Prior to the vote, the board met individually in executive session to review evaluations with principals Dale Honeck, Hillsboro High School; Evan Yoder, Hillsboro Elementary School; Greg Brown, Hillsboro Middle School; and Max Heinrichs, activities director.

"We are privileged to have such fine administrators," board president Rod Koons said following the vote.

The board also met in executive session with architect David Riffel and Keith Goossen, district maintenance director, to discuss facility improvements and acquisition of real property.

Although no action was taken, the board did schedule a special meeting for 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26 in the HHS Technology Center where they will determine a dollar cap for the Tabor/USD 410 project and improvements for the high school and elementary school in preparation for a bond election later this summer.

Earlier in the meeting, Carla Harmon, representing the Trojan After Prom Party, requested use of three district buses to transport students to The Alley, a bowling alley and activities center in Wichita.

She said this year TAPP is planning to transport students to Wichita by about 1:15 a.m. for the after-prom party and they will return by 6:15 a.m.

The board approved the request and agreed to waive mileage and bus-driver fees, estimated at about $390.

Yoder reported parent/teacher conferences for HES will be from 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

In order to facilitate those meetings, Yoder said families whose names end in the letters A-K should come during the 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. slot and families whose names end in L-Z should come from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

If the scheduled time slot doesn't work, parents are encouraged to come at the alternate time, he added.

Brown, HMS principal, reported that four Hillsboro students finished in the top 12 at the county-wide spelling bee Feb. 7, including winner Elise Heyen.

The state contest will be March 24 in Topeka.

HHS principal Honeck reported that boys from Spirit-N-Celebration will perform in Little River, where former HHS music teacher Dave Clark is teaching.

Honeck said Clark wants his students to see that "boys can sing and should sing."

Superintendent Gordon Mohn reported the window for MAPP testing is April 23-May 11. "We'll be able to track growth with (this series of tests)," he said.

He also reported about his recent discussion with the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church Council concerning child care and pre-school in the community.

It's the beginning of a conversation, Mohn said, adding that he sees this as an opportunity for the church to reach out and meet community needs.

He also told the board the sound system for the Robert C. Brown gymnasium will hopefully be ready for the fine arts night.

In other business, the board

-- adopted several policy updates and revisions, including the recommendation that district employees be required to wear identification badges.

-- agreed to call a special board meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. for Monday, Feb. 19, at the Marion County Special Education Cooperative offices in Florence.

The MCSEC board has invited all Marion County school boards to attend the informational meeting about the facilities and services at Florence.