June 4, 2014
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
USD 383 has been working on establishing a virtual school program that it will manage itself as opposed to working with a vendor. The board received a report on the progress of the program and learned that the hiring process for the virtual program is on-going. The board approved the purchase of the Pearson curriculum for the 2014-15 school year to use with the virtual school program.
The board also approved several facility related items, including structural improvements to address a settling issue at Northview Elementary; playground surfacing at Bluemont, Roosevelt, and Wilson Elementary Schools; storm water improvements at MHS East Campus; and engineering services for the chiller at MHS West Campus.
The board also received public comment from MHS student Haley Heaton in regards to the mock car crash that is staged each spring to impress upon students the dangers of impaired driving. Heaton was concerned that all students are required to view the mock car crash, and students who may have known someone who died in tragic circumstances could find the mock car crash to be emotionally traumatic. Heaton suggested that these students should be provided with an alternative to viewing the mock crash.
Showing posts with label Kathy Dzewaltowski. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kathy Dzewaltowski. Show all posts
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
USD 383 Board of Education
April 2, 2014
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
Lew Faust, Director of Business Services, updated the board on state school finance, in light of the recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling. Bills have been introduced in the House and the Senate to fully fund equity requirements, but the bills also include ways to offset the additional funding through reductions. The House bill would fund transportation at 95% of current levels, would cap at-risk funding for students age 19 (i.e. would not fund older students), and would provide funding for virtual students at 90%. The net affect on the district would be a loss of $312,383 in budget authority. The Senate bill would reduce transportation funding by 15%, would provide funding for full-time virtual students at 90% and part-time students at 70%, and would use the same formula for at-risk as the House bill. The net impact on the district would be a loss of $434,000 in budget authority. The Legislature also plans to increase the base per pupil funding by $14, from the current $3,838 to $3,852.
Carol Adams, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, reported that students and teachers are still experiencing problems with the online Kansas assessments. The decision was made to cease assessment for the remainder of the week in hopes that problems can be corrected, and testing will resume on April 7th.
The board approved the creation of two pathways in the Career and Technical Education program at MHS. The students enrolled in the courses are counted for extra weighting, which generates additional revenue that will be applied to hiring an additional agricultural science teacher and will eliminate the overload expense currently occurring in ag science.
The board also approved creating the position of Director of Early Education Programs to meet requirements established by the Kansas Dept. of Education.
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
Lew Faust, Director of Business Services, updated the board on state school finance, in light of the recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling. Bills have been introduced in the House and the Senate to fully fund equity requirements, but the bills also include ways to offset the additional funding through reductions. The House bill would fund transportation at 95% of current levels, would cap at-risk funding for students age 19 (i.e. would not fund older students), and would provide funding for virtual students at 90%. The net affect on the district would be a loss of $312,383 in budget authority. The Senate bill would reduce transportation funding by 15%, would provide funding for full-time virtual students at 90% and part-time students at 70%, and would use the same formula for at-risk as the House bill. The net impact on the district would be a loss of $434,000 in budget authority. The Legislature also plans to increase the base per pupil funding by $14, from the current $3,838 to $3,852.
Carol Adams, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, reported that students and teachers are still experiencing problems with the online Kansas assessments. The decision was made to cease assessment for the remainder of the week in hopes that problems can be corrected, and testing will resume on April 7th.
The board approved the creation of two pathways in the Career and Technical Education program at MHS. The students enrolled in the courses are counted for extra weighting, which generates additional revenue that will be applied to hiring an additional agricultural science teacher and will eliminate the overload expense currently occurring in ag science.
The board also approved creating the position of Director of Early Education Programs to meet requirements established by the Kansas Dept. of Education.
USD 383 Board of Education
March 26, 2014
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
Carol Adams, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, reported that teachers and students have been experiencing problems and glitches in attempting to take online state assessments. The problems are with the source of the testing and are not something the district can address. These particular assessments are a pilot program and won't affect accreditation.
