Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting – July 9, 2020
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting – July 9, 2020
The meeting was called to order by President Cale Rieger in the administration office on the above date at 7:00 a.m. with everyone present.
Superintendent Penka made one change to the agenda; under New Business adding g) executive session for Personnel. Troy Hilt made a motion to approve the agenda with the one change; the motion was seconded by J.W. Milliken and carried.
The next item on the agenda was the election and appointment of Board officers. A motion was made by Troy Hilt to extend the date for election of officers until the January meeting. The motion was seconded by Danielle McAtee and carried.
Following a brief review of the other officers of the Board, it was moved by Chris Hingst, seconded by Dustin Andrist, and carried to appoint the following officers: Traci Neitzel as Clerk of the Board; Marilyn Raile as Treasurer of the Board; and Reyelt’s & Milliken as the law firm to represent the Board on an as-needed basis.
Items on the Consent Calendar were next considered. Following review of these items, Troy Hilt moved, Dustin Andrist seconded, and it carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) the minutes of the special meeting on June 29, 2020. 2) The list of bills being paid on checks numbering 14494-14534 on FNB Bank totaling $27,842.30. 3) The Cash Summary Report, the final Unencumbered Cash Balances, and the High School and Grade School Activity Fund Reports, all as of June 30, 2020. 4) Officially notify the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) that USD 297 will declare a 1,116-hour school year but make every reasonable effort to attend the total number of days that are scheduled. 5) Designation of BANKWEST – St. Francis, FNB Bank – St. Francis, and Western State Bank – St. Francis as the official depositories for USD 297 funds. 6) Designation of the St. Francis Herald as the official district newspaper. 7) Designation of David S. Morrow, 6-12 Principal, as the USD 297 liaison for the homeless. 8) Designation of Mark Penka, Superintendent, and Traci Neitzel, District Clerk, as the KPERS (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System) designated agents. 9) Designation of David S. Morrow, 6-12 Principal, and Darla Raile, K-5 Principal, as the USD 297 attendance officers. 10) Designation of Barb Holzwarth, Loretta Ford, Mark Penka, and Traci Neitzel as food service representatives. 11) Designation of Mark Penka as hearing officer for the national school lunch applications. 12) A resolution requesting an exemption for USD 297 from the requirements of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and of fixed-asset accounting for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. 13) Approval of “Memorandum of Understanding” with Head Start. 14) Approval of a Member Participation Agreement for the KASB Workers Compensation Fund. 15) Approval of the Wellness Policy.
The next item on the agenda was to set the time and place for Board meetings in 2020-2021. After brief discussion, Danielle McAtee moved to adopt a resolution specifying that the regular meetings of the Board will be held in the USD 297 Board of Education meeting room, 100 S College St., St. Francis, KS on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The motion was seconded by Chris Hingst and carried.
There were no audiences present.
There were no committee reports.
Under Old Business, Superintendent Penka indicated he had no new legislation news at this time.
Next under Old Business, Principal Morrow reviewed with the Board ACT data collected since 1988.
Next under Old Business, Superintendent Penka presented to the Board several bids for a new route bus. After discussion Chris Hingst made a motion to purchase a 2021 Blue Bird 47 passenger bus from Kansas Truck Equipment in the amount of $73,294.00. The motion was seconded by Troy Hilt and passed.
Next the Board reviewed bids for a 2021 Grasshopper mower. Dustin Andrist made a motion to accept a bid given by Goodland Yost Farm Supply in the amount of $23,107.17 less trade-in of $11,757.00 for a total of $11,350.17. The motion was seconded by Danielle McAtee and carried.
Board was asked to approve the 2020-2021 Program Agreement for the School Breakfast and Lunch Programs with the Food Service Section of the Kansas State Department of Education (including the Income Eligibility Guidelines for the Free/Reduced-Price School Meals Program), with Mark Penka named as authorized representative for the Food Service Program and Traci Neitzel as a second authorized signer. Following discussion, Troy Hilt moved, J.W. Milliken seconded, and it carried to approve the 2020-2021 Food Service Program Agreement.
Discussion concerning joining the KASB for 2020-2021 was held. Following discussion, a motion was made by Troy Hilt, seconded by Danielle McAtee, and carried to again join the KASB and the KASB Legal Assistance Fund and to pay the dues indicated on the billings (a total of $6,876.24).
The Board next considered necessary appointments to commissions and boards. Following brief reviews, Troy Hilt moved, seconded by J.W. Milliken, and carried: 1) to appoint Jenni Penka to the St. Francis Recreation Commission, which she has already agreed to, replacing Dylan Loyd; this will be a 4-year term for Mrs. Penka; 2) to appoint Cale Rieger as the representative to the KASB Governmental Relations Network; and 3) to appoint Danielle McAtee to serve as the representative on the NKESC Board in Oakley.
In accordance with Board Policy 5111, the Board reviewed all out-of-district students currently in attendance in St. Francis Schools. After a brief discussion, a motion was made by Shawna Blanka, seconded by Troy Hilt, and carried to accept these students of out-of-district families, with a waiver of the tuition charges for each family for the 2020-2021 school year.
Coronavirus – today at 12:30 P.M., Superintendent Penka, Principal Morrow, and Principal Raile will sit in on a Zoom meeting with KASB Education Commissioner Randy Watson to get the latest plans for school reopening’s.
A request had been received for the use of school vehicles for summer sports activities. After discussion J. W. Milliken made a motion to keep the policy as is and not allow for summer use due to liability issues. The motion was seconded by Troy Hilt and carried.
At 8:00 A.M., Dustin Andrist made a motion for a ten minute executive session for the purpose of a non-elected personnel issue, with the justification of protecting the privacy rights of the individual. J.W. Milliken seconded the motion, and it carried. At 8:10 A.M., the meeting resumed. No action was taken.
Superintendent Penka recommended the following schedule be followed in preparing and publishing the budget for fiscal year 2020-2021:
Tuesday, July 28 – Conduct a Special BOE meeting to study, and ask questions about the proposed budget. (7:00 A.M. in order to get budget to the Herald)
Thursday, July 30 – Publish proposed budget in The St. Francis Herald.
Thursday, August 13 – Regularly scheduled meeting with budget hearing (14 days) 7:00 A.M.
Thursday, August 20 – Deliver budget to county clerk.
Troy Hilt made a motion to approve the above said schedule; motion was seconded by Dustin Andrist and carried.
Principal Morrow reported that the Promenade will be held in the High School Auditorium and the Prom will be held in the High School Cafeteria on Saturday, July 11, 2020. A request was made to invite Cheylin students to the Prom; the consensus of the board was to go ahead and invite them.
No Review of School-Improvement Process.
No Review of Board Policy.
At 8:17 A.M. Chris Hingst made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Danielle McAtee and carried.
