Feb. 11, 2003

Last night's board meeting took place at the high school. All board members were present.

Good News Recognition

Kristen Martinez presented the recipients of the board/teacher panel January Superior Service Award to the board. President Daren Reese presented a certificate and district logo watch to each recipient.

Kathy Marshall, fifth grade teacher at IXL Elementary, received the certified staff member award. The classified staff member award went to Wanda Pingry, bus driver, and J.C. Louderback earned the community volunteer award.

Board President Daren Reese; Wanda Pingry, bus driver; Kathy Marshall, fifth grade teacher at IXL Elementary; J.C. Louderback, community member; and Superintendent Perry L. Perkins. Photo by Kristen Martinez/Public Relations

In other good news, Jan Voss, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, informed the board and audience that the Arkansas City students who participated in the math contest over the weekend performed well. She said every USD 470 school was recognized at the contest.

"I hope to see more events like this that acknowledge academics," Reese said, "because that's what's important."

Action Items

I. Superintendent's Contract Extension. The board voted 7-0 to extend Superintendent Perry L. Perkins' contract through June 30, 2005.

II. Schools for Fair Funding Allocation. The board voted 7-0 to authorize the allocation of $5,834 ($2 per pupil) for USD 470 membership in Schools for Fair Funding. SFFF, (an 11-school district group) which represents category four enrollment districts, has presented two legal cases regarding the per pupil funding rates for category four schools.

With the Supreme Court recently ruling in favor of SFFF, the districts may soon be required to argue the case in District Court, as remanded. To do so, SFFF must have some additional revenues for the associated costs. This is not an unexpected cost; SFFF simply did not forsee the arguments due during this current school year, according to Ron Ballard, assistant superintendent/business manager.

A decision or settlement in favor of category four schools (as took place in 1993 and based upon the Augenblick and Meyers study) would bring more than $7 million in new funding to USD 470.

With the full funding of February local option budget monies now received from the state, USD 470 has sufficient funds to make this allocation. The $5,834 for SFFF will come from Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements.

Discussion/Report Items.

I. 2003-2004 Calendar. An administrative committee has provided input regarding a proposed 2003-2004 school calendar. The central office administrative council has reviewed these inputs and concepts and was seeking board input on current design approaches that:

1. Maintains the current 187 duty days for teachers, as required by master contract. This includes a full workday at the end of the first and the second semester.
2. Increases student contact days, with actual student contact days not exceeding 173 this year; the goal is to increase this number for instructional benefit.
3. Increases inservice days. The calendar may only allow a slight increase, but through planning and follow-up, this would have a strong benefit for our professional staff.
4. Decreases or eliminates half-days of school. One full day of school far exceeds the benefits of two half-days.
5. Consider starting school a day or two later, which would allow for inservice/work time at the beginning of the school year.
6. Consider lengthening Thanksgiving break from two days to three. The Wednesday preceding would be a non-school/non-duty day.
7. Targets inclement weather make-up days for the end of the student attendance days, rather than using an inservice, work or other non-school days.

Ballard said these concepts are from the directive of the superintendent, central office personnel and others, and they are aligned to the board's overall goals. Sue Saia said she really likes No. 7 on the list, and Reese said he feels strongly about No. 4. He said his kids talk about half-days being for parties and play and that they are not an actual learning class day.

The board members also said they really like the concept of extending Thanksgiving break.

II. Manufactured Gas Plant Investigation/Remediation Protocol. At one time, a number of Kansas communities had manufactured gas plants that, through the high-temperature burning of coal, manufactured gas for both city and domestic use. In the late 1890s/early 1900s, Arkansas City had such a plant located on what is now the USD 470 District Maintenance Facility.

Upon passage of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), a general guideline now exists for Westar (the parent company) to identify, assess and remediate any conditions that may still exist, including pollutants and/or damages to soil, environment, property, etc.

Westar, following notification to the school district, has informed us that it wishes to test this facility in compliance with the NCP guidelines mentioned above. Westar will work in conjunction with a consulting firm, Black and Veatch, that specializes in such site remediation projects. Additionally, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment would oversee and review the process.

It is anticipated that Westar will begin some on-site site investigations later this month or in March. This will include some basic site testing and sampling.

Ballard said that most likely nothing would be found through the sampling. "We think the area we currently use for vehicles could continue to be used. Worst-case scenario, we would relocate temporarily."

Executive Session

The board went into executive session for one hour, 40 minutes to discuss negotiations, non-elected personnel and to consult with the board's attorney.

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