Some chain link fence approved for Heights track area

The Jackson Heights school board is considering some final touches for the district’s new track facility located at the Cobra stadium.

At its meeting Monday evening at the high school library, the board reviewed some cost estimates to install a chain link fence at the stadium.

Adrianne Walsh, superintendent and grade school principal, shared with the board some cost estimates she had received from Davis Fence Company of Topeka for commercial grade fencing at 4 ft., 5 ft. and 6 ft. heights.

The cost estimates ranged from $6,400 to $7,526 for the north side of the field and $9,060 to $11,092 for the south end of the field. Walsh reported that local bids were also sought, but not received, from two fence companies in the district.

Discussion about the fence led to questions about whether a sidewalk was needed at the stadium. There was also discussion about recent water runoff from the parking lot approaching the new track and what to do to prevent erosion and possible flooding at the new track.

Board member Melinda Wareham said what all the board members were probably thinking, “We don’t want to mess up what we’ve done.’’

Ultimately, the board gave the green light to installing a 4 ft. high chain link fence, commercial grade, at an approximate length of 120 ft., in front of the grandstand side of the stadium.

A decision on additional chain link fence at the stadium will be made after the board decides how to address water runoff at the parking lot and what to do in regards to a sidewalk along the entire east side of the stadium.

Another report from Walsh showed “stadium project expenses’’ and “what’s left to be paid.’’ A $15,633 donation by the Jackson Heights Education Foundation for the project was noted, as was about $8,500 from the Cobra Backers. The “estimated grand total’’ for the project was listed at $472,111, Walsh reported, but did not include the chain link fencing and some end zone grass seeding.

At its meeting, the school board also approved a motion to establish a new capital outlay tax levy of up to 8 mills per year for a time period not to exceed five years.

The Jackson Heights district has had similar capital outlay tax levies in the past, and the school board continues to seek approval for the tax levy in five-year increments, even though the state has given school boards the authority to seek “forever status’’ for the tax levy.

The resolution for the new capital outlay tax levy is published in this edition of The Holton Recorder.

The capital outlay tax levy, according to resolution, could be used for the purpose of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, remodeling, build additions to, furnish, maintain and equip school district property and equipment.

The public notice regarding the resolution will be published in The Recorder twice. If there is no patron opposition during the protest time period, as stated in the public notice, the resolution will take effect.

Walsh provided board members with the list of district goals and priorities that had been set for the 2014-15 school term and suggested that any leftover items from that list might be considered, by the board, for inclusion on a new set for district goals and priorities for the current 2015-16 school term.

Walsh encouraged board members to review the goals and priorities for discussion at the next meeting and possible board retreat.

Walsh also talked to board members about state assessment test results, from tests taken last spring, that are due to be released soon.

She reminded board members that the test results due to be released soon represent the second year of student testing under the new format approved by the State Board of Education, but just the first year that the tests results will be released.

Last year, Walsh said, all of the Kansas state assessment test results were declared invalid due to computer problems.

Walsh reminded board members that Jackson Heights students had performed well under the previous state assessment test guidelines. There is a significant amount of anxiety among educators leading up to the release of the new state assessment tests, however, Walsh said.

“The game is kind of changing,’’ Walsh said. “The new scores will be based on the new formula, which is much more lengthy and complicated. I think parents were getting comfortable with the previous, one-page testing guidelines. Now it’s more like seven to eight pages of guidelines.’’

Walsh also informed board members that while the state assessment tests were given last spring, and the results are due to be announced soon now, how the tests are graded has not officially been finalized.

To make her points about the state assessment tests, Walsh provided copies of the previous way that sixth grade math assessments, and third grade reading assessments were both defined on one page compared to the new way that took up to 10 pages to define.

In her elementary principal’s report, Walsh discussed new social studies standards that, to her she said, seem to be taking a complete opposite approach than the previous ones in that the decision on what to teach for the standards is to be decided exclusively at the local level.

She also reported that elementary students had written letters of appreciation to local military veterans taking the upcoming Honor Fight to Washington, D.C. Each veteran, she said, received four to five letters from Jackson Heights students.

Upcoming activities include first quarter progress reports (Sept. 18), National Constitution Day (Sept. 17), fourth grade trip to water festival (Sept. 17), preschool trip to Custom Creations (Sept. 22) and first grade trip to Baldridge farm (Sept. 22).

The board met in executive session three separate times for a total of 40 minutes to discuss personnel issues.

Upon returning to open session, the board approved motions to hire Brooke Calloway as elementary school secretary, Nancy Sipes and Amanda Robertson as piano accompanists and Diane Keeler as co-sponsor for the musical. The board also approved a motion to accept the resignation of Robert Powers from the maintenance department.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:57 p.m. All board members were present as was Sheri Dibbern, board clerk.