Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting – July 8, 2021
The meeting was called to order by Vice President Troy Hilt in the administration office on the above date at 7:01 a.m. with everyone present, except Chris Hingst, Cale Rieger, and Danielle McAtee.
J. W. Milliken made a motion to approve the agenda as presented; the motion was seconded by Dustin Andrist and carried.
The next item on the agenda was the election and appointment of Board officers. A motion was made by Dustin Andrist to extend the date for election of officers until the January meeting. The motion was seconded by J. W. Milliken and carried.
Items on the Consent Calendar were next considered. Following review of these items, Shawna Blanka moved, J.W. Milliken seconded, and it carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items:
1) the minutes of the special meeting on June 29, 2021.
2) The list of bills being paid on checks numbering 15208-15229 on FNB Bank totaling $26,336.46.
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, 2021.
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 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 2021-2022
fiscal year.
13) Approval of “Memorandum of Understanding” with Head Start.
14) Approval of a Member Participation Agreement for the KASB Workers Compensation Fund.
The next item on the agenda was to set the time and place for Board meetings in 2021-2022. After brief discussion, Dustin Andrist 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 a.m. The motion was seconded by Shawna Blanka and carried.
There were no audiences present.
Committee Reports: Superintendent Penka reported that we had one candidate interview for the High School head cook position, however she turned down the position. We do have one other candidate that will interview next week.
The Board was asked to approve the 2021-2022 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, Shawna Blanka moved, J.W. Milliken seconded, and it carried to approve the 2021-2022 Food Service Program Agreement.
Discussion concerning joining the KASB for 2021-2022 was held. Following discussion, a motion was made by J.W.Milliken, seconded by Dustin Andrist, 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 $7.062.56).
The Board next considered necessary appointments to commissions and boards. Following brief reviews, J.W. Milliken moved, seconded by Shawna Blanka, and carried:
1) to appoint Holly Hingst to the St. Francis Recreation Commission, which she has already agreed to, for a 4-yeat term;
2) to appoint Cale Rieger 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 Dustin Andrist, seconded by Shawna Blanka, and carried to accept these students of out-of-district families, with a waiver of the tuition charges for each family for the 2021-2022 school year.
Superintendent Penka recommended the following schedule be followed in preparing and publishing the budget for fiscal year 2021-2022:
Tuesday, July 20 – 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)
Wednesday, July 21 – Publish proposed budget in The St. Francis Herald.
Tuesday, August 24 – Rescheduled regularly scheduled meeting with budget hearing and Revenue Neutral Rate hearing 7:00 A.M.
Tuesday, August 24 – Deliver budget to county clerk.
Shawna Blanka made a motion to approve the above said schedule; motion was seconded by Dustin Andrist and carried.
Principal David Morrow next reviewed proposed changes to the high school handbook. After discussion, it was agreed Mr. Morrow will make a few more changes and bring back to the board for approval at the August meeting.
Next, Superintendent Penka reported to the Board the progress being made on the summer building improvement projects.
No Review of Board Policy.
At 8:16 A.M. J.W. Milliken made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Dustin Andrist and carried.
