June 9, 2008

 

 

School board closes in on the sale of bonds

 

At its regular meeting Monday night, the USD 470 Board of Education heard a report from Greg Vahrenberg of Piper Jaffray regarding the bond market status.

 

ÒWe have been keeping a close eye on the bond market situation during the past weeks and it is looking favorable,Ó Vahrenberg said. ÒWe are prepared to move forward with the sale of bonds when [the board] is ready.Ó

 

The board set a special meeting date of Wednesday, June 11 at 5:30p.m. at the district office. As long as there are no major changes in the bond market, the board will likely approve a resolution to begin the bond sale.

 

The next step, then, is to notify possible investors and allow an order period.

 

ÒNational and local investors, including banks, will be notified of the sale,Ó Dr. Ron Ballard, superintendent, said.

 

Piper Jaffray recently submitted a rating request to Standard & PoorÕs and received an ÔAÕ rating in return. Vahrenberg said such a high rating from S&P helps get favorable interest rates.

 

ÒWe are very pleased with the rating and I expect we will have plenty of interest in the bonds,Ó he said.

 

He said the rating firm looked at a number of areas when preparing a rating. Those include the districtÕs high fiscal accountability, demographics, state aid percentage and management of the district, among others. Vahrenberg added there did not seem to be any areas of concern.

 

Along with the expected favorable interest rates, the district just found out the expected and publicized 50 percent state aid has actually increased to 52 percent.

 

ÒThis is great news for local taxpayers,Ó Ballard said. ÒThat equates to approximately

$1.2 million in savings over the life of the bonds.

 

 

 

 

Schools to waive textbook fees for upcoming school year

 

The school board will waive all basic textbook fees for the 2008-2009 school year. The recommendation comes after the district successfully waived the fees last year.

 

 In 2006-2007, the district collected $47,606.80 in textbook fees. Approximately 48 percent of the students qualified for free textbook fees.  If charged, parents would be paying $15 for kindergarten students, $30 for grades 1through 5, $35 for grades 6 through 8, and $45 for grades 9 through 12, just for books alone.

 

ÒGetting children back to school each year can be a very costly time for parents,Ó J.K. Campbell, assist. superintendent, said. ÒWaiving textbook fees is just one way the district can support families with the extra financial burden placed upon them at the start of school.Ó

 

While the basic textbook fees have been waived, there are still some additional fees for certain classes. They are as follows:

            Grade 3:

                        Recorder and book to be used through fifth grade - $6.50

            Grade 6:

                        Art - $2.00

                        Foods - $2.00

                        Technology - $2.00

                        Towels for PE - $2.00

            Grades 7, 8:

                        Art - $5.00

                        Foods - $5.00

                        Towels for PE - $2.00

            Grades 9-12:

                        Towels for PE - $3.00/semester

                        Fine Arts Classes - $10.00/semester

                        Industrial/Technology Classes: $10.00/semester

                        Agriculture Education Classes: $15.00/semester

                        Family and Consumer Science Classes: $10.00/semester

                        Freshman Class Fee - $1.00

                        Sophomore Class Fee - $2.00

                        Junior Class Fee - $4.00

                        Other fees such as yearbooks and activity passes are separate.

For more information, please call your childÕs school or the district office at 441-2000.

 

In other news, the board:

á      Called the meeting to order.

á      Recognized visitors.

á      Approved the agenda and consent agenda.

á      Accepted a Vision and Learning Grant for $15,000. The grant comes from the Kansas Optometric Association and reimburses eye exams, transportation and other vision-related services to students.

á      Recognized the following retirement:

Gary White Ð At-Risk Aide at Roosevelt

á      Recognized the following new staff:

Roxi Bratcher Ð High School Science

Kylee Brenn Ð Head Start Certified Teacher

Judy Nation Ð High School Family and Consumer Science

Gregory Wilkinson Ð Middle School Math

Richard Bell Ð Middle School Assistant Principal

á      Approved the purchase of property located at 2020 N. 15th, just north of the high school junior varsity baseball field. In addition to squaring-up the districtÕs property, it will provide easier access to that area and will likely free up space for extra parking, storage areas and additional practice space.

á      Discussed library automation software options.

á      Discussed student meal prices for the 2008-2009 school year. Meal prices have remained the same for the past three years.

á      Discussed recommendations to the KASB Legislative Committee. The committee will meet on June 17 to consider recommendations that will formulate the KASB legislative position for 2008-2009.

á      Moved into executive session.

á      Called the regular meeting back to order.

á      Adjourned.