Hillsboro school board approves choir trip
Hillsboro High School vocal music instructor Lynn Just came before USD 410 board of education Nov. 14 with a proposal for a choir trip.
The board approved a trip for 63 students to travel to Kansas City April 29-May 1. The trip would include a dinner theatre show and a Sunday of fellowship and choir interaction at St. Monica's Catholic Church with their gospel choir.
This trip would cost substantially less than the earlier proposed Dallas trip, Just said. She estimated a cost of $7,841.25.
The school board received thanks from Golden Heritage Foods for their participation in hurricane relief efforts.
Gifts accepted by the board included a donation of materials and labor for a decorative concrete overlay on the sidewalk leading to the main entrance at the high school from Jantz Construction and a donation from Marion County Substance Abuse Board for drug and alcohol education in the district.
Hillsboro Middle School principal Corey Burton said the middle school's book fair was a success. The event raised enough to purchase $1,000 in materials for the library.
Students also raised approximately $10,000 at the site-based fund-raiser. They plan to donate 10 percent of the funds to hurricane relief.
Activities director Max Heinrichs said fall sports had wrapped up their seasons.
"I'm pleased with our fall activities," he said. "It's been a great year. We've had good leadership from the senior class."
Heinrichs said there were 32 boys signed up for wrestling and 29 signed up for high school basketball.
To accommodate wrestlers, a door has been cut from the wrestling room into one of the racquetball courts. The court is usable by closing the door. Heinrichs also said the team will borrow mats from Goessel for the extra wrestlers.
Donna Fadenrecht of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd presented the board with this year's audit and reviewed documents with the board. The audit was approved.
The board also approved the renewal of a three-year agreement with the accounting firm.
An agreement between the City of Hillsboro and the school district for the shared use and maintenance of the sports complex tennis courts was approved.
According to the agreement, both parties will evenly divide the cost of resurfacing the courts when it becomes necessary.
The district will pay its share over a seven-year period with an annual payment of $2,250.
An agreement between the city and the school district for improvements to Memorial Baseball Field also was approved.
The district will pay half the cost of improvements to the field, totaling $50,000.
The district will pay $5,000 per year for five years, at a total cost of $25,000.
Improvements will include outfield fencing, a warning track, field renovations, crow's nest, enclosure of the dugouts, and infield sod.
The board approved the purchase of a 2006 van from Hillsboro Ford at a cost not to exceed $20,000.
Pay rate changes were approved for special education substitute paraprofessionals from $6.90 to $7 per hour and a rate of $10 per hour for people providing academic support to students needing assistance in learning English.
Supplemental contracts were approved.
Superintendent Gordon Mohn said the district had met with Tabor College president Larry Nikkel, Kirby Fadenrecht, vice president for business and finance at Tabor College, Mayor Delores Dalke, and city manager Steve Garrett to discuss Tabor facilities.
Mohn said the district was considering a half-day per month technology staff development day. More details will be provided next month.
Mohn recommended the board review its policy regarding building usage by community-based charitable organizations. The policy allows a group to use district facilities indefinitely with a $20 monthly charge for air conditioning if it is used. The policy does not require compensation for heating costs.
Mohn suggested reviewing the policy in light of expected higher heating costs this winter.
Board clerk Jerry Hinerman said patrons now are able to check fees and charges to their accounts online.
Hinerman also reported the district's total insurance package had decreased by $2,000 this year.
The board will meet at 5 p.m. Dec. 12 for a planning session. The regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. at HHS technology center.
