Enrollment remains steady in Centre school district
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
The preliminary 2004-05 enrollment count as of Sept. 13 in K-12 at Centre schools is 265, one less than the official enrollment in 2003-04. Official figures will be released Monday.
Full-time equivalency (FTE) is 255.5 students compared to 258.5 the previous year. That number determines the amount of state aid the district receives.
Superintendent Bob Kiblinger told board members Monday he anticipates little change in enrollment next year. He based that assessment on the fact that 14 students will be graduating and 22 are enrolled in kindergarten.
Enrollment by grade is: kindergarten 22, first 14, second 20, third 21, fourth 20, fifth 16, sixth 24, seventh 15, eighth 22, ninth, 28, 10th 24, 11th 25, 12th 14.
The board spent a lot of time discussing an FFA trip in January to the National Western Livestock Show in Denver.
The board received a letter from a patron, Kelsey Harding, requesting his son, Konley Harding, an eighth grade student enrolled in 4-H, be allowed to accompany the group to show his swine.
The trip was approved earlier, but some board members questioned the wisdom of taking a non-FFA member.
Jesse Brunner and John Garrard said they had talked to legal counsel at Kansas Association of School Boards. Both were advised inclusion of the 4-H student was legal but not recommended because of liability issues.
The two board members and Mark Heiser were concerned about setting an undesirable precedent.
Clark Davis saw it as a matter to be treated on a case-by-case basis. Jennifer Kassebaum said it was worth the risk to allow the student to participate and was in his best interest. Leona Hajek was confident the student would be covered by the district.
When the superintendent was asked his opinion, he stated: "We can allow any student to go on any trip."
In the end, the board approved the request, 6-1, for the eighth grader to participate in the trip.
Jesse Brunner, who voted against it, offered an amendment stating the student represents a 4-H club. It was seconded and approved 4-3. Garrard, Heiser, Brunner, and Davis voted for it; Hajek, Kassebaum, and Julie Klenda were opposed.
The board approved a field trip by Jennifer Montgomery's senior English class to the Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs.
They employed Alan Stahlecker to serve as assistant girls' basketball coach with supplemental pay of 7 percent of the base. Stahlecker also is employed as cross country coach and has been an assistant track coach. He has asked for release time from his parish, St. John's Lutheran Church, Lincolnville.
Band instructor Kenneth Roe and several students performed a musical piece to demonstrate and show appreciation for a new tuba the board recently purchased. Members of the group were Bryant Gutsch on the trumpet, Seth Jirak, French horn, Tad Remy, tuba, and Jackie Klenda, trombone. Roe also played a trumpet.
After surveying substitute pay rates in area school districts, the board raised substitute pay for cooks, aides, and custodians from $6 to $6.75 an hour.
The board reviewed a list of goals which were set Aug. 23 at a special meeting. They intend to prioritize and finalize them at the October meeting.
They directed Kiblinger to begin the process of establishing a Centre USD #397 Educational Foundation which would provide a means for individuals or families to donate financially or in some other way to the district.
In other actions, the board:
— accepted the 2003-2004 audit report presented by Jay Langley, a representative of Clubine and Rettele, a CPA firm in Salina.
— approved a contract presented by Clubine and Rettele not to exceed $3,950 for 2004-05 audit services.
— appointed Leona Hajek as a delegate to the KASB Convention Dec. 3-5 in Wichita.
— granted Superintendent Kiblinger's request to take more than five consecutive vacation days in July. The action was stipulated in his contract.
A staff in-service today, Wednesday, includes curriculum mapping and a session on blood borne pathogens, conducted by Diedre Serene, Marion County health nurse. The technology committee also will meet.
