USD 442 Board Minutes

from May 11, 2009

USD 442 Board of Education Meeting May 11, 2009 By: Colette Hermesch, Clerk At the Monday, May 11 board meeting, Nemaha Valley school board members received information relating to the State budget cuts and how they will impact U.S.D. #442 next school year. Final approval by both houses of the legislature will reduce the base state aid per pupil to $4,280 or $120 less than the current year. Information from the Kansas State Department of Education which is based upon 2008-09 student numbers indicates a $89,880 decrease in the U.S.D. #442 general fund budget as compared to the current school year. Supt. Brian Harris stated, however, that when the declining enroll-ment factor is included in the calculation, the U.S.D. #442 budget will actually decrease $267,940 or 8.1%. This decrease will net a slightly over $3 million general fund budget. Budget cuts and adjustments have been discussed to manage the decrease. 

The recipients of the 2008-09 Friend of Education award were announced by President Kim Henry at the meeting. Nominations are sought from staff members and two are selected for recognition at the end of each school year. Selected this year were Bill Ronnebaum and Durland Auto Parts. Patrons and students know Bill Ronnebaum as their bus driver as he has driven a bus for 39 years. He has always been willing to help out the school and the students and maintains a commendable driving record for safety. Richard and Wayne Durland, owners of Durland Auto Parts have donated machining equipment valued at over $10,000 to the NVHS auto mechanics program enabling the program to set up an engine machining component. Both will be recognized at the end of the year luncheon on May 22. Also to be recognized are outgoing board members and staff members who have served the district from five to 35 years at five year intervals. 

A bid from Eisenbarth Plumbing was approved to install a two speed exhaust fan in the secondary gym. The fan will replace the gravity hood in the middle of the gym. The bid was for $12,450. Supt. Harris was given the authorization to seek bids to replace approximately 200 light fixtures in the high school. Also approved was a bid from Cytek in the amount of $17,582 for projector mounts, white projector screens and interwrite school pads for the new junior high school classrooms. Several personnel issues were discussed and moved upon. 

Supt. Brian Harris was authorized to advertise for a Special Education Director. Final approval on a resolution to non-renew the contract of a non-tenured teacher was given. A new contract was ap-proved for Nolan Sump who will serve as a Special Education teacher to fill a recent va-cancy created by the resignation of Sherri Alverson. The resignation of paraprofessional Wendy Axtell, who works in Summerfield was approved effective the end of the school year. 

Supplemental duty positions for the grade school and junior high were approved as recommended by the administration. At the high school level, all positions were approved as recommended with the exception of Larry Pfeifer, freshman boys basketball coach. Proposed changes in the NVHS Student Handbook were approved as recom-mended. Changes will affect the withholding of grade cards, college visits and tardiness.