DeleteDiscussions about the position board members plan to take on a KASB question about teacher negotiations  and disappointment with several aspects of the nearly finished gymnasium dominated Monday night’s USD 428 Board of Education meeting.
Board happy with status quo
Superintendent Tom Vernon presented background about the Kansas Association of School Board’s request for direction on the issue of teacher negotiations that is likely to come up when state legislators begin the 2014 session.
“At the heart of the question is, what do we have to negotiate, and who do we have to negotiate with,” Vernon said.
Vernon said currently, there is a list of at least 20 points the district is required to negotiate on.  The KASB would like to narrow that list to a handful of basic requirements including compensation, fringe benefits, the number of hours of work, leaves and the number of holidays.  Other points, like wearing apparel or grievance procedures, would be left up to districts to decide if they want to negotiate on them or not.
Vernon said the question of who the district would need to negotiate with came up last year, when an upstart teacher organization with more conservative leanings than KNEA proposed legislation that would allow them to negotiate on their own, rather than with certified teachers organizations.  The bill never gained traction, but is expected to be brought up again in the coming year.
“Personally, I prefer to negotiate with one group, rather than having to negotiate with several groups,” Vernon said.
Patron Kathy Mulch, a representative with the Great Bend NEA, echoed his sentiments.
“We have had a great working relationship, and hope to continue that,” she said.
The second issue that KASB asked districts to discuss was teacher due process, more commonly referred to as tenure, Vernon said. Currently, if a district does not wish to renew a contract with a teacher with tenure, the teacher can ask for a hearing in front of an independent officer.  What KASB would like to know is if there is support for legislation to have the school board take the place of the independent officer.  Appeals by either side can be made at that time to the district court, but the court can only determine if the ruling entity made an arbitrary or capricious ruling or misapplied some rule of law.
“One thing you have to remember is most of these things became law because of some mischief on the parts of some party because of something that happened,” Vernon said. “This might be different in a district that didn’t have such a good relationship with their teachers.”
Carter, who works in other districts, has seen how capricious some issues can be.  “We’re fortunate that the board honors and respects our teachers and we get that back.’
Mulch said she and teachers hear the horror stories on her side to.  “We appreciate that you negotiate with us and ask our opinions, because we’re the ones in there every day.”
Board member Dwight Young voiced his opinion.
“This wouldn’t even be up for discussion except for the make-up of this particular legislature,” he said.  “If it were up to me, I’d say it isn’t even a priority for our district at this time.”
Board member Cheryl Rugan agreed.
“As a teachers group, we would have very pleased and reassured to have in board minutes stating this was not a priority for this board at this time,” Mulch said.
The board voted to communicate with KASB that the issues are not a priority for USD 428, because as a district they are currently satisfied with the negotiation procedure they currently use.
Middle School Gym problems
Thexton provided a quick overview of the progress at the Middle School, however, board member Larry Kutina shared many concerns following an inspection he attended earlier.  He raised several concerns over cracks in concrete, painting and handicapped ramp issues.
“On every one of the I-beams, there is mortar which was not cleaned off, but simply painted over,”  he said.  “If you look at the paint all the way up, it gets progressively thinner as you go up.”
He also stated there were cracks in the concrete, and the east-side handicapped ramp was only roughly finished.    His concerns prompted the board to ask for a special meeting to be called for the board to attend a walk-through inspection with the architect and the contractor.  Vernon asked Thexton to arrange a meeting and provide some dates.
Band, Orchestra, to go to Kansas City on spring break
GBHS Band Instructor Mark DeWald and GBHS Orchestra Instructor Isaac Enochs proposed a Kansas City trip for GBHS instrumental students during spring break, March 17-19, which the board approved.  They asked for district buses to transport an estimated 129 students and sponsors.  (Details)
DeWald said 140 band members and sponsors will take part in a non-performing trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City.  The estimated cost per person will be $135, with most of the funds raised through fundraising efforts including the recent Homecoming Chili Supper and catalog sales last year.  Some students are opting to pay some or all of the cost out of pocket, he added.  The band would cover the lodging and other expenses for the bus drivers, and asked that the district provide buses and related travel expenses.
In addition to staying at the lodge, the band will also stop in Topeka at the state capital, visit Union Station, the Kansas City Jazz Museum, and the Nelson Atkins Art Museum.  DeWald explained the trip would be non-performing because some members have other obligations over spring break and cannot attend, which would make it difficult to prepare for performances.  In addition, more vehicles are needed to transport instruments, and the logistical challenges make it too difficult.  This is not the first non-performing trip the band has taken.  DeWald said the band travels every two years, and it is a much anticipated event for all band members.  The board approved the request.
