Monday, July 4, 2011

USD 383 Board of Education

June 29, 2011
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

Regular meeting:
Carol Adams reported that USD 383 had scored well on its application for a JROTC program and had been placed at the top of the list for establishing a program.

Sally Frick, Director of Head Start, reported that the Early Head Start program would no longer be accessing state funds and would cease to exist for the most part on June 30th, necessitating the termination of 15 employees. The Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services had notified all Early Head Start programs that ongoing state funding would cease Dec. 31, and local programs that wished to continue would have to apply for grant funding and develop programs that would implement new state requirements. Mrs. Frick believed it would be difficult for the local Early Head Start to follow Gov. Brownback's new guidelines, and so the decision was made to not pursue the grant funding and to discontinue the program. Early Head Start will continue to receive federal funds to serve a few families and will work with the Parents as Teachers program to provide services to other families affected by the changes.

In construction news, the board learned that the construction project at Wilson Elementary is 3-4 weeks behind schedule. Board members requested having representatives from First Management (the contractor) attend the next board meeting to discuss the situation.

The board also learned that Roosevelt Elementary may have serious structural issues in the original stone portion of the school. Cracks were discovered in the original concrete flooring that separates the levels. Core samples were taken to assess the situation, and the results were not yet known. If the concrete is in relatively good condition, the cracks can be repaired. If the concrete is in poor condition, it would need to be removed, the building gutted, and new steel framing put in place. The building will undergo a complete structural review to help guide the next steps. The building will not be ready for school to start in August even if only minimal repairs are needed, so the board discussed the possibility of using additional mobile units to temporarily house classrooms.

The board approved 6-0 year-end transfers, totaling $230,000. Of that amount, $150,000 was transferred to the textbook rental fund, and the remainder was divided between the capital outlay fund and the contingency fund.

Board members also recognized outgoing board members Susan Marshall and Nancy Knopp and thanked them for their years of service to the community.

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