Contract extensions offered to school administrators
Group will consider alternative school
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Peabody-Burns school district board of education approved contracts for the remaining administrators at the Feb. 12 meeting.
After spending 50 minutes in three executive sessions the board approved in open meeting one-year extensions to the contracts of Ken Parry, principal of Peabody-Burns Elementary School, Mary Brown, principal of Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School, and Ray Savage, assistant principal of Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School. Salary determinations for all three positions will be made at a later date.
Immediately following approval of the contract extensions, the board discussed the development of an "at risk/alternative school" for the coming year. The administrative team was instructed to create a specific plan to implement such a program which would be under the direction of PBHS building administrator Brown.
In other business the board of education:
— approved the purchase of the Don Schmidt property across the street from Peabody-Burns High School.
— voted to accept $400,000 in Qualified Zone Academy bonds which provide interest free funds to pay for programs such as repair and renovation of buildings, training quality teachers, developing challenging curriculum, and investing in equipment and up-to-date technology.
— discussed and changed some benefits and requirements in the superintendent's contract in accordance with Kansas School Board Association recommendations.
— approved the appointment of track coaches as presented: Darren Schroeder, head junior high coach; Mario Nava, assistant junior high coach; Melissa Cutburth, assistant junior high coach; Shawna McCartney, head high school coach; and Kim Topham, assistant high school coach.
— terminated the agreement with the Marion-Florence school district for a combined softball team.
— officially designated the week of Feb. 17-24 as FFA Week and approved overnight trips for FFA students to Leader Lab in Junction City and state convention in Manhattan.
— approved the teaching contract and supplemental contract for Virginia Skinner for elementary school band and vocal instructor for the rest of 2006-07 school year.
— approved emergency substitute certificates for Julie Brosemer and Jennifer Hurst.
— accepted the resignations of Robi Alstrom at the end of the 2006-07 school year and custodian Jack Brunzell as of June 30.
— approved the release and sale of a school bus.
— approved a support motion for "birth to three funding" as fiscal responsibility changes from Northview Opportunity Center in Newton to Harvey County Special Education Cooperative for that part of the district in Harvey County.
— heard during public forum from Roger Charles regarding consistency, communication, and accountability issues in the district.
— heard from kindergarten teachers Venita Loewen and Mary Thiessen about learning techniques and observations concerning all-day kindergarten.
— saw a PowerPoint presentation by FCCLA students Samantha Pickens, Shelby Wilson, and Erica Fredericks about their attendance in November at a cluster meeting in St. Louis.
— heard a 2006 report on the state of the special education cooperative from Doe Ann Hague.
