The Goessel school board heard during its May 11 meeting about plans for the Bike Across Kansas group that will spend the night in Goessel June 10.
Superintendent John Fast is on the 20-member BAK steering committee.
?This is a really big event,? Fast said.
Nine hundred people are expected to participate, representing 36 states and two countries. Fast has been working with food, lodging, entertainment and emergency plans for the group.
Goessel school groups, church groups, Mennonite Heritage Museum, Brand?ing Iron Cafe, Lincoln Perk and community groups are planning food for the bikers.
The community is encouraged to help with food or serving. Those interested in volunteering can contact Keith Banman, Elaine Unruh, Brent Abrahams, Linda Ewert, Tiffani Knowles, Brittany Hiebert or Verda Wedel.
The school board approved the use of school buses to be used as ?rescue buses? for the riders in case of bad weather or other emergency; BAK would pay the school.
Schmidt retirement
Turning its attention to another matter, the board accepted the resignation of Rannie Schmidt as a bus driver. Schmidt is retiring after 20 years of driving for the school district.
?I have thoroughly enjoyed my work,? he wrote in his letter of resignation.
Other business
In other business, the board:
? considered a request to establish a junior high cross-country program. Scott Boden, junior and senior high school principal, said only two schools in the league have junior high cross country. .
? commended students who qualify for national events and discussed requests for help with expenses.
? accepted the resignation of Alyssa Rumple as junior class sponsor.
? accepted the resignation of Allison Krehbiel, the second teacher for the large fifth-grade class that is divided into two classrooms. She has taught at Goessel for three years.
? voted to hire Sherri Sells as an additional teacher for junior high math and science because of the large number of students in junior high next school year.
? approved the purchase of new high school girls? basketball uniforms for $3,477 and junior high boys? basketball uniforms for $2,518.
Uniform replacement is on a seven-year rotation schedule. But the junior high basketball uniforms need to be replaced sooner because they did not last.
? commended Brian Lightner, students and adults who have worked to make track meets run smoothly. Boden said the new timing system has been working well.
Boden said 16 teams had participated in the junior high meet, with 565 students and 1,110 individual entries, including 135 in long jump.
?It was a huge undertaking,? Boden said.
? heard that the junior high Worlds of Fun incentive trip had a positive impact on student behavior and grades. This was the second year that the trip has been offered as a reward. The trip was mostly paid through a fundraiser.
? heard that 16 people used the storm shelter May 6 during the threat of bad weather. They all expressed appreciation to the school.
? accepted the donation of a television by Bethesda Home for the storm shelter. Bethesda expressed appreciation for permission to use the storm shelter. The board thanked Bethesda for the donation.
? heard that the security system at the junior high and high school building is working well.
Fast and Boden described how the system works, with screens in the office and cafeteria, access panels and key cards that can be programmed to unlock a door at a specific time. The doors are now locked during the school day. The board decided to install a similar system at the grade school.
? discussed needs that will arise in the next year or two.
Fast noted technology needs that include the lab at the grade school, which is seven years old. He also mentioned work stations for teachers, cooks, secretaries and maintenance.
? heard that the school district is 18 months behind on buying a bus because of state budget cuts.
? heard the school?s white van is a 2001 model with more than 200,000 miles.
