April 14, 2008
At its regular meeting Monday night, the USD 470 Board of Education approved the sale of a portion of land known as Brock Park. The park, located at 501 S. Sixth, is currently used and maintained by the City of Arkansas City for horseshoe courts and is of no use to the school district.
A local citizen whose business adjoins the property has requested to purchase one lot of the park for $1,000. The board approved that sale and approved to deed the remaining lots on the property to the City.
The school board also discussed the sale of the old district office property at 119 W. Washington. The board authorized the sale of the property at the meeting on April 23, 2007. Though the board intended to take action on the sale at the meeting, the two viable offers that had been submitted were rescinded. The board tabled the issue for consideration at a later date.
Greg Vahrenberg, bond consultant from Piper-Jaffray, was present at the school board meeting Monday to report on matters associated with the sale of bonds.
Vahrenberg discussed the status of the bond market. He said he feels very confident the district will be able to offer the kind of mill levy proposed at election time.
Currently, the district is working with the bond consultants to determine the best time, financially, to sell the bonds. It is still to be decided whether the bonds will be sold in lump form or if there will be multiple sales.
ÒWe want to do what is in the best interest of the taxpayers while still moving quickly to fulfill the needs of our students,Ó Dr. Ron Ballard, superintendent, said. ÒWe are working with the bond consultants to determine the best time to move forward.Ó
Once the school board gives permission to begin the sale, the district may get a bond rating and purchase a bond insurance policy. Both of these things could possibly make the bonds more marketable to potential buyers.
After the legal paperwork and all other preliminary steps are completed the board will consider a bond resolution. This is a final statement sent to potential buyers. Within just a few weeks after this final step, the sale is held, bonds are delivered and the district has the money available to pay for construction costs.
In other news, the board:
á Approved
the agenda.
á Approved
the consent agenda.
á Recognized
the following request for early retirement:
Linda Grant Ð 2nd Grade at Jefferson Elementary
á Recognized
the following resignations:
Laura Hocker Ð 5th Grade at Adams Elementary
Shawn Neises-Buckle Ð Academic Coach at Adams Elementary
Craig Pringle Ð High School Agriculture Education
Laura McDaniel Ð 2nd Grade at Adams Elementary
Marilyn Anderson Ð Vocal Music Accompanist at middle school
á Recognized
the following new staff:
Kasie Bogart Ð Agriculture Education at high school
Tommy J. Brown Ð Science at high school
Leah Law Ð Elementary (building/grade level TBD)
Noble R. Pendland - Elementary (building/grade level TBD)
Abigail Stevens - Elementary (building/grade level TBD)
Renee Sweetwood - Elementary (building/grade level TBD)
Kevin Ledford Ð Transportation Supervisor
Hazel McGuire Ð Cook Assistant at Head Start
Randy Rowe Ð Custodian at middle school
Cierra Sharp Ð Title VII Tutor at Frances Willard and Roosevelt
á Approved
the 2008-2009 membership in the Kansas Association of School Boards and further
authorized the participation in the Legal Assistance Fund.
á Approved
the 2008-2009 fiscal year Head Start Continuation Grant application.
á Approved
the request for both out-of-state travel and funding for airfare for forensic
competition in Appleton, Wisconsin.
á Heard
a budget report from J.K. Campbell, asst. superintendent.
á Heard
a report on the Fall 2008 After School Program from Dr. Jan Voss, assoc.
superintendent.
á Moved
into executive session.
á Called
the regular meeting back to order.
á Extended
the contracts for building-level administration.
á Adjourned.