USD 398 adopts new disciplinary model years ago
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Members of Peabody-Burns board of education began the Aug. 13 meeting with unanimous approval of the 2007-08 budget as published and presented.
During the course of their regular deliberations, consideration was given to a presentation by superintendent Rex Watson of a discipline action program developed at Boys Town in Omaha, Neb.
Watson and building administrators attended a two-day workshop in July for training. They demonstrated the program for the board and Watson asked the board to effect at least a one year commitment to the agenda if they adopted it.
Covered in the presentation were the model for the program, input on classroom skills, conflict cycle, and the well-managed classroom, as well as an overview and the goals of the office referral process, possible future training, and discipline consistency issues.
By adopting the Boy's Town Model, the board condensed multiple pages of possible disciplinary action listed in the student handbook to 10 steps applicable to any situation.
The board unanimously approved Watson's request for a yearlong commitment to the program.
In other business, the board:
— heard from Watson that enrollment on Aug. 13, was 328 students. The official count will take place Sept. 20.
— approved for 2007-08 the Spanish certified teaching contract to Courtney Dealy, a bus driver contract to Marcy Erlich, and emergency substitute certificates to Robin Mesecher, Vaughn Miller, Roger O'Neal, Marjorie Richardson, Bradley Shaw, Sharon Suderman, Marie Unruh, and Verna Unruh.
— accepted an overnight travel request policy that had been reviewed and approved by KASB, a policy to dispose of obsolete, excess, or unusable technology equipment, requested that monthly expense and receipt reports for activity funds be included in the monthly board packets, authorized payment of $525 to Steven Reiner for teaching summer school, and approved a $1,000 expenditure to procure the services of Axtel Orthopedics Services for the coming school year.
— tabled until a future meeting were establishing criteria for booster clubs, defining policy language for student activity drug testing, and selection of new carpet for the elementary school. More information will be provided for board consideration at a future meeting.
— voted to enter into an agreement with Westview Manor to transport clients during a crisis.
— appointed Doe Ann Hague and Rhonda Loucks as the negotiation team for the 2008-09 school year.
— heard a review of the superintendent evaluation process and procedures.
— heard that Watson and Ray Savage tested and adjusted the sound system at the football field. Following the first football game, a recommendation will be given to the board by the superintendent.
— entered into two executive sessions for the purpose of discussing employer-employee negotiations and for the purpose of discussing personnel matters. No action was taken on either issue following the board's return to open meeting.
