The Baxter Springs board of education held a regular meeting on Monday, April 11, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at 1108 Military.  Members present were:  Joseph Skye, Dusty Deringer, DeAnne Binns and Chuck Sweeton. Members absent were:  Josh Sweaney, Brandon Williams and Mary Kirkpatrick.   Also present were:  David Pendergraft, Superintendent, Vicki Bradley, Clerk, Ross Davis, Technology Director, Cory White, HS Principal, Roger Reynolds, HS Asst. Principal, Jason Walker, MS Principal, Robert Womack, Central Principal, Ken Boeckman, Lincoln Principal, Sharon Cannon, teacher, Lynn Grant, Kansas Senate Candidate, Daryl Eagon, CPA-Diehl, Banwort and Bolton, Rev. Jake Stivers, of Crossroads Church, Holly Morris of Opaa! and Larry Cannon, teacher. 

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

Dusty Deringer led the board and guests in the pledge of allegiance and Rev. Jake Stivers led the board and guests in a word of prayer. 

Joseph Skye made a motion to approve the agenda as printed.  Dusty Deringer seconded.  Carried 4-0.

Dusty Deringer made a motion to approve the consent agenda which included the approval of payment of bills, approval of the minutes of the March 7^th, 2016 meeting and the treasurer’s report.    Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 4-0.

Sharon Cannon, teacher at Central School addressed the board to express her appreciation for the opportunity to teach 20 years in our district as she is retiring at the end of the 2015-16 school year.

Dusty Deringer introduced Lynn Grant, a Democratic  Kansas Senate Candidate for District 13.  Mrs. Grant addressed the board and expressed her support for public education as a Senate candidate.

Daryl Eagon, CPA of Diehl, Banwort and Bolton presented the FY15 audit report.  Joseph Skye made a motion to approve the audit report as presented.  Dusty Deringer seconded.  Carried 4-0.

President Binns expressed her appreciation to the board and staff for their support during the recent loss of her mother.

Superintendent Pendergraft gave a legislative update to the board regarding school finance.  The legislature has passed the new school funding bill and it has been sent to the Kansas Supreme Court to review.  The Supreme Court will give their opinion by May 10.   He also reported that EMC will be issuing a check in the amount of $60,339 for flood damage to the HS track.   

Superintendent Pendergraft reported that we have received an offer on property that we have listed with Farmers National Company north of the high school.  The offer received is for $1515.00 per acre for approximately 26.4 acres north of the High School, with the sale being contingent upon the buyer closing on adjoining property to the east.

Chuck Sweeton made a motion to accept the $1515.00 per acre for the approximate 26.4 acres of land north of the high school and to give authority to David Pendergraft to sign all necessary paperwork for the sale of this property.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 4-0.

Ken Boeckman, Lincoln Principal reported that some of the students have gone to the Amazeum in Arkansas, with the rest of them going in the near future.   He reported that it was a great field trip and expressed appreciation to the Lee Scott family for giving our students this opportunity.  Mr. Boeckman also reported that training for the Zoophonics program will begin this next week and all teachers from Pre-K through 2^nd grade will be trained.  He also reported that he has checked on the insurance issue on the therapy dog that the board asked him to report back on.  The teacher will secure a separate insurance on the dog and the district will be named on the policy as well.   Dusty Deringer made a motion to allow the therapy dog to be used at Lincoln School with all expenses including insurance to be provided by the teacher who owns the dog.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 4-0.  It was the consensus of the board that the teacher must provide a copy of the insurance to the district before the therapy dog is placed at Lincoln School and that periodic checks be made to ensure that the insurance is still in place.

Robert Womack, Central Principal reported that the 6^th grade music class recently went to NEO and did a great job.  He also reported that the focus group meetings have been held and those went really well. Mr. Womack also reported that State assessment testing is underway.  He reported that Central School students will be going to the Amazeum on April 27.

Holly Morris from Opaa! reported on the focus group meetings.  She reported that the meetings have been very informative with students giving their likes and dislikes.  She reported that there will be changes in the menus coming at Central and Lincoln.  Focus group meetings with the High School and Middle School will be held at the end of this week or next week due to a food service audit this week

Jason Walker, MS Principal reported that a fiber had been cut at KU so they have been struggling with assessment testing. He also reported that a STUCO dance was held on April 1 and it went very well.  He expressed appreciation to Lori Kellum and Stephanie Dewey for all their hard work and the STUCO members.  He also reported that the choir went to NEO and received a I rating.  Mr. Walker also reported that MS track season is off to a fast start.  Our home meet will be held Thursday and Mr. Walker expressed his appreciation to staff members throughout the district who step up and volunteer their time to help host this meet.  He stated that without everyone volunteering their time to help, it would be impossible to host a meet and he wanted to express his gratitude.

Cory White, HS Principal reported that the CNC Music Festival which was held recently went really well.  He expressed his appreciation to Mrs. Locke and Mr. Morgan for their help.  He also reported that recent music contests at Pitt State went well with many kids placing.  Mr. White reported that KDOT recently held a couple of assemblies at the high school with area students being invited to attend.  One of the events included an impaired driving simulation on the HS parking lot with School Resource Officer Comer.  He also reported that  Baseball, softball and track seasons are going great. Currently our baseball team is 7-0, and softball is 7-1.  Softball regionals will be hosted here this year.  Mr. White reported that ACT test prep was held this past week.  He also reported that the Welding program is a go for our students and that there will possibly be a cosmetology program at a neighboring school that our students can take advantage of.  Mr. White reported that state assessments will be given the last week in April; this Saturday is prom and May 14 is graduation.

Ross Davis, Technology Director reported that the technology for assessments was working on our end of things, it was the fiber cut at KU that was causing the problem for administering the State assessment tests.  He also reported that Tonya Burggraff is helping at Central with technology and is doing an amazing job.

Mr. Davis also reported on the Necessities  Closet that was recently set up to help students with basic needs.  Phase I has been initiated with a generous donation by the Kiwanis Club.  Counselors, secretaries and physical education teachers have been a great asset to this program in helping to get students needs met. We are now in the process of moving to Phase 2 which will be assisting students with clothing needs.

Dusty Deringer made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel and negotiations in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed and to protect the publics interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract and that we return to open session in this room after a 10 minute period of time.  This executive session is to include the board, Superintendent and administrators as needed.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 4-0.

7:39 p.m.  Enter executive session.

7:49 p.m.  Resume regular session.

Joseph Skye made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel and negotiations in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed and to protect the publics interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract and that we return to open session in this room after a 5 minute period of time.  This executive session is to include the board, Superintendent and administrators as needed.  Dusty Deringer seconded.  Carried 4-0.

7:50 p.m.  Enter executive session.

7:55 p.m.  Resume regular session.

Chuck Sweeton made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel and negotiations in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed and to protect the publics interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract and that we return to open session in this room after a 10 minute period of time.  This executive session is to include the board, Superintendent and Cory White.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 4-0.

7:56 p.m.  Enter executive session.

8:06 p.m.  Resume regular session.

Dusty Deringer made a motion to adjourn.  Joseph Skye seconded.  Carried 4-0

Meeting adjourned.  8:10 p.m.

Vicki Bradley                                     DeAnne BInns

Clerk/Board of Education                  President/Board of Education