John Armbrust, Governor's Military Council, provided the board with a report on Ft. Riley. Armbrust said that the BRAC process (Base Re-Alignment and Closure) may happen again, with 2017 being the earliest that it would occur. The quality of local schools is one factor that the BRAC evaluates, so Armbrust advised the board to continue to make USD 383 a quality school district. Armbrust also said the U.S. Army will be downsizing, which may result in the loss of 1,200 positions at Ft. Riley. He said that deployments may also slow down, so the loss of 1,200 positions may not have a significant impact on USD 383.
Lew Faust, Director of Business Services, provided the board with information about the impact the recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling may have on USD 383. The decision had two main parts: one addressing equity, and the other addressing adequacy. The adequacy portion was remanded to district court for further evaluation. The equity portion stated that there are wealth-based disparities in capital outlay funds and the supplemental general fund, and the Legislature was given until July 1st to determine how to correct the disparities. USD 383 does not receive any capital outlay equity funding, so that will have no impact on the district. USD 383 could potentially receive $386,000 in equalization funding for the supplemental general fund, which would offset the amount generated by local taxes and allow for a reduction in the mill levy.
Faust also reported that a House bill that was introduced would fully fund the equity requirements, but it also would reduce funding in other areas. A change in the formula for funding transportation will result in a reduction of 15%. At-risk funding would not be provided for students over 19, which will impact the district's programs that allow older students to return and complete their diplomas. The bill also does not mention funding for all-day kindergarten, which had been an initiative of the governor. The net impact on the district will be that the supplemental general mill levy will be able to be reduced, but the district will lose funding for at-risk students and for transportation.
For budget planning purposes, the board received a list of facility maintenance projects, which included items such as roof work, playground resurfacing, new carpeting, etc.
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
Carol Adams, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, reported that teachers and students have been experiencing problems and glitches in attempting to take online state assessments. The problems are with the source of the testing and are not something the district can address. These particular assessments are a pilot program and won't affect accreditation.
John Armbrust, Governor's Military Council, provided the board with a report on Ft. Riley. Armbrust said that the BRAC process (Base Re-Alignment and Closure) may happen again, with 2017 being the earliest that it would occur. The quality of local schools is one factor that the BRAC evaluates, so Armbrust advised the board to continue to make USD 383 a quality school district. Armbrust also said the U.S. Army will be downsizing, which may result in the loss of 1,200 positions at Ft. Riley. He said that deployments may also slow down, so the loss of 1,200 positions may not have a significant impact on USD 383.
Lew Faust, Director of Business Services, provided the board with information about the impact the recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling may have on USD 383. The decision had two main parts: one addressing equity, and the other addressing adequacy. The adequacy portion was remanded to district court for further evaluation. The equity portion stated that there are wealth-based disparities in capital outlay funds and the supplemental general fund, and the Legislature was given until July 1st to determine how to correct the disparities. USD 383 does not receive any capital outlay equity funding, so that will have no impact on the district. USD 383 could potentially receive $386,000 in equalization funding for the supplemental general fund, which would offset the amount generated by local taxes and allow for a reduction in the mill levy.
Faust also reported that a House bill that was introduced would fully fund the equity requirements, but it also would reduce funding in other areas. A change in the formula for funding transportation will result in a reduction of 15%. At-risk funding would not be provided for students over 19, which will impact the district's programs that allow older students to return and complete their diplomas. The bill also does not mention funding for all-day kindergarten, which had been an initiative of the governor. The net impact on the district will be that the supplemental general mill levy will be able to be reduced, but the district will lose funding for at-risk students and for transportation.
For budget planning purposes, the board received a list of facility maintenance projects, which included items such as roof work, playground resurfacing, new carpeting, etc.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
USD 383 Board of Education
March 5, 2014
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
In December, the board had approved terminating its contract with K12 Inc., which had provided a virtual learning program. During the board's retreat on Feb. 26, board members discussed the option of creating Manhattan Virtual Program, which would be a virtual program operated by USD 383. Board members approved 7-0 to implement the year one plans, which call for the virtual program being fully operational by August 2014.
