August 26, 2003

Last night the USD 470 board of education received a school report from Arkansas City High School Principal Mike Adams and three instructors. Adams, Carol Black, Kathy Swain and Rob Blevins presented the board with information about Nova Net, a computer-based learning system that provides online coursework and tutorial help in a wide range of subject areas. The program provides help for students seeking to recover credits and for those seeking tutorial help.

The high school ran a very successful Nova Net pilot in July. Adams said the instructors played a key role in implementing the pilot.

The goal of the Nova Net program is to help students achieve in core subject areas. Students will be removed from the program once they have been brought up to grade level in the core subject area and placed back in the appropriate core subject. Students will not be placed or enrolled in the program without administrative approval.

Currently nine students are enrolled during the day. Adams said that number is going to grow, especially in core subject areas. The program offers advanced placement, college-level courses, as well as core classes and electives.

Black said the students receive instant feedback when using Nova Net. "It's instant gratification, instant right or wrong," she said. "They work harder than I've ever seen. I've been absolutely tickled pink with this [program]. All the curriculum has proven to be extensive."

Blevins and Swain also said they have been very pleased with the program.

Board President Daren Reese asked Adams how he thinks the program will help with adequate yearly progress, which is required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

"I hope it pushes us over the top, especially in math and reading," Adams said. "We have a lot of kids who read at a really low level. [Nova Net] is a tool to help them. Do I think it will help AYP? Yes."

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jan Voss said that the program allows teachers to identify students before they get too far behind. "The idea is not letting kids fail before we intervene," she said. "We're offering just-in-time interventions."

Superintendent Dr. Perry L. Perkins said the administration would not attempt to bring in any program without it aligning to the curriculum and impacting student achievement, and Nova Net meets these conditions. He said the program also will help improve the graduation and drop-out rates.

Dr. Ballard presented early enrollment figures for the board. Early enrollment figures are better than expected, he said. Initial projections were for a drop of 50 students, but it appears that, as of Aug. 25, enrollment is only down about 15 students from the official, audited Sept. 20, 2002 headcount. Other school districts in close proximity have lost three times as many students, he said.

The board also heard a first reading of 27 board policies. Most of the updates are minor changes from the policies KASB had on file. However, for USD 470, some of these policies are new to the district, or at least to the board policy book. The administrative council has reviewed the updates from KASB and made recommendations. Bert Wilson, school district attorney, also has reviewed the recommended policies. The list follows:

• A - District authority
• BBBF - Reimbursement for expenses
• CEE - Compensation and benefits
• CG - Administrative personnel
• DC - Annual operating budget
• DJED - Bids and quotation requirements
• EBC - Security and safety
• ECA - HIPAA
• ECH - Printing and duplicating services
• EDAA - School vehicles
• GAAC - Sexual harassment (employees)
• GAACA - Racial harassment (employees)
• GAF - Staff-student relations
• GAN - Travel expenses
• GBI - Evaluation
• GBRC - Professional development
• ICA - Pilot projects
• IDAD - Title I projects
• IDAE - Student privacy policy
• IDFA - Athletes
• JBCA - Homeless students
• JGEC - Sexual harassment (students)
• JGECA - Racial harassment (students)
• JGH - School food service
• JRB - Release of student records
• KB - Public information programs
• KGD - Crowd control

In other business, the board:

• Accepted the resignation of Christi Lungren, Title I tutor at Adam Elementary.
• Approved the hiring of Rebecca Burr, half-time Title I aide at Adams; Geydy Cruz, ESL aide at Lincoln Early Childhood Center and Jefferson Elementary; Darcie Darby, family service worker at Head Start; Jeanette Firebaugh, cook at Head Start in Winfield; Connie Mertz, noon aide/bookkeeper at Adams; Lori Moulton, Title I aide at Roosevelt Elementary; and Stephanie VanGilder, Title I aide at Adams.
• Accepted a Reading First grant for Adams and Jefferson Elementary Schools in the amount of $386,221 for the first year of funding of a three-year grant. Second- and third-year funding will be verified at a later date.
• Accepted a gift of $150 from the Optimist Club of Arkansas City for the IXL reading achievement program.
• Approved the specifications for and authorized the bidding of five bus vehicles with lease purchase proposals to follow. Bid results are to be brought back before the board no later than Nov. 10. The vehicles will replace five current vehicles ranging in age from 11-15 years with an average of 118,965 miles. The transportation staff and business office have jointly reviewed the specifications/plans. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ron Ballard said the new vehicles are necessary to ensure student safety and well being. Also, older vehicles are much more expensive to maintain and the state does not reimburse transportation costs on a vehicle after eight years.
• Approved the payment of professional dues for administrators.
• Selected the Kansas Association of School Board's Comprehensive Long-Range Planning Model as the district's strategic planning process. The funding source is Title II and meets board of education goal II.
• Accepted the job description for department chairs as presented.

A special board of education meeting for the purpose of goal-setting will be Saturday, Sept. 6, from 8 a.m. to noon, in Room 253 at Arkansas City High School. The next regular Board meeting will be Monday, Sept. 8, at ACHS at 7 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.

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