School board tackles far-reaching changes
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Peabody-Burns board of education members met April 9 to address a full agenda.
Major changes for the coming school year were discussed and some changes were approved while others were relegated to the back burner, and some failed to become policy.
A proposal to establish an alternative school and at risk program for students needing a different approach to learning has been on the agenda for several months.
The district recently purchased the home at 803 N. Sycamore with the intention of using it to conduct classes. Plans for minimal design changes have been approved by the state and the district has been given permission to conduct the alternative leaning program there for at least a year.
Review of alternative options and costs (purchase of a modular classroom, remodeling the former weight room, or erecting a metal building) was presented and the board expressed its intention to pursue the remodeling of 803 N. Sycamore based on final inspection by the state fire marshal.
For several meetings the board has centered its discussion on curriculum, students served, personnel, expectations, limits, facilities, and program benefits.
Board members recently met with a representative of Smoky Hill Education Service Center to review information about alternative school projects.
USD 398 will enter into an agreement with Smoky Hill Services for software and program options.
Another change facing students and parents lies with the district's policy regarding charging lunches. The practice has become a problem and Superintendent Tom Alstrom reviewed outstanding account balances and meal charging policies of other schools.
After discussion board members approved by a vote of 6-1 to allow students to charge meals up to a balance of $20, beginning with the 2007-08 school year. Duke Eldridge voted against the motion.
Additional discussion ensued and Eldridge moved to prohibit families from charging additional meals if they owe more than $100, but to provide the student with an alternative meal. (The alternative meal was described as a peanut butter sandwich and milk.) The motion carried unanimously. This policy change will take place May 1.
Another proposal with far-reaching effects was discussed as the board reviewed changing the Peabody-Burns High School eight-period "block schedule" back to a seven-period school day. Some felt students would do better meeting daily for the same amount of time.
The proposal had been discussed with teachers and according to PBHS principal Mary Brown, there was no consensus among the high school staff at this time. Brian Simmonds also was present to share teacher concerns.
No changes will be made for the 2007-08 school year, but the scheduling proposal will be researched and reviewed again for the 2008-09 school year.
Board members reviewed district policy on student trips to national events and the funding required for participation in such events. Following discussion and the recommendation of the superintendent the board agreed to have organizations present the criteria for their members to qualify for national competition.
That information will be examined before the beginning of the school year and will be presented to the board for review, modification, and approval. Students will know at the beginning of the school year what they must do to qualify for attendance to national events and how the trip will be funded.
In other business, the board:
— welcomed new superintendent Rex Watson to the meeting as well as newly-elected school board members Bruce Burke, Brian McDowell, and Tony Zappone.
— heard from Leslie Beery, Parents as Teachers director, about a countywide program, "Birth to three years." Eight families in Peabody and Burns are served by the program and three families are on a waiting list. The program provides parents with child development information and parenting support.
— heard presentations from Peabody-Burns Elementary School counselor Verna Ploutz and Business Professionals of America students Ben Eldridge and Derek Simmonds. Ploutz told about the PATHS program which assists students with after-school homework and adventure-based counseling. Eldridge and Simmonds exhibited state competition projects to the board.
— heard a brief rundown from Alstrom on general budget carry-over projections from the 2006-07 school year and budget projections for the 2007-08 school year. Incoming kindergarten numbers also were discussed.
— selected board members Doe Ann Hague and Peggy Phillips to present graduation diplomas and Rhonda Loucks to present graduation awards. Eighth grade diplomas will be presented by Duke Eldridge and Doe Ann Hague.
— tabled until a future meeting the acceptance of a Memorandum of Understanding between the district, the city of Burns, and Burns Pantry for the use of the former Burns school lunch room by Burns Pantry. Board member Rhonda Loucks will review the agreement with the Pantry board and the city of Burns.
— approved the final draft of the 2007-08 school calendar. It was noted that USD 398 will host FCCLA district meeting, league music festival, and league forensics meet next year.
— accepted the resignation of junior high math teacher Kurt Herrel effective the end of the 2006-07 school year.
— approved site council operational guidelines and site council members as presented.
— heard a report by special education cooperative representative Doe Ann Hague that the co-op had hired Kent Stuart to conduct a facilities feasibility study with an added education feasibility study component.
— approved a shared supplemental contract for Lisa Hodges and Annette Elliott as joint winter cheerleading sponsors for 2007-08 school year.
— instructed Alstrom to attend a future city council meeting to present the board's position to the city's proposed maintenance agreement for the elementary school parking lot.
— entered three executive sessions of 10 minutes each to discuss personnel. Upon return to open session the board approved the superintendent's recommendation that contracts be offered to Danny Shipman as social studies teacher and to Elizabeth Gottsch as alternative program teacher. Both positions will be for the 2007-08 school year.
