The Baxter Springs board of education held a regular meeting on Monday, September 12, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.  Members present were:  DeAnne Binns, Mary Kirkpatrick, Dusty Deringer, Chuck Sweeton and Josh Sweaney.  Members absent were:  Brandon Williams.  Also present were:  David Pendergraft, Superintendent, Vicki Bradley, Clerk, Cory White, HS Principal, Robert Womack, Central Principal, Art Roberts, Alternative Learning Director, Daymon McCorkle, Maintenance & Grounds Director, Arthur Commons, Secondary Curriculum Director, Stephanie Dewey, MS Teacher, Larry Crozier, Bob Hall, Casey Eaton and Linda Crotts candidates for board position, Rev. Shane Dotson, President of the Ministerial Alliance, and Thomas Niegisch of KissTECH.

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

Josh Sweaney led the board and guests in the pledge of allegiance.  Rev. Shane Dotson led the board and guests in a word of prayer.

Chuck Sweeton made a motion to approve the annotated agenda adding approval of Resolution for Municipal Investment Pool under Superintendents Report and adding hiring of National Honor Society Sponsor under Item VII.  Josh Sweaney seconded.  Carried 5-0. 

Dusty Deringer made a motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the bills, approval of minutes of the August 8^th and August 22^nd, 2016 meetings, and approval of the treasurer’s report. Chuck Sweeton seconded.  Carried 5-0.

President Binns introduced the candidates for the open board position.  Each candidate was given five minutes each to introduce themselves, tell a little about themselves and state their reason for wanting to serve on the USD#508 Board of Education.  Candidates were:  Linda Crotts, Larry Crozier, Casey Eaton and Bob Hall.  Another candidate Beth Cullum was unable to attend.

The board expressed their appreciation to the candidates for being willing to serve on the board and for attending this meeting.

Superintendent Pendergraft introduced Michael Kipp, who is our Special Education teacher for grades 6-8 and is new to the district this year.  Mr. Kipp gave the board a brief history about himself and his family and thanked them for the opportunity to work in USD#508.

President Binns reported that she has heard nothing but excitement around town concerning the football team, the band and the enthusiasm of the student body and expressed her pride in being a Baxter Lion.

Superintendent Pendergraft updated the board on preliminary enrollment figures.  The official count day is September 20.  He stated that free meal applications are up approximately 20 students this year.

Superintendent Pendergraft presented a resolution to authorize David Pendergraft, Superintendent, Vicki Bradley, Clerk and Carrie Oakes, Deputy Clerk, as signers on the Municipal Investment Pool account.  Dusty Deringer made a motion to approve the resolution to authorize David Pendergraft, Vicki Bradley and Carrie Oakes as signers on the Municipal Investment Pool account.  Mary Kirkpatrick seconded.  Carried 5-0.

Robert Womack, Central Principal reported that school is off to a great start in his building.  He expressed his joy in watching the third grade students excitement as they begin their tenure in a new school after leaving Lincoln.  He reported that the transition from departmentalization to self-contained classrooms has gone well and teachers have done a great job in transitioning.  Mr. Womack also reported that Mr. Nelson has met with the students and given ground rules for the “Buddy Bench” on the playground.  This bench provides a place for students to go to and encourages them to make new friendships.  He also expressed his appreciation to the HS Art Department for painting the bench.  Mr. Womack reported that Central School will be beginning a new Student Ambassador Program. This will be similar to a student council in giving the students a leadership role.  The students will go through an application process, provide references and an interview process.  Then two students from each grade level will be chosen to serve as ambassadors.  He also reported that eighteen girls have come out for intramural volleyball.

Cory White, HS Principal reported that students are excited and teachers are engaged and we are off to a great start at BHS.   He reported that cross country, golf, volleyball and our football team are all off to a great start.  Mr. White also said the HS band was very energetic getting the crowd engaged at the game.  HS Play practice and scholar bowl practices are both underway at the HS as well.

Mr. White reported that they are working to increase ACT scores and they have increased them by over one point.  He reported that the Band will have a fund raiser in October which will fund their annual trip in February.  Mr. White also reported that they are targeting our graduation rates and success of the students in the classroom.  He expressed to the board that he would like to offer a tangible incentive to the students to improve student success rates.  His goal is to have a zero failure rate with no students receiving an “F” grade.  He asked the board for permission to offer an incentive of a day out of school if the entire student body achieved a zero failure rate.  It was the consensus of the board to allow Mr. White to proceed with this.

