School Board Report from Dec. 14

Nemaha Valley School Board Meeting
December 14, 2009

At the December 14 regular meeting, Nemaha Valley School board members discussed hosting a meeting with the U.S.D. #451, B&B and U.S.D. #488, Axtell-Bern-Summerfield school district boards of education regarding consolidation issues. Members Gale Hunninghake and Duane Osborne reported on the B&B patron meeting they had attended on December 1. Several minutes were spent discussing the issues that were raised at that meeting. Members of the U.S.D. #442 Cooperation/ Consolidation Committee, Margie Heinen, Gale Hunninghake and Gary Niehues, will meet to establish a meeting format. Supt. Harris was instructed to write a letter to the two district superintendents and pose possible dates of January 25, January 26 or February 11 for the meeting.

Members approved upgrades to the HVAC and lighting systems at Nemaha Valley High School following the completion of an Investment Grade Audit performed as part of the Facility Improvement Conservation Program (FICP) project. Two HVAC units will be replaced at the high school in addition to lighting upgrades in the main gym and other places throughout the building. A representative of the Trane company presented information that indicates the energy savings and the operations and maintenance savings will pay for the project in 15 years. A contract was approved with Trane who will subcontract the job to local contractors. The total cost of $370,549 will be funded through the Capital Outlay fund which can be spent only for capital improvements such as this.

Also approved for purchase were 29 Apple computers for the elementary and middle school building. Supt. Harris stated that these computers were included in the estimated cost of the building but it was recommended to wait until students were in the building to determine what would be needed. The $33,559 will be paid for with funds set aside for the building and contents.

Supt. Harris reported that the district received the final insurance settlement check on December 8 for the Seneca Grade School fire loss. A final summary sheet shows that the district received $5,309,021 for the building; $1,595,847 for cleanup and temporary classrooms; and $828,505 for contents, personal property, musical instruments and electronic data processing equipment; for a total of $7,733,373.

Members received information relating to other budgetary funds in addition to the general fund. Due to the decrease in general fund revenue, some expenses may need to be shifted to other funds as allowed by law. After the last round of State budget cuts, the 2009-2010 general fund budget is expected to be approximately $365,000 less than last fiscal year. $94,066 of this amount is due to the decrease in enrollment and the remainder is due to the decrease in the base state aid per pupil. Supt. Harris stated that with careful management of expenses, the district should come out okay for this fiscal year. However, next fiscal year is of concern as the Governor has shifted over $86 million of the federal ARRA funds that were set aside for fiscal year 2011 to the current fiscal year. Budget reductions for next fiscal year will be studied and discussed in the next few months.

Due to the number of snow days for the year already, the board approved the recommendation that Monday, January 4 be changed from a teacher inservice day to a student day. Students were originally scheduled to return to school after the winter break on January 5.

Students from the high school In-House Training and Web site classes were recognized for receiving Certificate of Merit awards for the school district newsletter and web site from the Kansas Association of School Boards. Instructor for the classes is Cara Baker.

Several grants were approved including the Kansas Coordinated School Health Grant, $4,000; Kansas School Safety Grant, $500; Green Schools Grant, $3,560; Milk as A Recovery Drink, $3,000; and the Bag Recycling Project Grant, $3,355. Gifts were accepted were a vault from Bill & Sara Love for the NVE&MS time capsule and $1,000 from the Sac & Fox Tribe to be used for general school expenses.

Special meetings were scheduled for the following dates: January 5 at 5:30 to meet with the KASB Superintendent Search committee representative; January 11 through 15, exact dates and times to be determined for superintendent candidate interviews; and January 25 or 26 to name the superintendent selection. The regular January meeting will be held on Monday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the unified district office.