RV B.O.E. discusses new election cycle

Changes in the school board election process were outlined during the Royal Valley Board of Education meeting Monday night.

 During the 45-minute meeting at the district office in Mayetta, Superintendent Aaric Davis discussed new school board election procedures since state legislators recently passed a law to move those elections from the spring to the fall.

Previously, school board general elections were held in the spring of odd-numbered years with terms starting July 1. 

The new law, House Bill 2104, now requires these elections to be held in the fall during the general election with terms starting Jan. 1. 

If necessary, a primary election will be held on the first Tuesday in August of odd-numbered years. 

The school board election previously scheduled for spring 2017 will now be held in November 2017. Candidates on that ballot will include those seeking positions four, five and six, which are currently held by Linda Hegemann, Jeff Stithem and Ann Kelly. 

“We’re going to have to pass a resolution later this year to extend all the current terms for those positions for six months since the new terms don’t start until the second Monday in January,” Davis said.  

Davis said there are still a few unknowns about the election change, including whether board officers will still be elected in July, which is the start of the new school year budget cycle, or in January. 

Those seeking election to position four, five or six must file by noon on June 1, 2017, at the Jackson County Clerk’s Office in order to be included on the Nov. 7, 2017 ballot, it was reported. 

The other board seats, which include positions one, two, three and seven, will be included on the Nov. 5, 2019 ballot. 

All board members serve four-year terms.

 In other business, the board:

* Approved consent items.

* Was introduced to new staff members Kayleen Fleming (eighth-grade English teacher), Angela Fletcher (high school special education teacher), Sheila McVicker (elementary special education teacher) and Nathan Smith (high school math teacher).

* Heard a report on the FCCLA National Conference this summer in San Diego from high school students Erin Daugherty and Mary Broxterman. They received gold medals in their STAR events. The students thanked the board for their support of their trip.

* Discussed participation in the Kansas Association of School Boards fall summits, which are set for Sept. 29 in Salina and Oct. 4 in Overland Park.

* Received updated enrollment projections from Davis.

A total of 283 students are currently enrolled at the elementary school, including 64 kindergarten students.

At the middle school, there are 292 students, up 22 students from last year. The largest class is the sixth-grade class with 84 students. 

The high school has a total of 261 students enrolled for the school year, which is the same as last year. The official count date is Sept. 20. 

“Our FTE is going to be higher than last year,” Davis said. 

Last year, Royal Valley’s enrollment dropped just enough to classify the school as 3A by the Kansas State High School Athletic Association. KSHSAA releases its classifications near the end of September. 

* Discussed the possible purchase of a new lawn mower for use at the middle school in Mayetta. No action was taken on the issue. 

* Approved an annual audit contract with Jim Long of Karlin and Long LLC for a total cost of $5,000.

* Approved an annual budget resolution. A state law requires any school district that increases its budget by more than the Consumer Price Index from the previous year publish a notice in the newspaper. 

* Approved changes to the district’s health insurance plans being offered this year.

The four original plans set to be offered have been modified by Lifestyle Health Plans, Davis said, since one of those plans was non-ACA (Affordable Care Act) compliant.  

* Met in executive session for 15 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel.

 Back in open session, the board approved a 12-week family medical leave request for Laura Snyder, choir teacher, and agreed to allow Jeff Gustin, athletic director, to seek an additional assistant volleyball coach. 

 * Adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m. All board members were present.