School board reviews migration information
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
In response to concerns of several board of education members, Superintendent Rex Watson presented a report Nov. 12 on how many students from USD 398 are attending school elsewhere.
Oct. 10 was the date for school districts to report the official number of students attending from other districts. Peabody-Burns is providing educational services for five students who live outside the district — two each from Marion and Remington and one from Newton.
The following day, Watson contacted the districts whose boundaries are adjacent to Peabody-Burns and found that 41 students from this district are getting an education elsewhere.
"The largest group is attending school in Newton," said Watson in a telephone interview about the issue. "Our district extends into four counties and for some of the families it is simply closer — or, if mom or dad is going to work in a town in another district — it's just easier to get everyone headed in the same direction.
"Our district includes Marion, Harvey, Chase, and Butler counties. Many of the families live along the boundary area. It makes sense that they would look at other options," Watson said.
He said, however, that the board would be looking at possibly offering some programs that would attract students to this district.
"We send our students to Newton to take part in their vocational education program," he said. "And it's expensive. If we were able to develop a program that wasn't available elsewhere we might attract additional kids."
Watson said more and more students will need technology and vocational training. He is interested in steering more students in that direction rather than toward a college track.
"Nationally 82 percent of graduating seniors don't go on to college," he said. "But they need to have some training to get into the working world. If we can give them a good vocational background, then they can get a job and perhaps get their employer to pay for additional training. But they need the basics."
Watson also said that the majority of the 18 percent who do go on to college are not likely to come back to a small town like Peabody when they have a degree.
The board took no action.
The district is required to have a "basic" anti-bullying policy in place by Jan. 1.
Watson and elementary school principal Ken Parry will attend an ESSDACK workshop on the subject. In the meantime a basic policy was presented for review. The board will consider it for approval in December.
Early in the meeting board members entered four executive sessions for the purpose of discussing personnel. Watson was included in one of the sessions. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
An hour later the board entered executive session to receive a certified staff report from building administrators. After 20 minutes, the board returned to open session, then re-entered executive session four more times for 20 minutes a session.
The superintendent and building administrators remained in the sessions. Board president Doe Ann Hague left the meeting during the third session and returned during the fourth.
No action was taken on return to open meeting.
In other business, the board:
— accepted resignations from assistant high school baseball coach Jonathan Richstatter and junior high assistant track coach Melissa Cutburth, effective immediately, and from bus driver Sheila Carroll, effective Nov. 23.
— approved emergency substitute certificates for Hannah Berns, Sharon Busenitz, and Dale Beverly for the 2007-08 school year. Delbert Mellott was hired as a bus driver for the balance of the year.
— toured the high school facility.
— discussed the potential for a high school bowling team based on student polling results. Curtis and Christie McBride, owners of Peabody Lanes were present. Watson recommended tabling the issue to allow interest in a program to grow.
— heard from Watson about facility options for Marion County Special Education Cooperative. Co-op director Chris Cezar and consultant Kent Stewart were scheduled to meet Nov. 19 in Peabody with Watson and review local facilities.
— heard from Jessica Kirk, CPA for the school's audit firm, Agler and Gaeddert that the audit for 2006-07 was "an overall clean audit with no budget violations of material weaknesses." They unanimously accepted the audit.
— discussed city zoning and ordinance issues for a building project at the FFA farm at the corner of Ninth and Prairie Lawn streets. Options to locate the FFA farm outside the city limits will be reviewed at a future meeting.
— agreed to accept a $500 gift from EMC insurance and KAKE-TV 10 Reading Caravan to Peabody-Burns Elementary School library.
— reviewed a progress report prepared by Peabody Success Center instructor, Elizabeth Gottsch.
— heard from Ray Savage that a proposal will come before the board to hire a third high school boys' basketball coach. Savage also reviewed participation numbers for winter athletic activities.
— scheduled a retreat for 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Burns Community Center.
