Progress at new school noted
Within the next couple of weeks, the window frames, windows and doors will all be installed at the new Holton Elementary School, the school board learned Monday evening at its meeting.
Most concrete work inside the new school building has been completed now, except for a flight of stairs going from the first floor of the building to the second floor.
Sheetrock work on the bottom level of the school is nearly complete now also, said Superintendent Dennis Stones, and the building is being heated to around 60 degrees to aid in the sheetrock “mud and taping’’ process.
Stones also said that the installation of metal studs in the new building is almost completed.
The construction company, he said, is gearing up to start laying the asphalt for the school bus drop-off area on the west side of the new school building.
Other construction progress noted included that gas lines are being laid to the building, brick joints are being caulked and the roofwork on the building is nearly completed.
“Things are moving fast and we have made up a lot of time in the last couple of weeks with all of this nice weather,’’ Stones said. “We are still on target within a few days of when we need to have access in May. With the weather looking good over the next two weeks, we should be well on our way to being back on track.’’
Stones added that he and others who have toured the new school building recently have been impressed with the work going on there.
During the new school construction update provided by Stones, he also informed the board about the need to formally approve an $18,450 expenditure that he had okayed involving a “vapor lock’’ concrete additive utilized by the construction company on a cold day when some flooring concrete needed to be poured.
Stones said a decision had to be made quickly whether to use the additive and the expenditure was within the $20,000 limit outlined by the board. The board approved a motion to okay the purchase.
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The board heard from Dr. Randy Watson, commissioner of insurance for the Kansas Department of Education. Among several education topics, Dr. Watson told board members that Kansas needs more associate-degree graduates and that about one half of the careers in the state require workers to have such degrees to excel and advance in their fields.
Dr. Watson also advocated for an alternate high school graduation course path for tech-minded students that should be valued as much as the Board of Regents college-bound course work path.
More about Watson’s hour-long talk will be reported in later editions of The Recorder.
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As of Monday, Stones said, 38 students had been signed up for the community pre-school that the school district will start offering in the fall.
Stones encouraged more parents to enroll their students in the community pre-school and that increased need will prompt an additional class to be offered. He also said some “scholarship’’ funding is being organized for families that may need some financial assistance with the program.
Plans are to keep class sizes to about 12 students per class. It was reported that 18 to 20 students enrolled in the community pre-school have been identified as having some special needs.
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The school board, at its meeting, took action to change the way that the high school selects dance and cheer squads, based on recommendations by staff. The board reviewed the proposed new, nine-page “Spirit Squad Constitution.’’
Starting this spring, judges for the dance and cheer tryouts will be cheerleaders from Washburn University at Topeka, who will do judging for a small fee of about $50, it was reported.
All students trying out for the squads are required to have a citizenship/scholastic rating form filled out by 10 different school staff members – teachers, coaches or administration. High and low scores are then dropped from those forms and an average score is used along with tryout scorecards used by judges.
Dance and cheer squad members who wish to take on additional responsibility as leaders of their squads are now asked to fill out a short application form and be interviewed by sponsors and a member of the school administration.
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The board picked “option three’’ from three proposed school calendar options for next year. First day of classes for grades kindergarten through eighth and ninth grade students will be Aug. 18. The rest of the high school students will start the next day, Aug. 19. Thanksgiving Break will be Nov. 23-25. Winter Break will be Dec. 23-Jan. 4. Spring Break will be March 20-24. HHS graduation will be 6 p.m. on May 20. Last day of classes for other students will be May 24.
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In other business, the school board:
*Enjoyed Pizza Hut pizza with staff before the meeting.
*Approved bills totaling $2,156,067.31.
*Approved March payroll totaling $1,128,350.42.
*Approved the resignations of Gwen Bartles (Central para) and Heather Link (HMS scholars bowl sponsor).
*Approved the hiring of Dyann Parks (HMS ELL para), Samantha Nolte (Onaga, special ed. para) and Tonya Ball (Wetmore special ed. para).
*Accepted the donation of $1,080.09 on behalf of the high school from the Diamond Club for the purchase of netting for fence.
*Accepted the donation of $2,000 on behalf of the high school from the 3-Point Club.
*Accepted the donation of $75 on behalf of the Colorado and Central Elementary Schools from the EUM church, $10 from Phyllis Kathrens and $25 from Barb Kathrens.
*Accepted the donation of $1,900 on behalf of the Holton Middle School from School & Home Partnership to purchase a laminator ($1,600) and library ($300).
*Approved a motion to accept the bid of $3,900 from Pur-O-Zone to reseal the gym floors with two coats of water-based sealer. Southwest Paper submitted a bid of $4,045 for one-coat of water-based sealer.
*Discussed the cost to replace bleachers at the old high school gymnasium. Four-row aluminum bleachers to seat 150 to 175 people will cost about $8,000. Pull-out bleachers to seat up to 215 people will cost about $25,000. The older bleachers will be advertised for sale.
*Approved board of education policy changes as recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards and others.
*Set regular school fees for next year at $45, the same as this year.
*Approved a 15-cent increase to the cost of school meals from $1.35 per breakfast to $1.50 and $2.35 per lunch to $2.50. Milk prices stay the same at 35 cents per carton.
*Approved the summer school and drivers’ education programs.
All summer school activities will take place at the Holton Middle School. Total summer school cost is not to exceed $37,000.
The board approved a motion to move the classroom portion of the drivers’ education program online. Students in the program will have 35 days in April and May to complete the online tests for the program.
The drivers’ education fee for students will increase from $115 to $150, it was decided.
*Approved a motion to renew the one-year contract with Schneider Electric Service of Topeka for service at the Holton Middle School.
*Approved two student trip requests for FFA and FCCLA. Holton FFA will go to Fort Scott CC Aggie Days and other FFA competitions. The district will provide the bus and fuel and students will play for their own meals.
Holton’s FCCLA will be traveling to Wichita on April 3-5 with eight students and two sponsors to participate in the state STAR event and FCCLA Conference. Registration fees are $70, adult meals are $60 and lodging is $230, so total district cost is $360.
*Learned that at recent parent-teacher conferences, 91 percent of parents of third graders attended, 94 percent of the parents of fourth graders attended and 91 percent of the parents of fifth graders attended. Since then, additional parents have met with teachers, also.
*Took a 10-minute break at 8:25 p.m. and returned to open session at 8:35 p.m.
*Approved a motion to enter into executive session at 8:35 p.m. for 20 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel with Superintendent Dennis Stones and Assistant Superintendent Joe Kelly.
*Returned to open session at 8:55 p.m. No action was taken.
*Approved a motion to enter into executive session at 8:55 p.m. for five minutes to discuss non-elected personnel with Supt. Stones, Asst. Supt. Kelly and Mike Porter, maintenance director.
*Returned to open session at 9 p.m. No action was taken.
*Approved a motion to enter into executive session at 9:02 p.m. for 15 minutes to discuss teacher salary negotiations with Stones and Kelly.
*Returned to open session at 9:17 p.m. No action was taken.
*Adjourned the meeting at 9:18 p.m.
*Important dates – No school on Spring break, March 14-18, and Good Friday, March 25.
