Other items of discussion and actions taken included:
* Adopted the updated policy concerning student fees and debt collection that was discussed at the February meeting.
* Adopted the graduating class sponsored fundraising policy introduced at the February meeting.
* Approved the proposed school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
* Approved requests by St. John the Evangelist Parish School and Infaith to use the bus for trips to Omaha, Neb. and Sioux Falls, S.D., respectively, dependent on driver availability for the dates requested.
* Set the mileage fee for the 29-passenger bus at $1.00 per mile.
* Mr. Lowry reviewed several bills being considered by the Kansas Legislature. Friday, March 6, is the last day new bills can be introduced, he said. He reminded board members that a Legislative Coffee would be held on Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m. at the Hoisington Activity Center and urged them to attend.
* Approved the hiring of Anthony Broeder for the high school track assistant.
* Accepted the resignation of Deb DeHaven as Food Service Director and Lincoln Elementary Secretary effective at the end of the current school year.
At the Monday, March 2 meeting of the USD 431 Board of Education meeting, members approved a resolution calling for a bond election in hopes of gain approval to issue a General Obligation Bond to fund the building of a new school building for Lincoln Elementary School and to upgrade security and other systems at the district’s other three buildings.
Stewart Nelson also reported that the City of Hoisington Zoning Committee had approved the district’s request to change the zoning of the Lincoln Elementary site from R-1 to R-2. This will allow the architect to increase the square footage of the building because shorter setbacks will be needed. Their recommendation will be an agenda item at next week’s Hoisington City Council meeting.
Board members also unanimously opted to eliminate an additional safe room at Roosevelt Elementary in the scope of work.
The district continues to look for ways to conserve funds as it faces funding cuts for the current year and the upcoming school year. One possibility, Superintendent Bill Lowry reported on was outsourcing school breakfast and lunch. Contracting with a food service management group, instead of managing the program in house could provide significant savings. After some discussion, board members decided to check into this possibility.
With an extensive list of agenda items yet to be covered, board members opted to set a special board meeting on Monday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. to complete the necessary agenda items for March.
A special board meeting was also set for Construction Manager at Risk interviews on Thursday, March 12 at 6 p.m. Each interview will be held in executive session, Lowry said.
The next regular meeting of the USD 431 Board of Education will be held at 7:30 p.m. on April 13, at the district office.
