May 11, 2015 Board of Education Meeting

The Baxter Springs board of education held a regular meeting on Monday, May 11, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at 1108 Military. Members present were: DeAnne Binns, Mary Kirkpatrick, Joseph Skye, Chuck Sweeton, and Josh Sweaney. Members absent were:  Melanie Bingham and Brandon Williams.  Also present were:David Pendergraft, Superintendent, Vicki Bradley, Clerk, Cory White, HS Principal, Roger Reynolds, HS Asst. Principal, Jason Walker, MS Principal, Robert Womack, Central Principal, Dennis Burke, Lincoln Principal, Ross Davis, Director of Technology, Daymon McCorkle, Director of Maintenance and Dusty Deringer.

President Binns called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

President Binns led the board and guests in the pledge of allegiance.

Joseph Skye made a motion to adopt the agenda as printed.  Josh Sweaney seconded.   Carried 5-0.

Mary Kirkpatrick made a motion to adopt the consent agenda which included approval of the bills, approval of the minutes of the April 13th and April 28th, 2015 meetings and approval of the treasurer’s report. 

Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 5-0.

Superintendent David Pendergraft recommended extending the food service contract with Oppa! for the 2015-16 school year.  Mary Kirkpatrick made a motion to accept the recommendation of David Pendergraft to extend the food service contract with Opaa! for the 2015-16 school year.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 5-0.

David Pendergraft made a recommendation to set the meal prices for the 2015-16 school year as follows:

Breakfast
Elementary $1.35
MS/HS $1.35
Adult $1.90

Lunch
Elementary $2.20
MS/HS $2.45
Adult $3.45

Chuck Sweeton made a motion to accept the recommendation of David Pendergraft to increase meal prices as presented.  Mary Kirkpatrick seconded.  Carried 5-0.

Chuck Sweeton made a motion to accept an anonymous monetary gift to Baxter Springs Middle School to be matched by General Mills Corporation.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 5-0.

President Binns presented resignations from Ryan Byrd and Michael Clyburn who is retiring at the end of the 2014-15 school year.   Josh Sweaney made a motion to accept the resignations of Ryan Byrd and Michael Clyburn as presented.  Carried 5-0.

Dennis Burke, Lincoln Principal reported on scheduling for the 2015-16 school year.  He also reported that the new reading series has arrived and teachers are looking forward to using the new series beginning next fall.  Mr. Burke reported that the last few days of school involves many fun activities for the primary grade school kids.

Robert Womack, Central Principal reported on end of the year activities including a fun day provided by PTO.  He reported that summer school dates have been set for June 1 – 26 and enrichment  classes at the Soda Fountain will be held July 6-July 31. Mr. Womack also reported that for the 2015-16 school year, Micah Crotts will be reassigned to Title I and the fifth grade will have three classrooms instead of four due to the number of students. Principal Womack also reported that Federal Rural Schools monies will be invested in purchasing iPads for Central to move toward a 1:1 initiative at Central School.  He also reported that Prairie View schools came to visit today to observe the 1:1 initiative at Central. 

Jason Walker, MS Principal reported that state assessments have been completed at the MS as well as the MS Track season is now complete.   Several students received individual awards and the 7th grade girls team received 2nd place in two track meets.   Mr. Walker wanted to publicly thank all the people who helped make the MS invitational track meet a success.  He also wanted to thank Marilyn Gilmore and Cindy Sutterby for making the hospitality room a success. Mr. Walker reported that MS reward day is this Friday at which time students will be rewarded for attendance, GPA, and discipline points for this semester.

Cory White, HS Principal reported that state assessments are complete at the HS level.  He reported that prom was very successful and extended his appreciation to all the staff that were involved in helping to make it a success.  He also reported that the after prom party was a success and expressed his appreciation to all the parents who assisted with the party.  Mr. White reported that state music contest was recently held at Andover and  music instructors, Louis Morgan and Brenda Locke took several students.   Many of the students earned I & II ratings.  He also reported that the spring music concert will be held tomorrow night at 6:30 at BHS.  Mr. White also reported that the Senior Trip went well with no glitches and thanked the sponsors for all of their help as well as extending his appreciation to the board for the transportation and pizza meal. He informed the board that the Senior awards assembly will be held this Friday and graduation ceremonies will be held Saturday at 6:00 p.m. with baccalaurate being held at 4:00 p.m. 

Roger Reynolds, HS Athletic Director, congratulated  HS Baseball Coach Mercer and his coaching staff on earning the title of CNC Conference Champs.  He also reported that league golf meet will be held Wednesday at Schifferdecker Course in Joplin, league track will be at Girard, Baseball Regionals begin Monday with Baxter playing at 2:00 on Tuesday and the girls will play Monday at Parsons but the time slots have not been assigned yet.

