Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting and Budget Hearing – August 24, 2021
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, except J. W. Milliken.
Shawna Blanka made a motion to approve the agenda; the motion was seconded by Troy Hilt and carried.
Items on the Consent Calendar were next considered. Following review of these items, Chris Hingst moved, Troy Hilt seconded, and it carried to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: 1) The minutes of the regular Board meeting on July 8, 2021, and special board meeting on July 20, 2021. 2) The list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 0719037-0719044, and on checks numbering 11846-11856 on BANKWEST in the amount of $33,987.09 and checks numbering 15230-15329 on First National Bank totaling $152,574.66 for a grand total of $186,561.75. 3) The Cash Summary Report , the Grade School Activity Fund Report, and the High School Activity Fund Report--all as of July 31, 2021. 4) The following gift offer was approved: $5,500.00 from the St. Francis Educational Foundation Fund for scholarships.
There were no audiences.
There were no committee reports.
Old Business: Superintendent Penka discussed with the Board COVID-19 updates. It was the consensus of the board to allow students to ride the bus (route, activity, etc.) without wearing a mask. However, if you are in modified quarantine you will be required to wear a mask while on the bus. Also discussed was remote learning; it was the consensus of the board that there will be no remote learning, there will be packets of homework to be sent home to the student that is absent and times made available for them to be in contact with their teachers if they have questions.
Next under new business, the Revenue Neutral Rate hearing and the budget hearing for the 2021-2022 school year were held. There were no patrons present for the hearings. Troy Hilt moved that the Revenue Neutral Rate and the budget be adopted as published in the July 21, 2021, edition of the St. Francis Herald; the motion was seconded by Danielle McAtee and carried.
Superintendent Penka reviewed the proposed bus routes with the Board. Currently, there will be five routes, the same as last year. All of these proposed routes are still subject to change as more information becomes available. Next, Superintendent Penka presented a copy of the Board’s goals and asked if they would like to make any changes. It was the consensus of the Board to leave them the same. There were 12 contracts returned for signature. Superintendent Penka received a request for a student to attend school from out of district. Shawna Blanka made a motion to accept the request, seconded by Troy Hilt, and carried.
Next, Principal Morrow went over the changes that had been recommended in the High School Handbook. Troy Hilt made a motion to approve the changes and the handbook; motion was seconded by Chris Hingst and carried.
Next under New Business, Superintendent Penka reviewed facility improvement updates. Superintendent Penka reviewed with the Board and discussed the ESSER Money that will be coming from the state. Superintendent Penka requested approval to send out for bids on windows for the Grade School and High School. Chris Hingst made a motion to send out bids; seconded by Danielle McAtee and carried. He reported that we are also waiting on blueprints for the possibility of Air Conditioning in the High School gym.
Superintendent Penka presented to the Board two quotes for a new route bus. After discussion Danielle McAtee made a motion to purchase a 14 seat route bus from Kansas Truck Equipment in the amount of $55,094.00. The motion was seconded by Shawna Blanka and carried.
Under miscellaneous items, Superintendent Penka reviewed the current enrollment numbers. The official student count will be on September 20, 2021.
The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2021, at 7:00 A.M. At 8:10 a.m., Chris Hingst moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Dustin Andrist and carried.
________________________________________
