The Baxter Springs board of education held a regular meeting on Monday, September 11, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at 1108 Military. Members present were: DeAnne Binns, Dusty Deringer, Chuck Sweeton, Casey Eaton, Mary Kirkpatrick, Brandon Williams and Josh Sweaney. Also present were: David Pendergraft, Superintendent, Vicki Bradley, Clerk, Cory White, HS Principal, Jason Walker, MS Principal, Robert Womack, Central Principal, Ken Boeckman, Lincoln Principal, Art Roberts, Alternative Learning Director, Daymon McCorkle, Director of Maintenance and Grounds and Stephanie Dewey, MS Teacher.
President BInns called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Brandon Williams led the board and guests in the pledge of allegiance.
Dusty Deringer made a motion to approve the amended agenda adding under Item VI, hiring of assistant scholar bowl coach and correcting item b under Item VI, to read 8th grade head boys basketball coach instead of 7th grade. Brandon Williams seconded. Carried 7-0.
Brandon Williams made a motion to approve the consent agenda which included payment of the bills, approval of minutes of the August 14 and August 21 meetings and approval of the treasurers report. Josh Sweaney seconded. Carried 7-0.
Superintendent Pendergraft presented board policy GAAF for approval. Dusty Deringer made a motion to approve policy GAAF as presented. Brandon Williams seconded. Carried 7-0.
Superintendent Pendergraft presented a resignation from Jamie Channel as HS Assistant Softball coach. Josh Sweaney made a motion to accept the resignation of Jamie Channel as presented. Casey Eaton seconded. Carried 7-0.
Superintendent Pendergraft recommended purchasing a Ford Transit Van with the upgraded Eco-Boost engine at a cost of $28,300. Mary Kirkpatrick made a motion to purchase the Ford Transit van with the upgraded Eco-Boost engine as presented. Josh Sweaney seconded. Carried 7-0.
Superintendent Pendergraft presented the 2017-18 Classified Handbook for approval with changes of increasing the health insurance benefit amount and adding that employees who have retired from USD#508 and are now working in a classified position at USD#508 are not eligible to join the sick leave pool. Brandon Williams made a motion to approve the classified handbook for 2017-18 with changes as presented. Casey Eaton seconded. Carried 7-0.
Vicki Bradley, Clerk made a request to the board to authorize Carrie Oakes to be added as an authorized signature on the general checking account, petty cash checking account and the American Business (bond & interest) checking account at American Bank, and to authorize Carrie Oakes and David Pendergraft to be added as authorized signatures on the Dorothy Taylor Scholarship CD and the Safety Deposit Box at American Bank. Mrs. Bradley made this request to ensure all accounts have authorized signatures upon her retirement in December. Chuck Sweeton made a motion to approve the authorization of Carrie Oakes and David Pendergraft as authorized signatures on the American Bank accounts as presented. Mary Kirkpatrick seconded. Carried 7-0.
Superintendent Pendergraft brought the board up to date on the proposed traffic signal light at the entrance of Baxter High School.
Dusty Deringer made a motion to direct the superintendent to write and publish an RFP in relation to the engineering and design study for traffic control at the entrance to Baxter High School. Brandon Williams seconded. Carried 7-0.
Reports presented to the board were as follows:
LINCOLN SCHOOL– Principal Ken Boeckman reported on attending the recent KTOY banquet in Topeka with USD#508 candidate Terri Adams. Mr. Boeckman also reported that students enjoyed learning about the solar eclipse. He reported that Lincoln School is proud to host three student teachers this semester, two pre-lab students and one student who is doing a hybrid course for his administration degree. All these students are attending PSU. Mr. Boeckman reported that counselor Gene Nelson is working with students on listening skills.
CENTRAL SCHOOL – Principal Robert Womack reported that Central School is off to a great start. He reported that the Community Clinic provided a few pairs of approved glasses to view the eclipse in light of the district having their order cancelled. He reported that a news crew also filmed the students while they were working on their cereal boxes in order to view the solar eclipse. All the students enjoyed learning about the eclipse and getting to view it. Principal Womack also reported that the 6th grade students will be attending leadership training at Greenbush once a month.
MIDDLE SCHOOL – Principal Jason Walker reported that the Community Clinic gave them 30 glasses for the kids to view the eclipse and he expressed his appreciation to them for that donation. Mr. Walker reported that each year KSHSAA puts on a clinic which was held at Chanute, and the MS Cheerleaders attended this clinic. They learned about safety while cheering and doing stunts as well as learning some new cheers and chants. He also reported that Life Choices, which is a two week abstinence based sex education program is being conducted now. Students have to opt in the program. Counselor Lori Kellum organizes this program each year. He also reported that the MS Volleyball team brought home a 1st place trophy from a tournament in Columbus on Saturday.