Curriculum and instruction
Curriculum Director John Popp briefly explained each district school’s Building School Improvement Plan.  Principles will share individual school plans with the board as they visit their buildings over the course of the next few months, Popp said.   Each plan includes academic goals, plans for implementation of College and Career Ready Standards, and student improvement team processes.  Reviews and updates will occur continuously as each school continues to implement their plans, Popp said.
The upcoming Curriculum Day Oct. 21 will provide teachers with more time to implement the plans and do curriculum mapping for the new students.  Curriculum maps connect all topics to the Common Core Standards, he said.  This means more reading and writing in all classes.
“In the past, teachers of subjects like science and social studies only taught those subjects,” Popp explained.  Now, those teachers will need to require students to read in their content areas. Science teachers will need to require students to read scientific texts.  In Social Studies, students will need to read the U.S. Constitution.   “That’s a high level of reading that we haven’t required in the past,” he said
Meanwhile, the technology committee will be discussing the district’s technology status and making plans to fulfill future goals.  One of those goals is the eventual switch from text books to online texts.  Young asked when that is likely to happen.
“Each department is working through that,” Popp said.  “Teachers actually need to be the most comfortable.  Everybody has to be ready.”
Young asked if perhaps the district is getting caught in the middle between textbook curriculum and online curriculum.
“We used to have a textbook for everyone plus a classroom set so they didn’t have to take them home and back to school,” he said.  “?  Right now it’s a skimpier “what can we get by with” textbook situation.”
Popp responded that finding an online text that meets the curriculum map of  teacher is also a challenge, but is one that is being studied now.
Other actions taken and items of discussion included:
*  Approved a contribution by the GBHS Panther Booster Club for the preparation and installation of WAC and state championship banners in the high school gymnasium.  The banners cost $1,760, and will be arranged in alphabetical order on the east wall.  Mr. Meter said the banners can be added to as new designations are earned.
*  Superintendent Tom Vernon recently met with IBB team members to discuss payments teachers receive upon the completion of a Master’s degree.  Prior to this year, teachers were awarded $3,000.  Starting with the 2013-2014 school year, that payment drops to $2,000.  This raised a few questions concerning timing of when the degree was earned, and if a recently resigned teacher should be eligible for the bonus, even though the degree will no longer benefit district students.
The Board approved the administration recommendation that teachers who earned their degree during the 2012-2013 school year and are still employed by USD 428 will still receive the $3,000 payment, and all teachers who subsequently earn Master’s degrees will receive $2,000.  Nine teachers earned their masters in the 2012-2013 school year.
*  The board affirmed it’s January decision to compensate 7th grade coaches and assistant coaches the same as 8th grade coaches and assistant coaches.  The approved inclusion of the wording “middle school coach and middle school assistant coach” in the district’s Supplemental Salary Schedule.
*  A special meeting will be called for Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. for board members to discuss requirements for the next superintendent with representatives from KASB.  This, in addition to surveying patrons and teachers, will be one of the first steps in the search process to replace Superintendent Tom Vernon who has announced his upcoming retirement at the end of the current school year.
*  Discussed the possibility of taking part in the Smarter Balanced assessment field test, but will wait for further information coming in December before making a decision.
*  The public will have the opportunity for the next 30 days to review the Title VI B and ECH budgets which cover salaries for professionals that offer a wide-range of services to students in the district.  They include school psychologists, ECH Staff, speech therapists and other certified staff.  The 2013-2014 application is for $949,857 for Title VI B pass-through funds, and $39,256.
*  Board members  Joyce Carter and Dwight Young and Larry Kutina will attend the KASB annual convention on Dec. 608 in Wichita.  Carter will be the official delegate to vote on behalf of USD 428 regarding pertinent issues.  Young will serve as an alternate.
*  Business Director Kris Thexton gave an quick update on the middle school gym construction....
*  Approved a gift from Riley Elementary School staff members of $101, donated in memory of Janice Waknitz.  They wish to purchase books for the Riley library in her honor.
*  Superintendent Vernon gave a report on 2013-2014 student enrollment.
*  Accepted the resignation of Mrs. Lauren Turner, a first grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School.  Liquidated damages were waived.
*  Reviewed the financial expenditures of the district.  Health Care services reserve fund was in the black for the year, and slightly ahead of last year. October marks the beginning of a new fiscal year.  Only one person requested to look at marketplace plans, but that individual determined the district provided a better plan overall, Thexton said.
The USD 428 BOE will attend a luncheon meeting at noon on Thursday, Oct. 31 at Lincoln Elementary School.  The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. at the District Offices.