Art Roberts, Alternative Learning Director reported that the virtual audit has been completed.  He also reported that there will be an increase in funding for 2015-16 since we are now a stand alone virtual school.  This funding is in conjunction with the block grant.   If the block grant gets shot down in court, then funding will revert to the old formula.  Funding for adults will be paid at  $933 per credit hour.  New legislation also changes the age limit restriction for adult students.  If they are 19 years of age before August 31 they will be considered an adult for funding purposes.  Mr. Roberts also reported that there will be a field trip to MSSU on Wednesday and adult graduation ceremonies have been set for June 19, at 6:00 p.m. at BHS with a reception following at the Soda Fountain.

Daymon McCorkle, Director of Maintenance reported that the recent fire marshall visit went well and the few infractions that were noted have been corrected and documentation has been sent to the state.  He also reported that the sound system has been installed at the Field of Dreams.  Mr. McCorkle also commended the coaches for the time and effort they spend helping to maintain the fields.  He and his staff really appreciate the work they do. He reported that recent projects have included removing the speed bump at the HS entrance, installing partitions at the MS staff restrooms and working on the installation of new playground equipment at Central.  Daymon reported that summer projects include replacing some roof panels at Central School and irrigating the front lawn at Lincoln School.  He also reported that he will obtain bids for asphalt work at the HS parking lot, and repairing the southwest wing roof at Lincoln School.   President Binns commended the maintenance staff for a job well done in keeping our schools looking attractive.

Josh Sweaney made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed, to discuss negotiations in order to protect the public interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract, to discuss acquisition of real property in order to protect the public interest in obtaining the property at a fair price and that we return to open session in this room after a 20 minute period of time.  This executive session shall include the board, Superintendent, Dusty Deringer and administrators as needed.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 5-0. 

7:00 p.m.  Enter executive session.

7:20 p.m.  Resume regular session.

Joseph Skye made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed, to discuss negotiations in order to protect the public interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract, to discuss acquisition of real property in order to protect the public interest in obtaining the property at a fair price and that we return to open session in this room after a 20 minute period of time.  This executive session shall include the board, Superintendent, Dusty Deringer and administrators as needed.  Mary Kirkpatrick seconded.  Carried 5-0. 

7:21 p.m.  Enter executive session.

7:41 p.m.  Resume regular session.

Joseph Skye made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed, to discuss negotiations in order to protect the public interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract, to discuss acquisition of real property in order to protect the public interest in obtaining the property at a fair price and that we return to open session in this room after a 10 minute period of time.  This executive session shall include the board, Superintendent, Dusty Deringer and administrators as needed.  Josh Sweaney seconded.  Carried 5-0. 

7:42 p.m.  Enter executive session.

7:52 p.m.  Resume regular session.

Josh Sweaney made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel in order to protect the privacy of the individuals to be discussed and that we return to open session in this room after a 10 minute period of time.  This session shall include the board, Superintendent, Dusty Deringer and Cory White.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 5-0.

7:53 p.m.  Enter executive session.

8:03 p.m.  Resume regular session. 

David Pendergraft made a recommendation to re-hire all certified staff for the 2015-16 school year.  Chuck Sweeton made a motion to accept the recommendation to re-hire all certified staff for the 2015-16 school year.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 5-0.

David Pendergraft recommended hiring Kenneth Boeckman as Lincoln Elementary Principal for the 2015-16 school year.  Chuck Sweeton made a motion to accept the recommendation of David Pendergraft to hire Kenneth Boeckman as Principal for Lincoln School for the 2015-16 school year.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 5-0.

Roger Reynolds recommended hiring Christine Egan for HS head cheerleading sponsor for the 2015-16 school year.  Mary Kirkpatrick made a motion to accept the recommendation of Roger Reynolds to hire Christine Egan for HS Head Cheerleading Sponsor for the 2015-16 school year.  Josh Sweaney seconded.  Carried 5-0.

Chuck Sweeton wanted to extend his appreciation to the principals who sat in on the interviews for Lincoln School principal.

Dennis Burke addressed the board and thanked them for their support through his tenure as Superintendent of Schools and as Principal at Lincoln School.  He expressed his appreciation for the way the board has always made their decisions based on what was best for the students of USD#508 and expressed that working for the district will always be dear to him and his family.

The board extended their appreciation to Dennis for his years of service to the district and wished him well in his new position at Colgan-St. Mary’s in Pittsburg.

Josh Sweaney made a motion to adjourn.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 5-0.

8:11 p.m.  Meeting adjourned.

Vicki Bradley, Clerk/Board of Education

DeAnne Binns, President/Board of Education