Mr. Walker presented a proposal for signage at the Middle School. The MS Student Council wants to purchase the signage and asked the board for approval to purchase. Chuck Sweeton made a motion to allow the purchase of the signage for the MS as presented. Dusty Deringer seconded. Carried 7-0.
HIGH SCHOOL - Principal Cory White expressed his appreciation to the teachers and students for a fantastic start to school. He reported that the Student Council recently attended a leadership conference at NEO and sponsor, Ms. Thater reported it was a very good conference. Mr. White reported that Stefanie (Taylor) Loveland recently met with the students to discuss the scholarship fund which was set up in memory of her mother, Anne Taylor, former HS Guidance Counselor. Mr. White reported that he will be attending a meeting on Friday to learn about a new course that LCC is offering for our students. This will go along with our Career and Tech Ed program. Principal White reported on the home room aspect in which each student has an individual plan of study. With the aid of the Career Cruising program, students will take an active part in choosing a career and charting their future as their choices change and what they need to do to accomplish their goals. Mr. White reported that a block at the end of the day, along with Career Cruising will lead students through this process. Mr. White also reported that curriculum updates are posted on the website under the curriculum tab. He brought the board up to date on changes within the league for athletics as well as what classification that we will be. He reported that we should know the classification after September 26.
ALTERNATIVE LEARNING CENTER – Director Art Roberts reported that students showed a lot of interest in the solar eclipse and enjoyed being able to view it. He also informed the board that Ingenuity has added career pathway directives to their program which will be a big help to the students. He has been well pleased with the updates that Ingenuity has made to their program. Mr. Roberts also reported that the curriculum has changed a little and they will be looking at the math curriculum . Mr. Roberts announced that one girl has completed her requirements and is graduating from the program this week.
MAINTENACE & GROUNDS – Director Daymon McCorkle extended his appreciation to Don Karnes and Chris Mercer for their assistance in keeping the fields mowed at Field of Dreams since he had a mower down. He wanted to thank them for stepping up and helping out. He also reported that a new AC unit has been installed at Central School and a new dishwasher installed at the HS kitchen. He reported that he will be getting prices on track repairs at the HS and will report back to the board at a later date.
Brandon Williams made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss individual employees pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under KOMA and the open meeting will resume in the board room at 7:17 p.m. Josh Sweaney seconded. Carried 7-0.
7:07 p.m. Enter executive session.
7:17 p.m. Resume regular session.
Superintendent David Pendergraft made a recommendation to hire Vicki O’Neal as half-time Title I Math teacher for 2017-18. Chuck Sweeton made a motion to accept the recommendation to hire Vicki O’Neal as half-time Title I Math Teacher for 2017-18. Mary Kirkpatrick seconded. Carried 7-0.
Jason Walker made a recommendation to hire Les Dykes as 8th grade Head boys basketball coach for 2017-18. Dusty Deringer made a motion to accept the recommendation of Jason Walker to hire Les Dykes as 8th grade Head boys basketball coach for 2017-18. Josh Sweaney seconded. Carried 7-0.
Jason Walker made a recommendation to hire Charles Rector as MS Head Track coach and Jamie Channel as MS Assistant Track coach for 2017-18. Josh Sweaney made a motion to accept the recommendation of Jason Walker to hire Charles Rector as MS Head Track Coach and Jamie Channel as MS Assistant Track Coach for 2017-18. Casey Eaton seconded. Carried 7-0.
Cory White made a recommendation to hire Paul Ashe as Head Golf Coach for 2017-18. Chuck Sweeton made a motion to accept the recommendation of Cory White to hire Paul Ashe as Head Golf Coach for 2017-18. Brandon Williams seconded. Carried 7-0.
David Pendergraft made a recommendation to hire Donnie Wren as HS Custodian. Brandon Williams made a motion to accept the recommendation of David Pendergraft to hire Donnie Wren as HS Custodian. Josh Sweaney seconded. Carried 7-0.
Cory White made a recommendation to hire Jennifer Thater as Assistant Scholars Bowl coach for 2017-18. Mary Kirkpatrick made a motion to accept the recommendation of Cory White to hire Jennifer Thater as Assistant Scholars Bowl coach for 2017-18. Josh Sweaney seconded. Carried 7-0.
The board wanted to commend Mr. Morgan and the band for the great performance at the game Friday night.
Brandon Williams made a motion to adjourn. Josh Sweaney seconded. Carried 7-0.
7:25 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Vicki Bradley DeAnne Binns
Clerk/Board of Education President/Board of Education