In February, it was discovered there was an error in the Kansas withholding tax tables, which had resulted in 21% of the district's employees owing additional state taxes or owing a penalty. Lew Faust, Director of Business Services, presented the board with options to help employees with the situation. One option would allow affected employees to request a salary advance in order to address the additional tax obligation, and a second option would allow employees to request reimbursement for any tax penalties incurred. The board approved the options.
The board approved the adoption of the 2014-15 school calendar, which will have the school year start on Aug. 12 and end on May 21.
Board members also approved 7-0 a resolution that expressed the board's opposition to proposed state legislation that would move school board elections from the spring to November.
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
In December, the board had approved terminating its contract with K12 Inc., which had provided a virtual learning program. During the board's retreat on Feb. 26, board members discussed the option of creating Manhattan Virtual Program, which would be a virtual program operated by USD 383. Board members approved 7-0 to implement the year one plans, which call for the virtual program being fully operational by August 2014.
In February, it was discovered there was an error in the Kansas withholding tax tables, which had resulted in 21% of the district's employees owing additional state taxes or owing a penalty. Lew Faust, Director of Business Services, presented the board with options to help employees with the situation. One option would allow affected employees to request a salary advance in order to address the additional tax obligation, and a second option would allow employees to request reimbursement for any tax penalties incurred. The board approved the options.
The board approved the adoption of the 2014-15 school calendar, which will have the school year start on Aug. 12 and end on May 21.
Board members also approved 7-0 a resolution that expressed the board's opposition to proposed state legislation that would move school board elections from the spring to November.
Friday, February 7, 2014
USD 383 Board of Education
Feb. 6, 2014
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
Dr. Bob Seymour, Assoc. Superintendent, presented the board with a report on mid-year enrollment. Fourteen additional preschool students had enrolled since the September count, but other grade levels saw decreases. Elementary enrollment was down 14 students, the middle school level was down 10 students, and the high school level had decreased by 4 students. Enrollment projections from the Kansas Association of School Boards had predicted an increase of 49 students. If the current grade level numbers were moved up a grade to predict enrollment for next year and assuming that kindergarten enrollment would stay about the same, then the district should see an increase of 166 students. Dr. Seymour said it's not unusual for enrollment to take a dip in January. Dave Colburn suggested that the board should further discuss the mid-year enrollment data at a future meeting as it will impact the district's plans, such as whether to build another elementary school.
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
Dr. Bob Seymour, Assoc. Superintendent, presented the board with a report on mid-year enrollment. Fourteen additional preschool students had enrolled since the September count, but other grade levels saw decreases. Elementary enrollment was down 14 students, the middle school level was down 10 students, and the high school level had decreased by 4 students. Enrollment projections from the Kansas Association of School Boards had predicted an increase of 49 students. If the current grade level numbers were moved up a grade to predict enrollment for next year and assuming that kindergarten enrollment would stay about the same, then the district should see an increase of 166 students. Dr. Seymour said it's not unusual for enrollment to take a dip in January. Dave Colburn suggested that the board should further discuss the mid-year enrollment data at a future meeting as it will impact the district's plans, such as whether to build another elementary school.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
USD 383 Board of Education
Jan. 8, 2014
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
The board held a short meeting and discussed one policy change in regards to disruptive acts at school or at school activities. The policy needed to be revised to reflect changes to Kansas' concealed carry laws. The proposed policy would allow school district employees who have a concealed carry permit to have firearms in their own locked vehicles on school grounds, so long as the firearm is not in plain sight. With the exception of law enforcement officials, no other visitors to school property would be allowed to possess a firearm, even if they have a permit. The board approved 6-0 the policy revision.
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
The board held a short meeting and discussed one policy change in regards to disruptive acts at school or at school activities. The policy needed to be revised to reflect changes to Kansas' concealed carry laws. The proposed policy would allow school district employees who have a concealed carry permit to have firearms in their own locked vehicles on school grounds, so long as the firearm is not in plain sight. With the exception of law enforcement officials, no other visitors to school property would be allowed to possess a firearm, even if they have a permit. The board approved 6-0 the policy revision.
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