Grading scale at MES to stay the same
Sports reporter
Marion Elementary School principal Rod Garman, along with support from the MES certified staff, presented a change in the grading scale to the Marion-Florence USD 408 board of education Monday at its regular meeting.
The current scale is 100-94, A; 93-86, B; 85-75, C; 74-68, D; below 68, F.
Garman proposed a change of 100-90, A; 89-80, B; 79-70, C; 69-60, D; below 60, F.
He presented a sheet with the current and new scale, and a list of beliefs how the change would benefit students.
A motion was made to accept the proposed change, but failed by a 4-3 vote.
Board president Chris Sprowls, and members Keith Collet, Jan Helmer, and Duane Kirkpatrick voted against the motion.
"The concern was establishing a different policy in that building," board president Chris Sprowls said. "We want to stay consistent through the district."
Currently all three schools operate on the same scale.
Sprowls did say the board will go back to the District School Improvement Team and ask its opinion on having a different scale throughout the district.
It's possible through another recommendation it could come to the board at a later date, but Sprowls said at this time the majority of the board wanted to stay uniform.
"I can understand both sides of it," Sprowls said.
In other business:
— The board accepted the resignation of Marion High School principal Jim Piper effective at the end of the school year.
Piper is in the first year of a two-year contract with the district.
The board will not make Piper honor the second year because there is sufficient time to find a replacement.
— The board approved a set production class at Marion High School for the 2008-09 school year.
The class will be limited to 10 students, and give priority to upperclassmen and those that have been through the woods safety program.
— Superintendent Lee Leiker updated the board on the status of deeding over the gymnasium and life skills building to the City of Florence.
Leiker is hopeful the deal will be finalized March 24 at the City of Florence's next city council meeting.
— Lyle Leppke, the USD 408 board representative for Marion-Florence Special Education Cooperative, updated the 408 board of the possibility of moving the life skills building to Peabody.
Leiker said the current building being used in Florence is not the best option because there is no lunch facility, and it is not conducive to handicapped students.
A wall and partition would be built in the proposed Peabody addition, and the cost would be $15,000.
USD 398 in Peabody would carry the expense, and MCSEC would pay them back over time.
The rent would be $500 per month if the decision is made to move the Peabody.
Currently USD 408 owns the life skills building in Florence.
— The board approved the 2008-09 school calendar.
The first day of school will being August 16, and the final day will be May 22.
Other dates of note include: Dec. 24-Jan4, winter break and March 16-23, spring break.
— The board approved a $2,000 payment for a temporary, chain-link fence to be placed on B-field during high school softball and some summer league baseball games.
The fence will be anywhere from 200 to 225 feet from home plate, and will set in the ground without the use of stakes.
The other portion of the near $7,000 fence will be paid by the baseball/softball boosters club and private corporate sponsors.
The motioned passed 4-3 with Kathy Meierhoff, Sarah Cope, Helmer, and Kirkpatrick voting in favor of the fence, and Sprowls, Collett, and Leppke voting no.
— The board approved vendors for a 403(b) plan.
