The Beloit USD 273 Board of Education met Monday night for their regular monthly board meeting.
Dr. Joseph Harrison began the meeting with his Superintendent's Report to the board. He reminded the board that the State Legislature went back into session in Topeka yesterday, January 9, 2012. Harrison said Governor Sam Brownback will give his State or the State Report on Wednesday 11 and he will be talking a lot about his finance proposal for the coming year.
There will be a lot of competition between Republicans and Democrats this year as to what will be included in the school financial future but the Governor has a lot of support for the plan he will be proposing. Much of it will be looking at what will take place in fiscal year 2015, Dr. Harrison told the board.
The Governor will be giving a Kansas assessment update. Dr. Harrison thinks the KPERS program will be a big part of the proposed Legislative changes in education this year. Governor Brownback is proposing to raise the school payment per pupil to $44.92 and taking it out of their weighting part of the schools budget and Dr. Harrison feels will just create more problems for schools. The Governor is proposing that every school district pay in 20 mills and have it passed back out to the schools equally. There are a lot of questions to be answered on this, he said.
USD 273 has a current General Fund of around two million dollars as of this year but that will be reduced next year due to the loss of revenue that came in when part of the Jewell District merged with USD 273. While they knew this was coming it will still make a difference in the available revenue when that happens.
Dr. Harrison will be taking part in KASB Radio's Webinar Segment at noon on Thursday, January 12. Board member Sharra Odle will be part of the program at 5 p.m. that day. He expressed his thanks to all the teachers in the district for the fine job their students did on the state level testing. He said they all performed well.
Superintendent Harrison talked about new changes in the State Testing Evaluation process that are being talked. The new assessment rules would be implemented in 2013 through 2015. He discussed possibilities for changes that may be made in other state sponsored programs. Kansas, along with most of the other States, is working on a waver to the "No Child Left Behind" program. This information is due on February 1.
In his update on the Trojan Stadium project, Dr. Harrison said they are making major progress there. He talked to John Cashatt, Schwab-Eaton Engineer, about structural problems they are having with the building. They are talking to the City of Beloit about paying for part of this expense since they own the building. They hope to have the project done in time for the Beloit Invitational Track Meet that is held every year. In his report on the fire alarm systems in the school building and the State Fire Marshall's Visit, Dr. Harrison said they have some things to correct as they always do. One of the things was to fireproof the curtains on the stage in the Beloit Jr./Sr. High School common's area.
At the board's December board meeting, Dr. Harrison discussed the option of changing from the Ten-Oak Consortium's gas purchasing plan presently in use to the K-Jump Gas Purchasing plan through the Kansas Association of School Boards. This would be using natural gas to heat the district's school buildings. At that time, he estimated they would save between 5 to 40 percent or about $2,000 a year; plus they would be working with a company they know and would receive added services and simplified billing by doing this. He recommended that this change be made.
Since that time Dr. Harrison said at the present time there is a problem in getting out of the contract the school has with the Ten-Oak Consortium gas purchasing plan. However, if they get the opportunity in the future he recommends that they make the change. He also discussed the local Consolidate Plan Audit to will be discussed during an up-coming desktop audit conference on Tuesday, January 24.
The board heard reports on activities of the Student Council and the Parent Teacher Organization. The StuCo is actively preparing for the Winter Homecoming activities for this Friday during the Minneapolis basketball games. Crowning of the Queen will take place between the girls and boys varsity games. The PTO is getting ready for a box top contest with an ice cream party as a reward. They made $1,830 on the last box top competition. State Assessment Tests are coming up. The motto is "Expect Success." Michelle Ellenz received the $1,000 grant and this will be used to furnish students with snacks throughout the testing period.
Daryl Moore, Principal at BJSHS reported on activities taking place there. One of the most significant parts of Moore's report was information about the piloting program the high school is doing with the girls and boys basketball teams. This is an innovative program for student-athletes used to assist physicians, coaches and athletic trainers in evaluating and treating head injuries such as concussions sustained by student-athletes. The school has acquired a software tool for a computerized exam called ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing.) Anyone having questions about this program can contact Moore or Kevin Harris at Beloit Jr./Sr. High School.
Byron Marshall, Principal at Beloit Elementary, reported a successful book fair in December that raised about $8,000 that will be used to purchase new books for their students. They are making preparations for the State Assessment tests that start the last week in February and runs through April. Testing will be done in all four areas this year. This includes reading, math, social studies and science. The BES Spelling Bee will be January 18, at 8 a.m. in the multipurpose room. On January 31, the school will be recognizing the students who helped BES and BJSHS receive standard of excellence rating in state testing in reading, math and science at the Boys Basketball game. Marshall said Beloit Elementary has received top ratings all 7 years this testing has been done.
Karen Niemczyk, Special Education Director, reported their department has completed the second round of gifted file reviews and submitted the date. They should hear back from KSDE by the end of February and she is anticipating 100 percent compliance. Niemczyk said they continue to look for a school psychologist as they are short one person in this position at this time. She is going to try to borrow one from another school two days a week until the end of the school year. She has an applicant for the job next year who will be moving to Beloit in June.
The board discussed the request by the Mitchell County Historical Society's request to add 15 more feet on the west side of a access road area across the District's property. The board voted to allow a total of 30-feet for the road. This will allow for the use of the property plus their first right to buy the property in the event it is sold. Curt Frasier will draw up the contract.
Superintendent Harrison discussed the School Calendar for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. The teachers will vote on the final two options sometime this coming week. Board Policy updates were discussed for the Personnel section of the school policy book. Some changes were suggested in wording and terminology used in older policies.
The Superintendent discussed two plans that has been presented to him from the Schneider Electric Company and Innovative Electric Company who are interested signing contracts to be project managers for the energy saving projects the board has voted to do. The Beloit Elementary is the building most in need of changes at the present time. Board members Jason Johnson and Brent Budke met with representatives of the two companies. Since both companies agreed to come and do an assessment at no charge the board voted to have them both do this before making a decision between the two.
Board Goals for the next 5-years were discussed and the possibility of asking a facilitator from the Kansas Assn of School Boards to come and talk to the board, the school staff and possibally holding a community meeting to allow the whole community to come have input in this discussion. The board decided to hold an information meeting on January 16 or 25 inviting the community to come to the evening meeting. Dr. Harrison will check on dates that are available and get back to the board.
Two Executive sessions were held to discuss personnel matters and the Superintendent's evaluation.