Staff writer
The Peabody-Burns Board of Education discussed several items that could save the district money next year.
Board members, Superintendent Ron Traxson, and athletic director Ray Savage discussed possible cuts to sports programs next year due to lack of funding and low participation.
Cross-country was one of the possible cuts discussed with little participation and less predicted in the next school year, and no coach due to the resignation of Brian Lightner.
“It’s my recommendation to no longer do the program for the 2014 year, and possibly reevaluate it in 2015 if more kids are interested,” Savage said.
Starting a co-op program between Marion/Florence and Peabody-Burns was discussed as a possibility for students who still wanted to compete in cross-country.
“There are some positions we don’t need and need to reevaluate, but there are some teachers that are going above and beyond outside of the classroom and I think we should reward those individuals,” Traxson said.
He said there were some new supplemental positions he’d like to see the board approve including an agronomy club.
The board and Traxson discussed what supplemental positions to fill, cut, or add in 30 minutes of executive session. Formal action on the list was planned for the June meeting.
A capital outlay resolution was passed to allow outlay funds to be used for items like tires, uniforms, and school vehicles, among other things that weren’t previously allowed as capital outlay purchases.
“This should help us stretch the budget a little more,” Traxson said.
After 12 minutes in executive session, the board approved Gretchen Berns to fill the vocational agriculture position.
In other business:
- The board approved the award selection committee’s recommendations, to be publically released at a later date.
- Summer weight contracts were approved, but who would fill them is still undetermined.
- The resignations of high school principal Tim Robertson, math teacher Brian Lightner, social studies teacher Darren Schroeder, and substitute bus driver Kay Raskopf were accepted.
- Nick Preheim and Anna Lubbers gave a presentation on their trip to Indianapolis for the national Business Professionals Association competition.
- Brian Simmons and Darren Schroeder were approved as drivers-ed teachers.
- Elementary principal Ken Parry discussed the results of a survey that the site council developed to evaluate public and student perception of the school and its services.
- The board met in executive session to discuss personnel pertaining to administrative contracts for 35 minutes with Parry and Savage. No action was taken upon returning to open session.
- Prices for breakfast were raised to $1.35, elementary lunch to $2.05, and extra milk to 40 cents were raised to bring the school in line with recommended federal funding. Each was raised 5 cents.