The model likely was constructed in 1935 to show the public how the high school would look. Junior/senior high school custodian Norman Schmidt discovered the model in storage and made a wood showcase for it. His wife, Patsy Schmidt, who is the school district secretary, made decorative trim.

Plans are to display the model, but a specific place has not yet been determined.

Superintendent John Fast offered "a big thank you" to the Schmidts for their work on the project.

Alcohol-use policy

Curt Graves, junior/senior high school principal, explained the role of the student advisory council. He said he has been working with the council on an alcohol policy.

According to student suggestion, the school could hopefully provide "an element of assistance beyond just punishment."

Graves said students also suggested revising the eligibility policy so the first offense would result in academic probation for a week. The second time would result in missed activities for a week. The third time the student would miss activities and would be required to stay for an extended school day.

Graves said 80 percent of the students thought the policy should include all activities.

The board made no decisions on the suggestions at this board meeting. Graves praised students for their involvement in suggesting these policies.

Other business

In other business, the board:

-- heard Graves report that several high school students had performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association convention, as well as the entire high school band.

-- heard Fast report on the Winter Olympics reading incentive at the grade school. "We had a lot of reading going on," he said and reported that almost all the students met their reading goals.

-- accepted the resignation of Jeff Enns as technology director. Fast said Enns has been dividing his time between Goessel and Burrton and has chosen to accept full-time employment at Burrton.

Fast said the district has been "really pleased with his performance.... We're sorry to see him go."

-- accepted the resignation of Lyle Christ as custodian at the junior/senior high school. He has accepted a position at Bethesda Home.

Unrau commended Christ for his work: "He did more than just cleaning." Unrau mentioned Christ's horticulture and landscaping work.

-- accepted the resignation of Ruth Goertzen as concessions manager. Goertzen will retain her family and consumer science teaching duties.

Said Graves: "It is with great regret that we are losing Mrs. Goertzen (as concessions director). She's done a fabulous job."

-- accepted the resignation of Sheila Buller, junior high English teacher and forensics coach. Board member Mary Rosfeld made the motion "with our thanks for her work here."

-- accepted the resignation of Allen Pinkall, high school math teacher and junior high girls basketball coach. He has accepted a position at Wichita State University and also plans to attend graduate school.

Said Unrau: "I'd like to thank Mr. Pinkall for his years here and wish him the best as he moves on."

-- approved hiring David Graham as vocational agriculture teacher. Fast said Graham has taught at Abilene and Jewel.

-- heard Fast report that the Marion County Special Education Cooperative is looking to expand the Parents as Teachers program. Fast said the program has a waiting list.

The co-op would like to increase staff to take on more families. School assessments could be increased to accommodate increased services.

-- approved the sports uniform rotation proposal requested by athletics director Justin Coup. Uniforms for all sports have been on a seven-year rotation. The board approved purchasing uniforms for "high-wear" sports every five years, according to the request.

High school football and high school girls' and boys' basketball uniforms will be purchased every five years. All other uniforms will be purchased every seven years.

-- delayed making a decision on a request from Goertzen's request for a new cooking stove and eight to 10 sewing machines for the family and consumer science classroom. The new stove would replace one that isn't working properly while the addition of sewing machines would meet the demand of students.

"We wanted to raise awareness of the need," Graves said.

-- discussed the calendar for the 2006-2007 school year. It would have 190 contract days with 181 student contact days. Spring break will probably be the second week of March in order to coincide with the ITV (interactive television) consortium schools.

-- listened to Fast describe the "Measures of Academic Progress" tests that the school is considering as a replacement for the current achievement tests.

The MAP tests would be done on computers and would identify strengths and weaknesses. Results would be instant. Schools that are using the tests seem to highly recommend them.

-- discussed purchasing a new bus possibly selling the oldest bus on the fleet. The board also discussed selling old shop equipment, such as a table saw, planer, and radial arm saw, on a consignment auction.