Staff writer
One of Ronald Traxson’s first observations as USD 398 superintendent at the Board of Education meeting on Monday was that the district’s capital outlay fund continues to decrease.
The board closed the district budget for the 2011-12 school year and there was $261,622 left in capital outlay, the fund used for building maintenance and other upkeep projects. That was about $45,000 less than the previous year, which has been the average drop over the past several years.
It was appropriate in Traxson’s first meeting that two capital outlay related projects were addressed.
The board voted to accept a bid from Wray Roofing for flattop asphalt roofs for Brown Cafeteria and the vocational agriculture building at Peabody-Burns High School. The cost of the project is about $67,000 to be paid from the 2012-13 budget.
The board tabled a proposal from Don Mackey for bleachers for the football stadium primarily for financial reasons. Mackey and Interim Superintendent Demetry Evancho had discussed trading the 1954 Chevrolet pickup truck students at the school were working on for labor on bleachers Mackey would provide.
Traxson said the cost of bleachers would be about $40,500. Even with a trade-in, it would still cost the district about $25,000. Traxson wanted to analyze whether the district would need to bid the rest of the project and if bleachers would be a smart investment.
It is the time of year to start thinking about expenses. Traxson presented a proposed budget to board members featuring projected full time equivalency numbers and enrollment. The estimated FTE for the district is 291.3, Traxson said. The board will review the proposed budget on Aug. 13.
In other business:
- The board went over candidates for a half-time elementary vocal teacher. The position is still open, Traxson said.
- USD 398 received a $250 Family Fun, Food, and Fitness grant from the Kansas Department of Education. Peabody-Burns Elementary School Principal Ken Parry said he planned to use the grant for night activities at the school.
- The board decided USD 398 will continue the policy of not charging book fees for students at enrollment.
- The staff appreciation picnic was set for Aug 14. The board provides the dinner on the first day back at school for teachers.
The next board meeting will be 7 p.m. Aug. 13.