Administrators' contracts renewed
At the Feb. 10 meeting of USD 398 board of education, Superintendent Tom Alstrom was offered a contract extension for another year (through the 2004-05 school year) with salary to be determined later. The motion to retain Alstrom was made by Peggy Phillips and seconded by Gary Jones. The 5-0 vote reflected the absence of member Lou Anderson and the seat vacated by Carolyn Koehn last year.
The board entered into three executive sessions shortly after approving Alstrom's contract. Following the third executive session, it approved offering 2003-04 contracts to Mary Brown as junior/senior high school principal, Ray Savage as assistant junior/senior high school principal, and Ken Perry as elementary school principal. Salaries for all three will be determined later. All three administrators were approved on a 5-0 vote.
Another executive session to discuss personnel followed the vote on administrators, but no action was taken when the board returned to open meeting.
The resignation of long time elementary school secretary Pat Neufield was accepted with regret. Neufield will retire May 31, 2003.
Ray Savage presented information on new pole vault regulations and the board heard the administration's recommendation to not offer pole vaulting as a sport. The board approved selling the equipment currently owned by the school.
Alstrom presented photos of the concession stand at the park and noted areas of concern to the board members. He plans to meet with the city council later this month and will return to the board with recommendations after that meeting.
Katie Pankratz was present to review the proposed reading strategies class, meant to improve the reading ability of students who fall below their grade level in reading. The requirements of the class were approved 5-0.
Alstrom and Peabody Police Chief Jeff Pohlman reviewed the "Missing and Exploited Children" conference they recently attended in Washington, D.C.
They have developed a time-line for developing a plan to develop a better relationship with USD 398 students.
In other business, the board
— heard a review of budget projections for the 2003-04 school year from Superintendent Alstrom.
— approved a low bid of $23,856.12 from Business Computer Center of Newton for a new non-integrated computer system for Peabody Elementary School. Twenty-seven computers will be purchased.
— approved overnight trips for the Business Professionals of America club to the state conference in Wichita and the PBHS band to Branson.
— heard that ESSDACK will present a "No Child Left Behind" conference for board members March 31.
— accepted a bid for $552 from Harold Winter for the 1993 Ford Aerostar Van.
The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 3 in the Burns lunchroom.
