students? What will be the cost benefit, if any?
Kemble said these and many other questions need to be answered before a proposal can be made and presented to patrons.
Board member Terry Deines is a committee member and openly questioned the feasibility of such a move. Several other board members pointed out some of the conditions confronting the district at the elementary school such as a deteriorating roof, deteriorating bricks, and lack of handicap accessibility to the second floor.
"Is the committee aware of the costs we are facing there?" asked board president Jesse Brunner.
He said rumors have been floating around suggesting that the committee is talking about possible consolidation with other schools. "The public needs to understand that this is just a feasibility study to relocate the elementary school to the high school site," he said.
Technology director resigns
Following an 18-minute executive session requested by Jennifer Kassebaum and including Kemble and Principal Nadine Smith, the board accepted the resignation of Russ Hake as technology systems technician, effective July 31. Hake has been with the district for 10 years. In recent years, he was employed half-time at Centre. After leaving Centre, he will work full-time at Western Associates, Marion.
The board also accepted the resignation of Pat Schoenhofer as assistant basketball coach.
Bermet Khumakadyr kyzy sent the board a thank you letter for the year she spent at Centre High School as an exchange student from Kyrgyzstan.
The board approved a request from Phil and Jamie Peterson to enroll a foreign exchange student at CHS for the 2008-09 school year. Kseniya Vynnhradova is from the Ukraine and will enroll as a junior.
In other actions, the board:
— approved a student insurance policy with a premium of $5,169.55.
— approved a 2008-09 proposal to utilize services from ESSDACK (Hutchinson) and Southeast Kansas Education Service Center (Girard) at a cost of $7,436.
— approved a contract with Holland Paving, Wichita, to resurface the CHS parking lot for $13,325. Other bids were received from Clinton Power, Canton, for $20,401 and MaryCo., Inc., Topeka, for $18,475.
— accepted a workers' compensation package from Continental Western for a premium of $15,848. Jennifer Kassebaum opposed the action. Sunflower Insurance submitted offers from two companies for premiums of $16,261 and $14,805. The district's property insurance is with Continental Western.
— approved use of USD 397 transportation for Centre students to participate July 17 in a local Farm Bureau Farm and Ranch one-day camp. Kassebaum opposed the action. Marion County Farm Bureau will be required to provide permission slips for parents' approval and signature. Students will visit Jirak Produce, Agri-Producers Inc. elevator at Lincolnville, and Shane Svitak's farm.
— appointed Steve Jirak as designated representative to Marion County Special Education Cooperative, with other members named as alternates.
The board spent 40 minutes in executive session to discuss matters related to non-elected personnel. Kemble and Smith were asked to participate. No action was taken following the session.
Kemble reported the transportation director position is being advertised, and interviews will be conducted July 15.
She also reported that two roofs at the high-school site were repaired June 2, and no leaks have been found since then.
