Amid budget cuts, RV B.O.E. considers eliminating the high school golf program

Royal Valley Board of Education members reviewed a list of proposed budget cuts – including the elimination of the high school golf program – during their meeting Monday evening. 

Three of the five board members in attendance (Pat Tuck, Jeff Stithem and Ann Kelly) voted in favor of eliminating the golf program while board members Linda Hegemann and Rusty Douglas voted against the motion. 

The motion to eliminate the program did not pass since four votes (which is the majority of the quorum of the seven-member board) are required by state regulations to pass any motion or resolution.   

Board members Boone Smith and Jim O’Toole were absent from the meeting. The issue is likely to be revisited at the school’s next board meeting, which is set for June 8. 

At the start of the spring season, the roster for the RVHS golf team included five students. Only two students, both sophomores, remained on the team at the end of the season and played in the regional tournament, according to Superintendent John Rundle.  

The cost to operate the program, including coaching salary, entry fees, travel and equipment, is about $5,000, it was reported.

“Our athletic director needs to know as soon as possible if we are going to keep the golf program,” Rundle said. “He hasn’t put together a schedule yet. He’s sitting and waiting for direction on that.”

Some of the additional budget considerations for the 2016-2017 school year include reducing the following expenses:

* Professional development ($5,000).

* Postage/mailings ($5,000). 

* School and district office budgets ($10,000).

* School and district furniture budgets ($10,000).

* School and district cleaning supply budgets ($10,000).

* E-mailing the district newsletter instead of mailing it ($5,000).

“This means we are going to get by with less,” Rundle said. “I’ve looked at all those budgets, and we can make those cuts.” 

Rundle noted that textbook fees have been increased for next year and are expected to generate $7,500 additional funds. Also, he is recommending that the driver education program fees be increased from $125 to $175 for the summer of 2016, which would raise an additional $1,750 for the district. 

“This will still make us a cheap driver’s education program among school districts,” he said.

One of the items being considered for reduction is $3,000 from club-related field trips. 

“We just need to hold ourselves more accountable, and if it’s a necessary trip, then we’ll go,” Rundle said. 

Board member Ann Kelly requested a list of club field trips and their expenses to review at the next meeting. 

Due to two retirements and one resignation, three staff positions are open but will not be filled next year, which is expected to save the district $98,840, Rundle said. 

Board members agreed to review all the proposed budget cuts in the next few weeks in preparation for the next meeting. 

“I am going to need some direction from you from no later than our first board meeting in June,” Rundle said.

In other business, the board:

* Approved consent items.

* Received a draft agenda of the board of education retreat, which is set for 5:30 p.m. June 3 at the district office.  

* Approved a request to allow the wrestling team to use one or two school vans for a trip to the Iron Sharpens Iron team camp in Iowa on June 15 – 21. The team members will pay for all expenses, including fuel.

* Approved a request to allow student Jayme Burger and FCCLA sponsor Monique Litherland to attend the national FCCLA conference and competition this summer. The district will pay for Litherland’s traveling expenses, which are estimated near $1,500. 

* Received a district budget update from Rundle, who noted that the district’s annual audit will be July 15. 

* Received feedback on the district’s technology initiative that included implementing iPads and Chromebooks the second semester of the school year.

The district’s tech team met in early May to discuss the tech initiative, and their comments were typed and submitted to the school board. 

Some of the questions discussed by the tech team included - What have we learned through the technology rollout? What strengths/weaknesses have members seen with the technology initiative? What do we need to consider for next year? 

Mark Haefke, district tech coordinator, requested that the district purchase 23 Chromebooks, which would allow the phasing in of Chromebooks for all sixth-grade students next fall. 

The board approved the purchase at a cost of $7,813.79 from ITsavvy LLC of Addison, Ill. 

* Discussed summer maintenance projects with Rundle, who reported that new LED lighting will be installed at the elementary school gymnasium this summer. The materials are estimated at $11,200 and Russell Pugh, district maintenance supervisor, will install the lights. 

In addition, video surveillance upgrades will be made at the elementary school this summer, including blind spots in the basement hallway and the southeast corner of the playground. 

The cameras will be purchased from American Digital Security of Liberty, Mo. at a cost of $9,812.19.

* Approved the 2015-2016 liability/workers compensation quote from Willis Insurance of Lawrence at a cost of $107,045. Last year’s cost was $113,551.

* Approved the renewal quote of student insurance from Student Assurance of Lawrence at a cost of $16,999.50. This is the same price as last year.

* Approved the Kansas Association of School Boards membership fee at a cost of $9,446 and the KASB Legal Assistance Fund fee at a cost at $1,650. These costs did not increase from last year.

* Accepted the resignations of John Nottingham as the middle and high school band director, Wayne Duncan as a bus driver and Joanne Berns as a Parents As Teachers parent educator. 

* Met in executive session with Rundle and Susan Pfrang, director of curriculum and instruction, for 20 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. 

Back in open session, the board approved food service contracts for the 2015-2016 school year for Donald Keehn (kitchen manager), Dee Troxel (baker), Donna Doherty, Allison Bailey, Christi Ingels and Joan Pahmahmie at the Hoyt schools and Paula Henry (kitchen manager), Debbie Cochran (baker), Jaclyn Long and Penny Hegemann at the Mayetta school. 

The board accepted the coaching resignations from Will Mitchell as an assistant high school football coach and Raub Kirkwood as an assistant high school baseball coach.

Approved new contracts for the 2015-2016 school year with Travis Van Vleck, high school assistant principal; David Boucher, high school social studies teacher, assistant high school football coach and freshman boys basketball assistant coach; David Wingerson, middle school and high school band teacher; and Keith Pelton, high school cross country coach.

The board also approved Rule 10 coaching contracts for the 2015-2016 school year with  David Barta, assistant high school football coach;  Jamie McKinsey, assistant middle school volleyball coach; Doug Spencer, middle school and high school assistant wrestling coach and high school assistant softball coach; and John McManigal, assistant high school softball coach. 

Bus driver positions approved for the 2015-2016 school year included Joan Pahmahmie to fill the position opened by the retirement of Aleta Bullard and Tanya Greeve to fill the three routes for the Early Childhood Center.  

The board also approved all other classified positions for the 2015-2016 school year not previously acted upon.

* Adjourned the meeting.