Fund-raising continues for concession stand
Fund-raising for concession stand and press box upgrades at the Jackson Heights football stadium is nearly halfway to a goal set by fund drive organizers, the Jackson Heights USD 335 Board of Education learned on Monday.
During the board’s regular meeting, fund drive organizer Larry Amon said that in less than a month since the drive got under way, about $34,500 has been raised toward the $74,000 goal of repairing the press box, rebuilding the concession stand area underneath the football bleachers as an equipment storage area and turning the old high school weight room into a new concession stand.
Board members authorized Amon to go ahead with the press box repairs and concession stand construction even though, as he told board members in regard to collecting donations, “we’re not done yet.” Still, board member Melinda Wareham encouraged the rest of the board to allow Amon to get going with the work and “proceed as if we’re going to get the rest” of the needed funds.
“We’re moving forward,” Wareham told Amon. “I’m impressed with what you’ve been able to do so far.”
A volunteer effort to renovate the press box, build a new concession stand in the old weight room and remodeling the old concession area had been announced in June. Fund-raisers are aiming to have the project completed in time for the JHHS Cobras’ first football game this fall, it was reported.
So far, the district has collected about $7,250 in donations, and Amon told board members he had another $10,250 in “checks in hand” along with abother $5,500 in checks not yet delivered to the fund-raising effort. Other pledges and “promised amounts” bring the donation total to $34,500, the last $20,000 of which was noted over a two-day period prior to the meeting, he said.
“People have really been responsive to it,” he told the board. “They thought it was needed.”
The only concern about the work, voiced by board member Kelly Kennedy, involves the size of the new storage area under the bleachers. Kennedy said that work will take place “right where we bring buses in for other teams” and could make bus travel through the parking lot difficult.
Tax-deductible donations for the project may be made to the Jackson Heights Educational Foundation, it was reported, with “press box” as the designated beneficiary of the donation. Checks may be mailed to the Jackson Heights Educational Foundation, 12692 266th Road, Holton, KS 66436. For more information, call Amon at 364-8093 or Jim Schumann at (785) 933-3233.
In other business on Monday, board members authorized Superintendent and Elementary Principal Adrianne Walsh to apply for funding under the state’s extraordinary need state aid program, through which any school district that will receive less in local option budget state aid for 2016-17 than in the previous year, resulting in a mill rate increase of 2.5 mills or more, may apply for funding assistance.
As a result of legislative action taken by state lawmakers at the end of June in order to keep Kansas schools open, many schools in Kansas will be receiving less in LOB aid under the old funding formula that was reinstated in place of the block grant funding program. Jackson Heights stands to lose more than $46,000 this way, it was reported.
School districts may also request aid from the extraordinary need program if the LOB loss will result in a mill rate increase of 2.5 or more for the 2016-17 school year, it was reported. Board members noted the district’s year-to-year increase would likely be about 2.7 mills.
Board members also:
* Approved the meeting’s agenda and consent agenda, the latter including minutes from the board’s June meeting and monthly bills and activity reports.
* Re-elected Dr. David Allen as board president and Konrad Coe as vice president.
* Approved financial designations for the 2016-17 school year, including approval of activity accounting funds at the schools, a waiver of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and fixed-asset accounting and approval of starting petty cash balances of $750 each at the elementary and high schools and $1,000 at the district office.
* Approved board of education appointments for 2016-17, including board clerk, Sheri Dibbern; district treasurer, Patsy Jones; district office and elementary school custodian of records, Walsh; middle/high school custodian of records, Darren Shupe; federal program representative, Walsh; middle/high school attendance officer, Shupe; elementary school attendance officer, Walsh; KPERS designated agent, Dibbern; board attorney, KASB; truancy officer, Shupe; district hearing officer, Walsh; district Freedom of Information officer, Walsh; KASB government relations network representative, Wareham; food service representative, Walsh; homeless liaison representative, Joel Hesed; hearing officer for free and reduced application appeal, Walsh; free and reduced applications determining officer, Dibbern; free and reduced applications confirming officer, Brandi Fritz; and approval of signature stamps for the superintendent, board president and treasurer.
* Approved board resolutions for 2016-17, including authorization of a 1,116-hour school year, designation of The Farmers State Bank of Holton as official depository, designation of The Holton Recorder as official district newspaper, early payment of bills, participation in federal programs, establishment of Home Rule and setting a reimbursement rate of 54 cents per mile.
* Heard a report from Walsh on the possibility of a civic engagement pilot program in the district, facility improvements and maintenance work being done over the summer, and district vehicle inspections.
* Voted to reschedule the board’s August meeting from Monday, Aug. 8 to Monday, Aug. 15 to allow a hearing to be held on the district’s 2016-17 budget. Walsh said the budget hearing could not be held on Aug. 8, noting the required 10-day period between budget publication and hearing.
* Set 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month as the board’s regular meeting time for the next year.
* Approved a $40 enrollment fee for textbooks for the 2016-17 school year, as well as a textbook waiver for families who qualify for free meals.
* Voted to discontinue student accident insurance through K&K Insurance of Fort Wayne, Ind. Walsh said cancellation of the insurance was recommended due to a doubling of the premium from $7,257 last year to $14,514 in the coming year if the board did not seek to increase the deductibel on the insurance.
* Approved proposed changes to the middle and high school student handbook for 2016-17.
* Met in executive session for 45 minutes to discuss matters of non-elected personnel.
* Following the session, board members accepted the resignation of Josh Gray from his supplemental positions as assistant football and basketball coach.
* Adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m. All board members were present.