The board inquired about the new welding program, the new cosmetology program and the work study program.  Mr. White reported that the welding and cosmetology program were off to a great start and that these students would come out of these programs with certificates ready to work.  This results in student achievement and success as well as a substantial financial savings for these students because of the $43.00 per credit hour cost and the fees being waived.  Mr. Commons reported that there are a total of 104 classes being offered to students either through on-line or concurrent classes.  Mr. White also reported that we currently have two students in the work study program and it is working out nicely for them.

Chuck Sweeton also commended Coach Travis Avery, our cross country coach for running with the students and being right along side them in their training.

Art Roberts, Alternative Learning Director, reported that currently we have twenty HS students and eleven adults enrolled.  He stated that he has conducted an orientation with each family and the program is off to a good start.  He reported that several changes have been made this year, with courses being updated the first part of August, meals are now being provided by Opaa, and the after school program has been shortened this year to run from 3:15 – 5:00.  Susan Archer and Sara Davis are in charge of the after school program.  The focus will be on credit recovery, tutoring and homework.  There are currently about 20-30 students attending this program.

Cory White, HS Principal reported that Mrs. Bottorff and other HS teachers have initiated a FIT program.  This is a 5-6 week program which will be done in segments.

F = Future

I = Interpersonal/intrapersonal skills

T= Technology safe & technology smart. 

There will be a theme each week and every six weeks, students will be in a drawing to receive a fit-bit.

Arthur Commons, Secondary Curriculum Director reported on writing requirements and how that is integrated into each classroom in grades 7-12.  He reported that there are eight different types of writing and questions.  Depending upon the class and the question, the student is given a template to begin with and to encourage kids to get deeper into their thinking.  Mr. Commons reported on curriculum alignment and going public.  He reported that parents are now able to go to our website and see what their child is learning in our English classes.  He also reported that our English classes do not use textbooks, but they do have a writing guide.  English teachers are able to pull from many different sources rather than just one textbook in order to teach their classes.  Students have all been trained on how to navigate on-line to where those sources are. The board expressed their appreciation to Mr. Commons for his hard work.

Daymon McCorkle, Maintenance and Grounds Director, reported that all fall sports are off to a good start.  The board commended Daymon for the way the football field looked.  Mr. McCorkle stated that he had a fantastic staff and that with Ralph Rutledge Lawn Service, and the maintenance staff they were able to keep the grounds looking good.  He also praised all of his custodial and maintenance crew for a job well done.  Mr. Pendergraft commended Daymon for mowing the football field on Labor Day and stated that many hours are put in when others are not at work because the grounds work never stops even for a holiday.  On behalf of all the custodial and maintenance staff, Daymon expressed his appreciation to the board for the recent raise that was given.

Mr. White informed the board that on September 24, 2016 the HS/MS Student Councils will be holding a benefit breakfast at the High School for Kevin Fanning, who recently suffered injuries in a car accident.

Dusty Deringer made a motion to take a five minute recess and then to enter into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel and acquisition of real property in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed and 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 and Superintendent.  Mary Kirkpatrick seconded.  Carried 5-0.

7:00 p.m.  Recess began.

7:05 p.m.  Recess ended and executive session began.

7:15 p.m.  Resume regular session.

Dusty Deringer made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel and acquisition of real property in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed and to protect the public interest in the 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 and Superintendent.  Josh Sweaney seconded.  Carried 5-0.

7:15 p.m.  Enter executive session.

7:25 p.m.  Resume regular session.

Cory White made a recommendation to hire Kayla Ingalls for HS Freshman sponsor for the 2016-17 school year.  Josh Sweaney made a motion to accept the recommendation of Cory White to hire Kayla Ingalls for HS Freshman Sponsor for the 2016-17 school year.  Chuck Sweeton seconded.  Carried 5-0. 

Cory White made a recommendation to hire Leslie Bowman as National Honor Society Sponsor for the 2016-17 school year.  Josh Sweaney made a motion to accept the recommendation of Cory White to hire Leslie Bowman as National Honor Society Sponsor for the 2016-17 school year.  Dusty Deringer seconded.  Carried 5-0.

President Binns presented a proposal from the Weir family to donate property located at 335 Lincoln Street to the district.  Mary Kirkpatrick made a motion to accept the donation of property located at 335 Lincoln Street from the Weir family as presented.  Chuck Sweeton seconded.  Carried 5-0.

Josh Sweaney made a motion to adjourn.  Mary Kirkpatrick seconded.  Carried 5-0.

7:28 p.m.  Meeting adjourned.

Vicki Bradley                                    DeAnne Binns

Clerk/Board of Education                  President/Board of Education