USD 383 Board of Education

April 17, 2013
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

Gail Urban provided the board with an update on the Fieldhouse project.  The grassroots group working on the project had utilized the district's e-mail lists to send surveys to families to determine if there would be interest in having a regional facility.  The next steps will be to conduct a market study, site analysis, and feasibility study.  The group has raised $40,000 toward the $100,000 needed to fund a feasibility study.  The group hoped the board would consider contributing $10,000 for the feasibility study.  Board members Walt Pesaresi and Darell Edie felt the district has other more pressing needs that will need to be funded.  The item was only for discussion.

The board discussed a facility analysis for the College Hill Preschool building.  The bond improvement project only provided for the installation of new door locks and the removal of friable asbestos for the building.  The analysis would provide more information about additional improvements the building would need for long-term use.  The board approved the facility analysis.

Board members discussed student fees and textbook rental fees for the 2013-14 school year.  The board spent considerable time discussing the parking permit fee for MHS West Campus.  The current cost is $50 and has been that amount for a few years.  Pete Paukstelis felt the $50 price is too low and doesn't encourage students to ride the bus instead of driving.  Paukstelis proposed to raise the parking permit price to $100, and Pesaresi and Edie agreed.  Beth Tatarko was opposed to the idea of raising the price and establishing an arbitrary price without having investigated what other district's charge or without more thought.  Tatarko was also concerned about students who drive in order to go to after school jobs or to participate in school activities, such as sports practice, that the district does not provide transportation for.  Dave Colburn and Curt Herrman were also not supportive of raising the parking permit price.  The board approved the student fees and textbook rental fees with the exception of the parking permit fee.  Administration will provide the board with additional information about other districts' parking permit prices at the next board meeting.

Riley County Commission april 25, 2013

Joan Strickler, observer

 

Commissioners Ron Wells, Robert Boyd and Dave Lewis present.  Lewis presiding.

Commissioner Boyd told of a meeting of the Riley County Health Advisory Committee where the subject of primary health care was discussed.  While primary medical care is currently offered at the Riley County Health Department, it is not typical for county health departments to provide that type of service.   There was some discussion of the advisability of encouraging a primary care practice currently operating out of Junction City to open an office in Manhattan to take over that care currently provided at the Health Department.

County Attorney Barry Wilkerson said his office and the courts are still trying to figure out the issues to be dealt with under provisions of the concealed carry legislation passed during the current legislative session.  The serious issues involve trying to set up adequate security measures in court houses and other facilities not originally built with tight security in mind.

Questions were raised about the County’s role in paying Worker’s Compensation premiums for Riley County offices receiving funds from outside sources.  These would include Corrections, Solid Waste, Rural Fire and other entities operating with revenue sources outside of the general fund, State, federal mil levy and/or fees.   The current practice is to have such costs remain with those departments involved rather than make them the responsibility of the County general fund. Commissioners agreed to maintain the system as it is through 2013 and 2014 but to study the matter involved more thoroughly in the near future.  

 

Riley County Commission April 22, 2013

Joan Strickler, observer

 

Commissioners Lewis, Wells and Boyd present, Lewis presiding.

There was some discussion of problems in having afternoon sessions of the Commission since many times there are other afternoon meeting commitments scheduled relating to Commission business.

 A Riley County Police Department report was given by Captain Kurt Moldrup.  While in the past the Department has emphasized “operation impact”, focusing attention more heavily on certain high crime areas of the community, the Department has now initiated a new “laser point” initiative.  The new effort allows officers to focus heavily on hot spots with varying degrees of frequency rather than simply maintaining an ongoing heavy presence in one area.  While the crime rate in Manhattan has dropped 6% overall, the new initiative has brought about an 18.4% lowering of crime in designated zones.

Weekly reports are given to officers to measure progress.  The most recent past week is compared to that week one year ago.  In addition to crime rates going down accident rates have been reduced as well.  Commissioner Lewis asked that the Department include information for all of the County as well as just the Manhattan area in the next report.

Lori Bishop discussed the work of the RSVP volunteers in the County.  RSVP services offered range from helping to keep people in their own homes rather than nursing facilities, to tutoring children and providing cookies to service men and women at Ft. Riley.

