410 board hears from young artist

Fifth-grade artist Callie Arnold attended Monday?s USD 410 Board of Education meeting to share her experience winning the Kansas State Arbor Day Poster Contest.

?It expressed my artistic ability,? Callie said about her poster, titled ?Trees are terrific and Kansas forests are too.?

Science teacher Rod Just said each year he has students create posters for the contest, adding this year was his first to have first-place winner since teaching at Hillsboro Elementary School.

Callie?s poster was chosen as first place out of 1,050 posters submitted, Just said.

Parents Chad and Melissa Arnold and principal Evan Yoder attended the board meeting with Callie.

Lori Soo Hoo, director of Marion County Parents as Teachers, presented an update to the board, noting PAT served 115 families and 141 children in Marion County during 2011-12 fiscal year.

As of April 8, the program serves 84 families and 97 families from the county?s five school districts, she said.

Bryant Miller, an PAT intern from Kansas State University, introduced the website he designed that will soon go live with accessible information and available services and resources.

Superintendent Steve Noble said plans are to draft an interlocal resolution to treat PAT as an established organization among the five districts, rather than having to annually request about continuing involvement by the individual districts.

A representative of Piper, Jaffary and Co., which handles the district?s bonds and interest dollars, presented an analysis that indicated refinancing the recent bond issue could save the district approximately $200,000, after deducting all costs involved to lock in the savings and reduce the interest rate on the bonds.

The board approved 6-0 the resolution authorizing the offering for sale of general obligation refunding bonds.

The final approval will be made May 6, at the next board meeting, provided, unless interest rates increase by then and the savings is not significant.

Noble reported Mark Rooker, Position 4, and Joe Sechrist, Position 5, were re-elected to the board, adding that Kathy Decker was the write-in candidate, with four votes, for Position 6. Decker can decide whether or not to accept the position.

Noble also told the board the Walking School Bus is off to a good start. On good weather days, the group meets at 7:10 a.m. at Trinity Mennonite Church and follows the route to the elementary school. Students are encouraged to sign up so they can participate.

?It’s been a great, great experiment,? Noble said.

He also announced faculty will wear regalia at this year?s graduation ceremony.

?It?s a way to recognize and honor our faculty,? Noble said.

Other business

In other business, the board:

? approved adoption of the McREL Teacher and Principal Evaluation System, recommended by the local teacher bargaining unit for evaluating and setting goals for instruction.

The system measures pedagogy, Noble said, adding all of Marion County schools have decided to adopt this model, which will add to purchasing power for training and implementation of the system.

Training is pending for June 19 and 20.

? heard about projections of capital outlay from Noble.

? approved a request from Trojan After Prom, or TAP, for transportation of two buses and drivers for the after-prom party at The Alley in East Wichita April 13. TAP will reimburse the district for cost of drivers and pay a mileage rate.

? approved the spring computer purchases not exceed $133,000. Included in the purchase will be 35 iPads to be used in HES classrooms.

? approved vehicle purchases proposed by in the vehicle replacement plan, including a 2013 Suburban to transport smaller groups of kids to activities, a mini-van to transport teachers/adults to various meetings and a used pickup for the bus shop. The board asked Noble to check about local options for mini-vans. If not available, he should go to the state bid.

? approved a new contract Shari Sisk as kindergarten teacher, following meeting in executive session for matters of personnel.

? heard board member Mark Rooker that three applicants will be interviewed for the TEEN director?s position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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