Goessel school board establishes no-parking lane near high school

The Goessel School Board agreed at its July 14 meeting to establish a no-parking lane along the driveway east of the high school.

Superintendent John Fast said when vehicles are parked along that driveway, it is impossible for two driving vehicles to pass; one vehicle has to drive onto the sidewalk.

Fast said the sidewalk will be degraded by vehicle traffic because it was not built for vehicles. It was also noted that the safety of pedestrians on the sidewalk can be jeopardized if vehicles drive on it.

Fast had talked to Police Chief Joe Base about the parking situation. Base told him the driveway is too narrow for fire trucks to pass through when vehicles are parked there. It is a designated fire lane.

Board member Dewayne Voth said he thought it was a good idea to designate the driveway a no-parking area. Other board members agreed, therefore declaring the driveway a no-parking zone, and the public should be aware of the designation.

The board also decided to post a stop sign at the south end of the driveway so that traffic turning onto Main Street will stop before entering the street. The public is advised that anyone who does not stop at that place could be ticketed.

On another matter, the board approved a contract for Spanish teacher Marvin Nance. The teaching staff is now set for the coming school year. The board had thought hiring was complete at the June meeting already, but the Spanish teacher who had been planning to come to Goessel changed her mind and accepted a position in her hometown.

Fast said that Nance comes from Emporia, although he is originally from California. He had recently retired, but agreed to come to Goessel. Fast noted Nance?s enthusiasm for teaching at Goessel and his extensive experience traveling and living in Central and South America.

Nance has been a Bible translator. He will also teach Spanish in the Canton-Galva school district.

In other business, the board:

n voted to purchase a new Bluebird bus from Kansas Truck for a base bid of $82,000 and a total of $83,036. It should arrive around Christmas. Fast told the board the Bluebird buses have more storage space than the other buses looked at by the administration and bus drivers. Bluebird buses also seem to be the most trouble-free.

Fast also noted the large inside mirrors so bus drivers can see students on the bus well. The board decided against air conditioning for the bus. But Fast said the bus will have a white roof and tinted windows, which will help it feel cooler.

Rod Boese will drive the new bus. His current bus has 130,000 miles and will become a substitute bus.

n heard there will be four bus routes again this year, the same as last year.

n heard that Dale Alderfer is working toward becoming a substitute bus driver.

n heard that installation of the new bleachers at the junior high gym should begin soon. Fast said new mats have been ordered for that gym because the old ones were in poor shape. Said board chairman Lynel Unrau about the improved gym: ?It is very nice…. It will rival the newer gym.?

n heard complimentary comments about the school newsletter. Fast commended Patsy Schmidt and Denise Nickel for their help in producing it.

n heard about training for the new computer software, go.edu. Training was offered in June. The software will be helpful for office management, grade books and reports.

Schmidt said, ?It is really user friendly,? and that the training was good. She thanked the board for the software. Further staff training will occur Aug. 12, elementary school staff in the morning and junior/senior high school in the afternoon.

n heard Fast commend the custodians for their work during the summer.

n approved a pay raise for substitute teachers. ?We really appreciate the work of our substitutes,? Fast said. ?They step in on a moment?s notice…. They do an outstanding job.?

n heard Darla Meysing, the board?s Marion County Special Education Cooperative representative, report the co-op board had approved pay raises for para-educators.

n heard Fast say all schools will need to be assessed for tornado safety by Dec. 31.

n voted to retain Unrau as board president. ?It?s a very good board to work for; I appreciate that very much,? he said.

Board member Mary Rosfeld will continue as vice president, Patsy Schmidt as board clerk, Denise Nickel as alternate clerk, Meysing as MCSEC representative and Dewayne Voth as The Learning Consortium representative. Peggy Jay will continue as district treasurer and John Klenda as school board attorney.

n agreed to raise the mileage reimbursement rate from 40 cents to 45 cents per mile.

n heard about an insurance plan with AFLAC that will begin Oct. 1. Fast said the previous insurance was not satisfactory. AFLAC options should be better for employees.

n approved textbook and class fees for the new school year.

n adopted the 1,116-hour school year.

n heard Fast say the district had met all the state requirements for credits.

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