MMS students don't make the grade
Sports reporter
The Marion Middle School eligibility list will change in January.
Currently students who have two Fs must make time three hours each week outside of class to meet with a teacher.
If those hours are not met, punishments such as Saturday schools and In School Suspension are administered.
MMS principal Tod Gordon said the current policy needs to be changed.
At one point this year there were 58 of 100 seventh and eighth graders with a D or F, with the average being about half.
Just two weeks ago 12 students had not met their three hours. Gordon called them in his office on a Monday to talk with them and said he would check back Friday to see if they had met their hours.
By the end of the week only one had completed the three hours, and six had failed to complete even one hour.
"I'm concerned," Gordon said at the Dec. 10 regular meeting of Marion-Florence USD 408 board of education. "In my opinion it's not working."
So Gordon asked the board for its permission to make a half hour from 8:10-8:40 a.m. a mandatory session with teachers for students with a grade lower than C.
The student must attend during that time period until the grade is brought up to a C or higher.
Gordon said nearly all of his MMS students are at school by 8 a.m., and sometimes roam the halls.
Board member Jan Helmer wanted to address the situation of siblings who ride together.
She said if one had to be there early, it would leave a lot of time for the other before school began.
Gordon said the students who have Cs or higher in all their classes, will have a "lounge," with a supervisor, to go to for those 30 minutes. The students can read, study, or just hang out.
The period will take one minute off each class period, and five minutes off the lunch period. It also will change first hour start time from 8:25 a.m. to 8:43 for those students with a C or higher in every class.
"It's the only time I can guarantee teachers are available," Gordon said.
He also commended the staff for agreeing to the change that will take 30 minutes away from their time.
The board did not take a vote, but came to a consensus to allow the change to be effective Jan. 15 because the eligibility list runs from Monday to Monday.
Gordon said everyone would be on a clean slate Jan. 2 when classes resume, and the first list will be available Jan. 14.
In other business:
— The board accepted its 2008 insurance package from Case and Son Insurance of Marion.
The total annual premium of $74,791 was a decrease in $6,658 from 2007.
As of 12:01 a.m. Dec. 10, the district added the new performing arts center on South Lincoln Street to its coverage.
Alex Case of Case of Son said the premium would increase next year due to the additional building.
— The school adopted a policy that said football equipment will not be rented or leased out to anyone for football camps or other events accept for use in the annual Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Equipment must be certified every year after use, and Leiker said renting or leasing is a liability for the school if a player were to get hurt while wearing Marion's equipment.
The Shrine Bowl however is a respected, and recognized event.
— The board did not vote, but came to a consensus that it did not want the life skills class from Marion County Special Education Cooperative to be moved to a Marion facility.
USD 408 board member Lyle Leppke said if it was a good move for the district to do it.
However, he and others also wanted to look at the situation long term, and decided they may need the space for USD 408 students at a later date.
