LARNED — The Fort Larned USD 495 school board met April 11 in regular session. The following are approved minutes submitted by Joyce Simpson, the board clerk.
Jay Haremza, board president, called the regular meeting to order. Marcia Giessel, Jay Haremza, Brenda Hagerman, Sharon Arnold, Cory Stelter, June Barger, Sharon Lessard, Jon Flint, superintendent; Bonnie Carlson, treasurer; Joyce Simpson, clerk, and Phil Martin, board attorney, were in attendance.
The agenda was approved as presented. The minutes of March 14 were approved as presented. The bills were approved as presented. The February treasurer’s report was approved as presented.
Administrative Reports
• Superintendent Jon Flint reported to the board about the district setting up Apta Fund which is a web-based relational data base. This will take care of fixed assets, purchasing, receiving, and accounts payable. It will eventually be able to track employee attendance, leave and time sheets. This system should pay for itself in a couple of years.
Flint reported that the bills proposed have been approved by the appropriate chambers. Schools started state base aid at $4,012 per student. They are now at $3,937, less $75 which excludes Special Education. Governor Sam Brownback proposes a $157 cut plus the additional $75, for a reduction of $222,830; the House proposed a $175 cut plus the additional $75 for  a reduction of $248,378; and the Senate proposes a $151 cut plus the additional $75 for a reduction of $214,314. Flint stated that we would probably have to wait until the end of April to find out what the additional cuts are going to be.
• Larned High School Principal Troy Langdon said art students will go to Hays April 20. The student artwork is displayed in the high school library and he had a piece in his office. He noted that the student’s work was quite good.
Regional band and vocal was held April 2 and the middle school band and vocal was held April 9. Langdon reported that quite a few students qualified for state. The school play was held and the students did a great job. He said director Jennifer Fleske always puts in a lot of work.
As for academics, the high school is not done with state testing. They are short 1.5 students of being complete, noting that all the students have improved their scores. Langdon reported they still have work to do.
• LMS Principal Derek Reinhardt complimented his staff for the great job they’ve done on pulling in grant money. He received a Midwest Energy grant for $200 and stated that the middle school should receive a couple more of those types of funds. He said the board has received information on assessment scores for the middle school students.
Regional vocal and band went well. Of the three judges, the band received a two 1 ratings and one 1 + rating. Both judges awarded the choir 1 ratings. For the band solos: 2 students received a 1 + rating; 5 students received 1 ratings; six students received 1 ratings; and one student received a 2+ rating.
For the vocal solos/ensembles: three students received a 1 rating; one student received a 1- rating; and one student received a 2 rating. Reinhardt said that three students received an AP rating, which is the highest rating — Jennifer Applequist, oboe solo; Kate Schroeder, flute solo; and Brittany Butler, alto sax solo.
• Hillside-Phinney Principal Lea Harding informed the board that 61 students came through Kindergarten Roundup and they were aware of 18 more students that did not come through. Given the numbers, Herding stated that the  kindergarten class could be large. Jumpstart Roundup is also scheduled. They have 28 signed up already and have a total of 30 slots. Hopefully, all the slots will be filled with funded students.
The Race for Education brought in $790 the first day and Harding reported that she will be spending the funds for technology resources for the classrooms.
She was very proud of the assessment scores at Northside. All students scored proficient: Third Grade Math 85.9 percent; Fourth Grade Math 94.9 percent; Third Grade Reading 82.4 percent; Fourth Grade Reading 96.6 percent; and so far 4th Grade Science 100 percent. She reported that 22 out of the 59 Fourth Graders scored exemplary on Math. Harding and six teachers attended a conference in San Antonio that was phenomenal. Out-of-pocket, each paid for their meals and one night of hotel.
Personnel
The board convened into executive sessions for the purpose of discussing negotiations in order to protect public interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract.
• The contract of superintendent Jon Flint was extended to the 2012-2013 school year with a salary to be determined at a later date. Administrative contracts for Jennifer Anderson, Casey Cloninger, Troy Langdon, Derek Reinhardt, Lea Harding, Rusty Wrlnkle, Margo Buscher, Richard Fairchild, Stan Higgins and Daryl Gobin were approved the 2011-2012 school year with salary to be determined at a later date.
• Supplemental contracts were approved for Allen Perez, assistant track LMS; Melissa Martin, assistant softball LHS, for the 2011 season.
• Kevin Brown was approved for a LHS teaching position for the 2011-2012 school year.
• Transfers for the 2011-2012 school year were approved for Julie Strasburg, from Westside to LMS;  and Wayne Morrow, from LHS athletic director to LHS assistant principal.
• The board accepted separations from Melissa Miller, Phinney teacher;  Dale Page, Northside teacher; Cynthia Goodrick, school nurse LMS, LHS; Peggy Gess, Westside paraprofessional; Leaesa Etsell, LMS assistant cook; Brenda Hughes, LMS assistant custodian; and Lisa Spain, LHS assistant cheerleading.
• The board approved that Charisse A. Hostetler, a non-tenured teacher, would not renew her contract for the 2011-2012 school year.
• The board approved that Rick D. Blosser, employed as an administrator for Fort Larned USD 495, would not have his contract renewed for the 2011-2012 school year. 
Written notice to Blosser of the action is required by May 21. The notice shall also inform Blosser that he may file a request for a meeting with the board by filing a written request with the clerk within 10 days after receipt of the notice of the board’s intention of non-renewal. The notice shall inform Blosser that at the meeting the board will specify the reason or reasons for the Board’s intention to not renew the contract, and he will have an opportunity to respond to the board.