Holton board continues discussion on auditorium renovations
Any way you slice it, the start of a new school year is a transitional time and that was certainly reflected in the Holton school board’s first meeting of 2015-2016 held on Monday.
Three new board members (Rex Frazier, Orin Marshall and Carl Matousek) took their seats and the topics addressed by the entire board focused on changes happening in and around the district schools, along with some potential big picture changes at an even higher level.
Specifically, discussion centered on the on-going renovations of the Holton High School auditorium and the construction of the new elementary building, with the new board members more than ready to join the conversation.
HHS Principal Rod Wittmer noted discussions have continued in an effort to get bids and figures in to help determine the total costs of the auditorium renovation project, with the school now mainly working with three companies out of Kansas City and Wichita to determine the necessary expanse of the renovations.
Current projects related to the renovations included the cleaning of the vents in the auditorium, which was recently completed, and the next step will be painting said ceiling.
Other measures that need to be taken include installing new curtains, new sound equipment, new chairs and new lighting, with Wittmer noting the lighting is causing some bidding issues because of the infrastructure of the current electrical system.
Wittmer also said it was initially recommended that the school not pursue LED lighting for the auditorium, but follow-ups with other companies have opened that avenue, with early projected bids for LED lights ranging from $70,000 to $130,000.
Finding a company that the district can foster a good relationship with is part of the key in advancing these renovations as well, according to Wittmer, and that has led him to look into the same company that set up the Holton Middle School sound system and to try in bring Tom Kelly in as a resource on this project.
It is a project that superintendent Dennis Stones said the district is currently addressing in two phases, doing what it can this year and finishing the project next year.
To help with the final stages, Wittmer noted the school will also be looking for donations and presented a preliminary form for interested community members for sponsoring an auditorium chair and other ways to help fund the project.
New board member Carl Matousek looked past the auditorium itself and wanted to make sure the district’s support of the arts doesn’t end when the renovations are completed.
“If we’re going to put the money into it, we have to support the programs,” Matousek said.
Stones noted that’s exactly the point of the project itself, as it will give those students involved in the arts a facility to be proud of and show support to keep those programs (music, drama, etc.) going.
In fact, as Stones put it, providing good facilities for the students of the district is a part of the basic goal of the school board to make sure the learning environment is the best it can be.
“The goal of this board is to turn this district into a blue ribbon school district,” Stones said.
With that in mind, the board members were also focused on an update regarding the new elementary school building project that was presented by Nabholz Construction’s Noe Turrubiartes.
While extended rainfall has put the project two weeks behind, the construction workers have had less of it to deal with in the month of July and Turrubiartes said they will be able to make up some time soon with steel erection and masonry to get under way soon. In fact, he said masonry work on the elevator shift will start today (Wednesday).
Nabholz has been working on the foundation of the building and also recently installed the storm sewer and will continue with more demolition in the coming weeks. Turrubiartes also noted the next owner/architect meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21.
Stones also discussed the parking situation that he and members of Nabholz have discussed trying to set-up, noting the district recently got permission from homeowners to use the alley east of Colorado for bus drop-off purposes during the construction phase. Nabholz has also plotted out some temporary parking spaces around the school.
Board member Orin Marshall raised questions about visibility for bus drivers at the entrance and exit of the alley and Matousek asked if local police officers could help at the onset of the school year, with Stones noting both issues were being addressed.
“At best, parking is going to be a nightmare for a year, but I think we have the best plan we can put together,” Stones said. “The number one goal is to make dropping off kids as safe as possible.”
While the buses will drop off on the east side of the school, a small portion of Dakota St. that was not demolished will remain open for parents to drop kids off before the start of school and Stones noted staff will try and help the direct the flow of traffic early in the school year to help things go as smoothly as possible.
One other item Marshall brought up was looking into a sign to put up at the school thanking the voters for making this project possible.
Other items addressed by the board on Monday included:
*Adopted the agenda.
*Administered the oath of office to all board members.
*Elected Mike Ford (7-0) as board president and Allen Arnold (7-0) as vice president.
*Appointed Rex Frazier as governmental relation representative.
