"I cannot adequately express my sincere appreciation for the personal support, professional support, personal kind words, that each of you has provided me over the years," Burton wrote in his letter of resignation to the board. "Thank you for allowing me to be a member of a great team."

After three years in his present position and nine years as a business teacher at Hillsboro High School, Burton has accepted a position as principal of Ellis High School.

Superintendent Gordon Mohn told the board that the vacant position has been advertised and the district is accepting applications. He presented a tentative timeline for hiring a new principal that targeted approving the employment contract at next month's board meeting.

More than 30 individuals have already submitted applications, Mohn said.

The board adopted the recommended timeline and selection process that involves a board-appointed committee that will interview candidates and make a recommendation to the board.

The board also voted to secure the services of Howard and Helmer, an architectural firm with offices in Wichita and Newton, for the purpose of facility planning and design for the district.

Two firms, Howard and Helmer and PKHLS Architecture of El Dorado, made presentations to the board at the meeting. Prior to Monday evening, both firms had met with district personnel to tour facilities and receive a broad overview of the district's needs.

Howard and Helmer designed the Solomon Loewen Science building at Tabor College and are the architects for the new building of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.

The firm also currently provides facility planning services for Tabor College as well as assistance to the Tabor/USD 410 task force that is addressing the joint tract and football facility for the two schools.

Facilitating collaboration with the projects was a factor in the board's choice of the architectural firm for the district's needs.

Teachers Maura Wiebe, Robert Woelk, Dustin Dalke and Doug Dick gave a presentation about technology in the classroom. Part of their presentation focused on an interactive demonstration of Blackboard, a software tool that facilitates learning both in and outside the classroom.

In his building report, Hillsboro Elementary School principal Evan Yoder said state assessments were finished today.

"Early indications look pretty good," Yoder said about the preliminary outcomes.

Activities director Max Heinrich updated the board on spring sports, which involve 105 students in HHS and 40 students in HMS.

The board took no action to non-renew teaching contracts for the 2006-07 school year. Unless the board takes action, the continuing contract law in Kansas provides that contracts are automatically renewed May 1. Teachers must notify the district by May 15 if they do not intend to accept the contract for the upcoming school year.

Two teachers will receive tenure with the renewal of their current teaching contract-Sandy Arnold, elementary media specialist, and Nathan Hiebert, high school business.

Three teachers-Doug Dick, Lynn Just and Bruce Major-will be eligible to receive tenure in 2006-07.

The board also voted to issue supplemental contracts to certified teachers as recommended.

In other business, the board:

-- approved attendance by members of HHS Technology Student Association who took first place at the state conference to the National Technology Student conference in Dallas, Texas, June 21-25. Also, expenses for transportation and sponsor Creigh Bell will be covered.

-- accepted the resignation of Carmen Hein as an at-risk aide at HHS and the resignation of Mary Clay as bus driver.

-- approved placing for consideration a revised policy for enrollment of out-of-district students that establishes specific guidelines for admission. The board will take action on this revision at the May meeting.

-- adopted the 2006-07 school calendar as presented with one adjustment that moves a staff development day in October from Wednesday to Friday, but does not change the teaching days for TEEN.

-- approved the purchase and implementation of Measures of Academic Progress for the 2006-07 school year. The testing software package will be used to supplement instruction for specific learning needs in areas of reading, language usage and math.

-- received an update from Mohn about progress toward creating a collaborative pre-school at HMS involving children from Head Start, 4-Year-old At-Risk, MCSEC Pre-School and Private Pay.

-- met in executive session for the purpose of discussing matters relating to personnel and negotiations for the 2006-07 master contract.