Cooperation tested at MCSEC meeting
Staff reporter
Emotions flared and resolve was challenged during Monday's Marion County Special Education Cooperative board meeting when Peabody-Burns School District Representative Doe Ann Hague took Marion-Florence School District Representative Lyle Leppke to task.
She said she was frustrated to open up the Marion County Record and read that USD 408 had discussed the cooperative's facilities without her knowledge.
"I thought after the joint meeting the cooperative was going to be given time to do research," she said. Hague asked Leppke who put the item on the Marion school district agenda. Leppke said board chairman Rex Savage. Leppke said he wasn't aware of the discussion topic because the item was only listed as "facilities" on the school board's agenda.
Leppke responded that he had contacted cooperative board chairman Richard Drake after the April 9 meeting. Drake said he was unable to contact cooperative director Chris Cezar before the newspaper came out.
Prior to Hague's inquisition, Leppke told the cooperative board that the Marion school board members discussed options related to the Florence facility.
"Should the district continue in the landlord business?" Leppke asked. He stressed that the school district wants to protect the special education cooperative and remain at the same facility but maybe the City of Florence should own the facilities instead of the school district.
"Our (USD 408) stance has always been to keep Marion County Special Education Cooperative in Florence," Leppke said, and he would rather talk to the board as a whole, not individually.
Leppke said that Savage wants the City of Florence to own the facilities and USD 408 would continue to receive lease payments from the cooperative to be used for maintenance and upkeep. Whatever money was not spent during the year, the school district then could give to the city which could be used at a time when the city would maintain the facilities.
"Personally, I would rather USD 408 be a tenant with the cooperative with the city as owners," Leppke said, and the lease would allow the cooperative to continue as is.
USD 408 representatives were to attend the City of Florence meeting Monday evening to discuss the issue. The issue would be formally presented to the cooperative after USD 408 officials know if the City of Florence is interested in ownership or some sort of partnership.
Drake, who represents Goessel USD 411, said it would have been nice to know the item was to be discussed by the school district but recognized that changes may occur.
"Unless we're willing to buy the facilities, we're subject to changes in ownership," Drake said. He reminded the board that legal counsel had been retained by the cooperative to protect the cooperative's interest in such matters.
Drake said there could be additional costs to the cooperative, which in turn would be paid by the school districts, if there were was a legal battle regarding this issue.
Leppke apologized to the board for the lack of communication. When it was all said, it was determined that in the future it would be more feasible and professional for paid personnel, such as USD 408 Superintendent Lee Leiker to make contact with the cooperative's paid director about such matters.
The contract will be up for renewal in December.
"You're part of the cooperative but you don't act like it," said Hillsboro School District Representative Deb Geis to Leppke.
In other business:
— The board approved a one-year extension of Cezar's contract for the 2008-09 school year. Salary will be based on a formula that averages the salaries of superintendents in the school district.
— A significant cut in Medicaid funding was reported. Cezar said funding will be based on fee-based services which could mean a reduction of $50,000 next year. He said there was sufficient budget carry-over to cover that cost but was concerned about future years.
Cezar added that students will need prescriptions from doctors for occupation therapy, physical therapy, and speech.
— The board approved the purchase of security camera equipment in OASIS and CLASS rooms for a total of up to $7,300 to Security Now of Newton and the annual audit report.
— A decision regarding worker's compensation insurance was tabled until the next meeting.
— Cezar reported that consultant Kent Stewart had toured the facilities and obtained information for his report. Drake suggested the consultant provide information at each board meeting.
— School psychologist Regina Kimbrel reported information she obtained from a national conference for school psychologists.
She provided information regarding Response to Intervention teaching which could replace traditional evaluations of students.
— Cezar reported he had recruited and hired a second gifted teacher and interviewed speech therapists.
— Public comments or presentations will be limited to five minutes at cooperative board meetings and a public forum will be added to the board's agenda. The board reviewed the cooperative's policy regarding public participation at board meetings and decided a public forum would be appropriate.
— The consent agenda was approved which included staff resignations/terminations of Carisa Funk, Julie Schlesener, Marilyn Bartel, Kathy Schmidt, and Susan Judd; classified staff appointment of Penny Antosyzk and certified staff appointments of Kelli Meritt and Sherri Sells.
— Recognition of outgoing board members Drake and Clark Davis, who represents Centre USD 397, will be at the June meeting which will be at noon June 20 at the Florence facility.
— The board entered a five-minute executive session with employee Belinda Engler and C.J. Schmitt of Kansas National Educators Association for personnel issues. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— The board entered five executive sessions for the purpose of personnel for a total of 30 minutes. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
A 10-minute executive session for negotiations was called. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 21 at Florence.