County Counselor Clancy Holeman referred to recently passed legislation relaxing restrictions on where persons may carry guns.  The measure apparently requires that entities wanting to keep such restrictions develop security plans.  Commissioners expressed concern in particular for safety in the courts as well as agencies providing community supervision of persons on parole.  It was agreed to bring in the judges and related professionals to discuss the issue sometime in May.

Commissioners agreed to install a stop sign at Sherman and County Rd.

County Commission April 15, 2013

BOCC April 15, 2013

All present.
At the press conference Cheryl Collins announced they Riley County Historical 
Society's quarterly dinner meeting on Monday, April 29.  Reservations for the 
dinner should be in by April 22.  The program will feature stories of the girl  
of the Gumbo, Erma Sebring, newspaper columnist.  The program starts at 7:15 
and does not require reservations.

Jennifer Wilson from extension reported that the volunteer tax assistance, VITA, 
helped file  451 federal tax returns,  and 471 state returns.   The average 
income of filers was $18,000.  The IRS figures that each return filed would cost 
$200 commercially.  The value of the volunteer hours  was $90,000 done in 300 
hours of work by @12-14 volunteers.

Linda Teener updated the commission on the Collins Lane Community Garden. 
There're are 178 plots, only 10 left available..  

Chris Darrah spoke for "retailers against high commercial property tax."  The 
commission listened sympathetically but reminded everyone of the reduction of 
funds which used to be  returned to the county  by the state of Kansas.  The 
resulting shortfall is going to be felt in the property tax and this is even 
without increases in county spending.  The commission also emphasized that the 
county levy is less than that of the city or USD 383.

Julie Merklin, observer

Report on Riley County Health Department Advisory Board
April 17, 2013

The last two scheduled meetings of the Health Department Advisory Board
have been cancelled because of a lack of a quorum.  Thus far there is no
news of the hiring of a new administrator since the resignation of Susanne
Kufahl at the end of March.
Sue Cohen, Observor

USD 383 Board of Education

April 3, 2013
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

Dr. Pam Russell, Executive Director of Special Services, presented the board with the special education services report.  Overall, there had been in increase in the total number of students receiving services, with the greatest increases being in the gifted, autism, and learning disability programs.  The district did not meet the state's target of graduating 80% of students receiving services, and Dr. Russell reported that Special Services is working on training a team at the high school that may help to improve graduation rates.

Keith Noll, Director of Maintenance, provided the board with a list of projects planned for the summer. Projects included playground improvements at Marlatt and Bergman, sidewalk repair at Anthony and Eisenhower, HVAC replacement at Amanda Arnold, and roof replacement at Bluemont.

The board considered expanding summer school programs at Lee, Ogden, and Roosevelt Elementary Schools.  The three schools in addition to Northview and Bergman had received 21st Century Community Learning Center grants and wanted to be able to expand summer program offerings accordingly.  Lee wanted to add a remedial program for grades K-3, Roosevelt wanted to add a remedial program for grades K-4, and Ogden wanted to expand its summer program by an additional month.  The board approved the additions to summer programs 7-0.

USD 383 Board of Education

March 27, 2013
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

The work session focused on the so-called "common core standards," which Kansas has adopted, and the steps the district will be taking to begin implementing them.

During the regular meeting, the board discussed schedule changes for the high school and additional collaboration time for elementary teachers.  Lisa Heller, NEA president, addressed the board about concerns elementary teachers had about collaboration time.  She said elementary teachers wished there had been better communication about proposed changes and wished they had had more opportunities to be involved with the process.  Board member Pete Paukstelis said people have an obligation to be part of the process and not to expect to be spoon fed everything.  The board approved the plan for additional collaboration time 6-1, with Walt Pesaresi dissenting because he wanted the changes to be implemented sooner.  For the high school level, the board approved developing a schedule that will allow teachers in the same academic area to have collaboration time, and also directed administration to continue to explore having a modified block schedule at the high school.

The board approved the 2013-14 school calendar, which will lengthen the school year by four days.  The past few years, the school year had been shortened by four days and individual school days were lengthened to compensate as a means to work around the construction projects.  Lengthening the school year will also provide the means to provide additional collaboration and professional development time.

The board received a report on capital outlay projects for 2013-14.  A few of the projects listed were updating playground surfaces, playground equipment, replacing the roof on Bergman Elementary, and artificial turf for Bishop Stadium.  The district is contributing $200,000 to the turf project, with the remaining funds coming from efforts by the MHS Booster Club to secure donations.