Special ed cooperative debates facility issues
Questions surrounding the renewal of a lease agreement with Marion/Florence USD 408 for use of district facilities in Florence dominated discussion at the Marion County Special Education Cooperative board meeting Monday in Florence.
Board member Lyle Leppke opened the conversation by relating USD 408's response to MCSEC's request for multi-year lease options for the facilities, when the current one-year $50,000 lease expires in June 2007.
USD 408 proposed a three-year lease option, at $40,000 per year, according to Leppke.
Board member Doe Ann Hague noted the lease funds paid to USD 408 are supposed to pay for maintenance and repair of the facilities, and questioned how current year funds had been spent.
Board vice chair Clark Davis pointed out MCSEC had subsidized some of the repairs this year.
"This coming year will be a good benchmark of what Marion will do," Clark said.
Facia and soffet replacement, and roof repairs were two items MCSEC director Chris Cesar identified as ones the cooperative shared with USD 408.
Leppke, a member of the USD 408 board of education, said lease funds paid by MCSEC are kept isolated from the rest of the district's budget, and are earmarked specifically for maintenance of the facilities used by the cooperative.
Hague expressed concern about the proposed renewal amount, and suggested exploring the possibility of a refund or carry-over of MCSEC funds not spent for maintenance.
"It would make sure your needs are met," she said, addressing her remarks to Leppke, "and would satisfy concerns that Marion is making money off the co-op."
Leppke reiterated his comments about lease funds being designated solely for the benefit of MCSEC, and affirmed the district's commitment to maintaining the facilities.
"There is no intention for that building to be abandoned once special ed is done with it," he said. "The intention is that building has a long life yet."
Board members wrapped up their discussion by setting a meeting for Dec. 13, at which they will continue their deliberations about lease options.
In other business, the board:
— Viewed a student-constructed "walk-in" model of a human cell, as teacher Dwayne Abrahams and two of his students described the project.
— Heard a report from Abrahams regarding his attendance at a Kan-Ed conference.
— Appointed Richard Drake to be the board representative in developing the 2007-08 negotiated agreement with MCSEC teaching staff.
— Accepted resignations from Travis Schafer, Hailey Isaacs, and Robert Haude.
— Appointed Jennifer Brown and Cindy Slater to positions with the CLASS program, and Anne Harvey and Colleen Weinbrenner to positions with Hillsboro Elementary School.
— Approved addition of a new paraprofessional position.
— Tentatively designated Feb. 19 as the date for a joint meeting with the boards of education of the cooperative's participating districts.
