Unified School District 410 teachers and administrators will have access to online instruction and resources to earn points for renewing their state licenses and moving up the salary scale.
Brandi Hendrix, director of Technology Excellence in Education Network, introduced ?Present PD 350,? an online tool for professional development, to USD?410 board members at their regular meeting Monday evening.
The district plans to implement Present PD 350 for the 2010-11 school year.
The online training features topics, instruction and resources that are revelant for teachers and administrators, Hendrix said.
Teachers will be able to choose the sessions in which to participate, including access to video presentations by nationally known educators, she added.
Allocations for professional development funds were part of the budget reductions approved last month.
Superintendent Steve Noble said the online program, which will cost the district $90 per teacher, is considerably less expensive than district personnel attending face-to-face off-site workshops, which include paying for registration, transportation and substitute teachers.
Principal Evan Yoder presented the application for Hillsboro Elementary School to become a Title 1 school-wide program.
Yoder said he and his team have worked on the extensive application that?if approved by the Kansas Board of Education?will upgrade the entire educational program, making every teacher a Title I teacher.
?The biggest reason is the flexibility it allows us to have to work with kids,? Yoder said.
A school-wide Title I program serves all children in the building and permits a range of options in spending Title I funds.
?It doesn?t change the amount of money granted,? Yoder said, ?but better enables us to meet the needs of individual students.?
Three primary goals proposed involve improving reading and math scores and increasing parent involvement.
Once submitted, the state will critique the application.
?We may have to make some changes,? Yoder said.
If accepted, the program will implemented in the 2010-11 school year.
The board approved 7-0 submitting the application.
Principal Greg Brown explained several handbook changes for Hillsboro Middle School, including student eligibility for athletics and extra activities, and computer use.
Brown said he plans to publish both paper and online editions of the handbook this year.
Hillsboro High School principal Max Heinrichs also reviewed changes in his building?s student handbook, including cell phone use and academic detention. He said he is still working on a policy concerning bullying.
The board will take action on handbook changes at its June meeting.
Kathy Klein, representing HMS site council, presented several by-law changes for the council?s constitution, including appointment of members, duties of officers and frequency of meetings.
Klein said it?s been 16 years since anything has been done with the constitution and bylaws.
The board also will take action next month on the changes.
In other business the board:
? approved purchase of 140 Lenovo X100e computers with a three-year hardware warranty at a cost of $70,478 from Two Trees Technology.
Noble said the district plans to charge students replacement costs per incident when the result of neglect.
? met in executive session prior to approving disposal of music equipment that Gregg Walker requested to purchase for $2,070.
Lynn Just indicated she would not be using the equipment.
? approved selling the mezzanine at the Midway facility.
Midway Motors has agreed to purchase the mezzanine as well as remove it from the property. The selling price has not yet been determined.
? heard from Noble that the Kansas Senate has concurred with the House to keep school funding at $4,012 per student.
?It?s good news that there are not deep cuts to education,? Noble said, although Hillsboro will still have reductions in funding because of enrollment.
? discussed steps for determining a design for renovating the current Midway building for the district?s central office.
Noble plans to bring some preliminary work to the next meeting.
? scheduled Aug. 18 for the session to determine vision and mission for the district. A consultant will lead the meeting.
Noble said he?d like to move in this area in the fall and lay out that plan and how to get there.
? heard board representative Deb Geis report that Marion County Special Education Cooperative has interviewed two candidates for a one-year contract as director, following Chris Cezar?s resignation.
? discussed concerns about lights usage at the USD 410/Tabor College stadium at night.
? meet in executive sessions for personnel and negotiations. No action was taken in public session.
