September Board Minutes

EXCERPTS of USD #384 Regular Board of Education Meeting

A Regular Board of Education meeting for USD #384 Blue Valley was held on September 12, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room.  Members present were Bruce Kaump, Angie Pfizenmaier, Marla Webster, A.G. McLean, Mitch Innes, and Michael Renfro.  Administration present were Brady Burton, Superintendent; Marion Mazouch, High School/Middle School Principal; Jim McCormick, Olsburg Elementary Principal; Melody Pfaff, Board Clerk.

President, Bruce Kaump called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

The Agenda was approved with the following addition: Add to 11.D. Hiring – Dana McLean as Middle School pep club sponsor.

Board and guests recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

President, Bruce Kaump welcomed our guests.

During open forum Jim McCormick introduced Jamie Duitsman as the new 4th grade teacher at Olsburg Elementary School.  She and her husband live in Waterville, Kansas.  She is Blue Valley High School graduate and a Kansas State University Graduate.  She is very excited to be a part of the Blue Valley team and is looking forward to an exciting year.  Marion Mazouch introduced Joe Zimmer as the new high school math teacher.  He is a graduate of Wichita State University and did his student teaching in the Wichita school district.  He and his family live by Randolph.  Joe complimented all the staff saying that they have been awesome so far in helping him settle in.  The kids are great and he is looking forward to a great year.  The Board welcomed them to the District.

POSITIVE BOARD COMMENTS:

1.     Mitch Innes commended the high school football team for a very good start to the season.

2.     Bruce Kaump mentioned that the facilities looked really good during the Board tour of the buildings.  Marla Webster also thanked the administration for spending so much time explaining things to the Board.  All thought that this was one of the best Board tours they have been on.

3.     Some of the Blue Valley students worked at the Anthony Bates heart screening in Manhattan.  It was an exciting and learning experience for all.

4.     The Board congratulated Jason Drouillard for being recognized as student athlete of the week.

5.     The Board also congratulated Tyler Vathauer, Blue Valley alumni, for being recognized as a State Star Farmer finalist, State Proficiency Winner in Beef Production Entrepreneurship, and in late summer was announced as a National Finalist for the Beef Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award.

6.      

During Recognition of Students/Staff Diana Hargrave, Reading Recovery teacher at Olsburg Elementary, was in attendance to talk about the success of the Reading Recovery program.  She gave the Board information on what Reading Recovery entails and how students are performing.  The growth that the students have is tremendous.  Reading Recovery is part of the Title I program.  She thanked the Board for their support of the program.  The Board thanked Diana for attending the meeting and giving them an update.

Marion Mazouch also gave the Board an update on how the online foreign language classes are progressing at Blue Valley High School.  Insight Schools has had many changes in staff and that has been an adjustment for everyone. Spanish II students have a new instructor and the students are having trouble logging in and getting the assignments completed.  Matt Schreiber has done some research and feels that the district needs to enroll with Greenbush online Spanish II classes.  The cost would be $85 more per student and there are eight students enrolled.  The District is planning to move Spanish II students to Greenbush on Tuesday, September 13.  The Board agreed that it was best to make the change.

Principal Reports were noted with the following additions: Jim McCormick mentioned that Olsburg Elementary could use volunteers to help unload Body Venture on October 5 after school at 3:30 p.m.  Body Venture is going to be held on October 6 at Olsburg Elementary.  Marion Mazouch informed the Board that Julie Ohlde was hired by TLEC as a half-time special education teacher at the middle school. 

During his Superintendent’s Report Brady Burton updated the Board on the 360 Energy Solutions project.  This project is set to be finished up early next week.  Once it is completed administration will get together and go through the programming of the system with the 360 Energy Solutions representative. The teacher evaluation committee has set up a meeting to revamp the teacher evaluation tool.  Brady Burton passed out the current evaluation tool being used and the preliminary evaluation tool that is going to a performance based evaluation.  This committee will take the preliminary evaluation tool and make changes and adjustments as needed.  This committee is made up of teachers, administration and Board members.  This is an ongoing process for the year in hopes to have a final document in the spring to approve.  Enrollment count day is September 20.  Preliminary enrollment number is down four students from last year.  Weststar Energy sent a letter to inform customers that they are looking at a 5% to 6% rate increase.  This will take effect after the first of the year.  At the Greenbush Superintendent’s Meeting, KSDE informed them that the governor education plan for next year is supposed to be released in late October.  He is going to propose a new finance formula.  At this time they are not foreseeing any cuts in education for the 2012-2013 school year.

Consent Agenda was approved as follows:

A.    Approved Minutes of August 8, 2011 Regular Board Meeting making a note to change the incorrect date at the top of the minutes; August 8, 2011 Special Board Meeting; August 29, 2011 Special Board Meeting.

B.    Approved Activity/Revenue/Expenditure Reports.

C.    Approved Out of District Request – Aaron Davis.

D.    Approved Hirings – Cindy Pfaff and Deb Sumerour as senior sponsors.  They are going to split one half of the salary; Dana McLean as middle school pep club sponsor for $1.00.

The Board discussed the District Website and Brand.  Kent Unruh was in attendance to participate in this discussion.  Michael Renfro handed out some options for the Ram head for a new look to the homepage.  The Board feels that the content of the website is good and that an update to our logo and some new graphics will really add to the homepage.  Michael Renfro is going to come up with three choices to have high school students and 7^th and 8^th grade students to look at and choose from.  Once that has been done Michael Renfro along with Kent Unruh will begin revamping the homepage.  No action was taken.

After discussion warrants/transfers were approved as presented.

In Town Bussing was placed on the Agenda due to community concern about providing bussing to in town students.  In order to provide transportation to students in town the District would also have to provide transportation to any student less than 2.5 miles from school.  This would mean adding a bus route and possibly two.  Due to the cost of having to provide transportation to all students less than 2.5 miles the Board decided to keep the current policy in place. 

The following members were selected to serve on the 2012-2013 Negotiation Team:  Bruce Kaump, A.G. McLean, Marla Webster, Brady Burton and Mitch Innes as alternate

Brady Burton was selected to serve on the Roepke Fund Committee.

Sheryl Richter was hired as a part-time preschool paraprofessional.  She will work four hours a day four days a week.

The Board discussed two more KASB policies that were recommended by KASB to review as a refresher to Board members.  These policies involved hiring and firing policies and how to eliminate surprises in the Board/Superintendent relationship.  This item was a discussion item only.  No action was taken.

Future Agenda Items:

A.    Roepke Fund Project

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Melody Pfaff

Board Clerk