RV unveils new logo

Royal Valley has unveiled a new school logo featuring a panther, the school’s mascot.

During the USD 337 Board of Education on Monday, board members reviewed the new logo and approved a logo use guide, with information on how students and staff members can use the logo (colors, fonts, etc….).

Superintendent John Rundle said that the logo was created by Cory Triplett, art teacher at the middle school, and that the district has been granted state trademark rights for use of the logo.

Triplett said that he was approached by Rundle and Barb Williamson, RVHS library media specialist, last fall about creating an image for the school's website and social media.

“From there, it has changed from solely a digital use logo to a district wide logo,” Triplett said.

Triplett began working on the logo last summer.

“I spent the summer researching logos and panther images to help develop my ideas,” he said. “I then sketched out my ideas. The final image was drawn and finalized using a digital drawing tablet.” 

Triplett said that the logo was designed to portray “strength and pride.”

“I also wanted to create a logo that could stand the test of time without becoming outdated,” he said. “Reactions to the logo have been very positive. The district and staff already have multiple ways they want to use it.”

Also during the meeting, the board learned that the district is eligible to receive up to a $40,000 rebate from the Environmental Protection Agency for the purchase of two new school buses. Each bus purchased is eligible for a $20,000 rebate, it was reported.

Jeff Gustin, the district’s transportation coordinator, submitted an application to the EPA in November and was recently notified that RV had been accepted. The rebate is used to reduce harmful emissions in the air by updating older buses.

Rundle said that the district has 90 days to submit a purchase order for the buses and that the purchases could be paid out of next year’s capital outlay funds.

The buses eligible for the rebate are a 1999 bus with 204,256 miles and a 2002 bus with 209,050 miles. The district does not have to purchase two buses, it was reported.

Board members made and approved a motion to start the bidding process for the purchase of two new school buses. Bids will be available to review at the district’s February meeting, Rundle said.

In other business, the board:

* Approved consent items.

* Met in executive session for 20 minutes to discuss the privacy rights of an individual with Rundle and Susan Pfrang, director of curriculum and instruction.

*  Heard a report on the Kansas Association of School Boards convention from board members Jeff Stithem, Pat Tuck, Ann Kelly and Boone Smith.

Some of the workshops that members attended included using student data correctly in schools, lowering school costs through innovation and one-to-one technology in schools.

* Collected superintendent evaluation forms.

* Received a preliminary Impact Aid Report from Rundle. Some of the funds have been held due to Congress failing to pass a budget for fiscal year 2015.

“We’re expecting that the funding should be at or above the previous year’s level,” Rundle said. “Until there is an appropriation, you never really know.”

* Discussed some staff concerns with the proposed 2015-2016 school calendar. The main concerns were with the proposed Aug. 12 start date, with several teachers saying it was too early for students.

With this draft, the last day of school would be May 12. Some staff are also concerned with graduation again falling on Mother’s Day.

Rundle developed a second draft calendar with an Aug. 19 start date, which would push the last day of school to May 19.

The board reviewed and discussed both options and agreed to allow Rundle to share the second draft calendar with staff to hear their opinions before making a final decision on the calendar.

* Approved the school site council memberships as presented.

* Approved a resolution to allow the district to rollover up to $500 in unused Flexible Spending Account funds.

* Approved a payment of $24,525 to Shirley Construction of Topeka for work on the RVHS greenhouse.

* Accepted a $1,000 Healthy Habits for Life grant through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase an X-box gaming system and some fitness games that could be used during the lunch hour and P.E. classes.

* Approved regalia purchases for the Native American Singers and Dancers. The items totaled $400 and will be paid for by Impact Aid funds.

* Approved an early graduation request from Jim Holloman, RVHS principal, to allow Karrigan Coan to graduate at the end of the semester.

* Met in executive session for 20 minutes with Rundle and Pfrang to discussed non-elected personnel and teacher salary negotiations.

Back in open session, the board accepted resignations from Terry Joy as a middle school custodian, Geri Harvey as the middle school head volleyball coach and Taeshaud Jackson as the freshmen boys basketball coach.

The board offered letters of employment to Callee Hainline as an early childhood paraprofessional and Donald Keehn as the Hoyt site kitchen manager.

Coaching contracts were also offered to Jake Lott as the high school assistant track coach and Nick Burgoon as the freshmen boys basketball coach.

* Adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m. All board members were present.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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