USD 408 offers opportunity to Florence to purchase buildings years ago
Marion High School names new principal
Sports reporter
Marion-Florence USD 408 discussed Marion County Special Education Cooperative buildings once again at its May 16 board of education meeting.
As of now USD 408 is the property owner, but at the meeting it offered the City of Florence a chance to purchase two of the buildings for $1 — the gymnasium and the life skills building.
USD 408 out-going president Rex Savage made the proposal for the city to take ownership and the MCSEC to pay the same yearly rate of $50,000. The money would be used for maintenance as USD 408 uses it now.
Tracye Warner and Randy Mills, representatives from the City of Florence, attended the meeting and said they would like to look into the offer.
A motion was made for a contract to sell the buildings to be presented to the City of Florence at terms "no worse than the current contract." According to USD 408, nothing should change except who owns the buildings. The city would have 30 days to decide.
The board passed the motion 5-2 with Keith Collett and Lyle Leppke voting against. Both said they thought the offer should happen in the fall when MCSEC as more time to discuss the matter.
Savage said the issue has gone on long enough and needs to be decided.
The City of Florence was to discuss and possibly act on the offer Monday at its normal meeting. Instead, the meeting was canceled because not enough board members could be present.
In other news:
— Jim Piper was hired by the board as principal of Marion High School for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years.
— Ten teachers and staff members were recognized by the district with service awards.
10 years: Nicki Case, Lana Fahey, and Deanna Thierolf.
15 years: Susan Hall and Deb Shipman.
20 years: Lori Kirkpatrick and Missy Stubenhofer.
25 years: Mike Connell.
Jan Davis and Mary Griffith received an award for 25 total years in education from the University of Kansas.
— Marion High School students Brett Billings, Christie Coleman, and Mara Prescott presented a slide show to the board on their proposed youth center.
The students are looking for grant money, and will raise some money on their own to help get the project started.
They are negotiating now for the building at 329 E. Main Street that formerly housed Brenda's Bloomers and Gifts.
— Duane Kirkpatick, who will take Savage's place on the board, shared his thoughts on a new board member workshop he attended with Leiker.
— Architect for the school bond issue Greg Tice presented the board with options for the color of the outside of the gymnasium.
Harbor blue metal with red brick was decided by the board. Collett said he worried about the blue sticking out too much, but the consensus was the color will give the building character.
— Student handbooks for the 2007-08 school year were passed with a 7-0 vote for Marion Elementary and Middle schools.
The handbook for MHS will be decided on after Piper takes over.
— Joy Kinnersley was named as new MESBIT member by the board.
— The USD 408 school calendar was approved. The first day of school to begin Wednesday, Aug. 15.
— The board hired Tracey Dirks as cheerleading sponsor and Irma Piper as library media specialist to begin this fall.
