The board unanimously opted for this revised purchase arrangement rather than the lease-purchase plan endorsed at last month's meeting.

"I like to buy with cash," said board member Rod Koons.

More than half of the money-about $60,200-needed to finance the purchase will come from the capital outlay fund, while the remainder will be budgeted funds.

When school begins in fall, three computer mobile units will be in classes, said Charlie Jones, who oversees the district's technology.

The equipment includes 26 notebook computers for teachers and administrators, 25 notebook computers for students, 10 desktop computers for the Hillsboro High School Art Department and two mobile computer carts-one for elementary school and one for high school.

The building administrators made their reports to the board.

Hillsboro Elementary School principal Evan Yoder said students had completed their state assessments and he expected to hear results by the end of May.

Hillsboro Middle School principal Corey Burton reported students took their assessments on the computer, and preliminary results look positive. He said less than 1 percent scored unsatisfactorily. High school students also completed their assessments.

"I think we're going to be real pleased (about the scores)," Principal Dale Honeck said.

Keith Goossen, in charge of maintenance, reported on the purchase of a maintenance department pickup from Irv Schroeder County Motors for $15,190. Purchases under $20,000 rotate among the three local dealers.

The board accepted the resignation of Dave Clark as vocal music instructor. He is retiring at the end of the term, having completed 32 years of teaching.

The position will be advertised.

No action was taken to non-renew contracts for four high school teachers, who consequently will receive tenure with the renewal of their current teaching contract. Those teachers include Dustin Dalke, art; Stuart Holmes, social studies; Tim Kilgore, ag-education; and Monica Leihy, family and consumer arts.

During the meeting, the board convened in executive session three times to discuss personnel issues and a fourth time to discuss matters related to negotiations.

Prior to one session, board president Brent Barkman told several parents they could meet individually with the board to express their concerns regarding personnel in order to maintain confidentiality.

Parents who asked to meet with the board in executive session included David and Cheri Marsh, Curtis and Clara Frick, Kem and Autumn Chisholm and Keith Goossen.

No board action was taken following the executive sessions.

Among other business, the board:

-- approved the school calendar for 2005-06. The first day of classes will be Aug. 17.

-- adopted the district professional development plan as presented by the Professional Development Council by chair Darrel Knoll.

-- adopted new and revised policies that affect bonded employees, salary deductions, work schedules, compensation and work assignments and supervision of medications for students.

-- heard a report from Jerry Hinerman, business manager, about the status of the Kansas Legislature's school finance plan.

The Kansas Supreme Court will determine whether the legislation meets the requirements the Court established.

Basically, Hinerman said, the Kansas Legislature has provided some money, but it appears to be inadequate.

Rather than raise state taxes, the legislature has shifted that option to the local level with provisions for school districts to increase their local option budgets.

-- heard the results of a parent survey that was conducted regarding offering all-day kindergarten. Yoder said the majority of parents supported the idea.

The board will discuss the issue at the next meeting.

-- heard that the district must amend its budget following the audit conducted by the Kansas State Department of Education. The district's weighted enrollment has increased by 8.7, which results in a $33,600 budget increase.

The budget will be published in the Free Press Extra April 15.

-- scheduled a special meeting for 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, to adopt the amended budget in order to proceed with negotiations regarding salaries for 2005-06.