*Approved the consent agenda including minutes, warrants and payroll, the resignation of Angie Suther (SPED IRC Axtell), the retirement of Kathi Kimmi (HHS secretary) and Randel Gier (Central custodian) and the following appointments and approvals for the 2015-2016 school year:
Deputy Clerk- Hailey Mattox
Board treasurer- Jenny Lancaster
Board clerk- Dee Folk
Official Radio Station- WIBW
Authorized representative for school nutrition programs- Hailey Mattox
Hearing officer for free and reduced meal application appeals- Rod Wittmer
District auditor- Jim Long
Freedom Information Officer- Dennis Stones
Official depository- Denison State Bank
District checking account- Denison State Bank
Activity and petty cash account- Holton National Bank
Official newspaper- The Holton Recorder
Truancy officer for the school year- building principals
District KPERS representative- Dee Folk
-Holton special education Co-op representative- Dennis Stones
School attorney- KASB services
Coordinator for homeless children duties- Dennis Stones
Compliance coordinator for federal anti-discrimination laws- Joe Kelly
Resolution stating that USD 336 will be in compliance of all health education and wellness (HEW) regulations
1,116 hour calendar
Wavier of requirements for generally accepted accounting principles
Early payment policy and transfer of funds for PLE and gratis meals
Child nutrition and wellness program agreement for 2015-2016
Official officer for all state reports, federal reports and homeless student liaison- Dennis Stones
District mileage- $0.56/mile
Petty cash funds- $1,500 at BOE and $400 for each school building
Cell phone reimbursement- $60 per month.
*Heard reports from HHS Principal Wittmer that the high school is busy hosting the community theater’s kids camp this week, while also hosted the Blue Stars drum and bugle corps from La Crosse, Wis. on Monday as well. Also heard from Colorado Principal Joe Kelly that Dakota Street had been demolished as part of the new elementary building construction project.
*Approved the HHS advertising campaign for 2015-2016, including the option for local businesses to purchase banner space at the football field and HHS gym, to help the high school raise funds for the graphic arts and athletic programs.
*Heard an update from maintenance director Mike Porter on some projects that are being worked on at the district buildings, noting first that summer clean-up is almost nearly complete at all the schools.
At the middle school, Porter noted the custodial staff worked to fix the tile around the entrance from the north parking lot and did an excellent job. Currently, they are also working on cleaning up playground equipment and at the football field they will be moving the “We are Holton” sign from the visitor’s sideline to the area in front of the scoreboard after some discussion on the issue.
*Approved a bid from Riley Electric of Holton for a new hot water heater at HHS for $827 and one from Arnold’s Refrigeration of Holton for installation at a cost of $2,005.44. Both were the lowest bids received, with the district also getting local bids from McManigal Electric of Holton for the equipment ($1,546) and Topeka’s Custom Sheet Metal & Roofing for installation ($3,300).
*Approved policies CA, CB, CD, CE, CEA, CEC, CEI, CEJ, CL, CMA, CN, CO and CYA for the board handbook as recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards.
*Approved the signature facsimiles for board president Ford and Superintendent Stones.
*Appointed Ford, school board vice president Arnold, Wittmer, Stones, Dee Folk, the PTO president and the alumni president as the Holton Education Foundation Board of Directors.
*Rescinded all policy statements found in the minutes of the Board of Education and adopted the student handbooks and the policy manual as presented by the superintendent.
*Approved substitute teacher pay to remain the same ($90/day) and for long-term substitute pay to be calculated off the base pay of the current negotiated salary schedule starting on the sixth consecutive day of subbing.
*Renewed extended contracts for the same length as the 2014-2015 school year: librarians (10 days), guidance counselors (20 days), FACS (five days), Power, Structural and Technical Systems (10 days), Horticulture Pathways (10 days), Business Finance Pathway (five days), Business and Technology Pathway (five days), Communication Technology Pathway (four days), a $1,500 stipend for SPED speech and a $3,000 stipend for SPED psychologists.
*Approved the destruction of old records.
*Set the official budget hearing for Monday, Aug. 10 at 6:05 p.m., with an official state budget documents yet to be released. Stones noted he expects see those by today (Wednesday) or Thursday and have more information to share at the next board meeting on July 27.
*Were presented the unencumbered cash balances, what has been transferred from each district fund, which will now by reported once a month instead of once a year.
*Received policy recommendations from the KASB to be reviewed for the August board meeting.
*Met in executive session for a total of one hour and two minutes to discuss matters pertaining to non-elected personnel and teacher salary negotiations.
*Approved HHS Assistant Principal Jason Schroeder as the new transportation director (with an additional $5,000 stipend), taking over for Joe Kelly in the 2015-2016 school year.
*Approved the hiring of Krista Bruggeman (HHS language arts), Lane Lassiter (asst. HMS football coach) and Tine Haefke (SPED asst. director).
*Noted the presence of all board members.
*Adjourned meeting at 9:20 p.m.
