The Baxter Springs board of education held a regular meeting on Monday, October 12, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at 1108 Military.  Members present were:  DeAnne Binns, Mary Kirkpatrick, Joseph Skye, Chuck Sweeton, Dusty Deringer, Brandon Williams and Josh Sweaney (6:07 p.m.)  Also present were:  David Pendergraft, Superintendent, Vicki Bradley, Clerk, Cory White, HS Principal, Robert Womack, Central Principal, Ken Boeckman, Lincoln Principal, Art Roberts, Alternative Learning Coordinator, Daymon McCorkle, Director of Maintenance and Pastor Jeff Street of 1^st Baptist Church. 

President BInns called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  Brandon Williams led the board and guests in the pledge of allegiance.  Pastor Jeff Street led the board and guests in a word of prayer.

Joseph Skye made a motion to approve the agenda as printed.    Brandon Williams seconded.  Carried 6-0.

Dusty Deringer made a motion to approve the consent agenda which included payment of bills, approval of minutes of September 14, 2015 meeting and approval of the treasurer’s report.  Mary Kirkpatrick seconded.  Carried 6-0. 

President BInns reported on the Homecoming activities at BHS and the 70’s Reunion which was a huge success.  She also commended Superintendent Pendergraft for welcoming the classes of 1970 – 1979 and interacting with the alumni at this reunion.  She also expressed her appreciation to Opaa! for supplying the food for the brunch for the class reunion.

Josh arrived at 6:07 and was present for the remainder of the meeting.

Superintendent Pendergraft reported that the Lee Scott family will pay to send our K-6 students to the Scott Family Amazeum in Arkansas.   These field trips will take place in the spring and are being funded entirely by the Lee Scott family.  He expressed his appreciation to the Lee Scott family for their generosity.   He also reported on the easement to the property located behind the Baxter High School property. 

Ken Boeckman, Lincoln Principal reported on the new schedule at Lincoln School and reported that it is working very well.    He also reported that he had met recently with the Kansas State Department of Education to discuss after school programs and improving literacy scores.  He also reported that Lincoln is giving prizes and incentives to classes for such things as having the cleanest classroom or being the best behaved class at lunch, etc. to instill the need for teamwork among students.

Robert Womack, Central Principal reported that tomorrow Central School will be participating in the Livin’ Life Tour hosted by KOAM TV.  This program is a multi-media program that helps students to develop good decision making skills and helps them to make the right choices in life.  He also reported that Central will host a book fair next week.  Mr. Womack also reported that Red Ribbon week which is for bully awareness and drug prevention will be held the last week in November. 

Cory White, HS Principal reported on regional girls golf and expressed appreciation from the girls and the coaches for this program.  He also reported that volleyball sub-state will be held at Girard and regional cross-country will be held at Garnett.  Mr. White also reported that HS Students assisted in the community wide clean up a couple of weeks ago and he has received lots of positive feedback from the community on this.    He also reported that Homecoming went well and was well attended.  He also extended his appreciation to the HS staff for recognizing students for “extra’s that they do. They recognize students at an assembly every month for these things.   He also reported that the High School will be participating tomorrow in the Livin’ Life Tour as well. The  ACT workshop will be at Galena this year and several students are attending this which will help them to prepare for the ACT test.

Art Roberts, Alternative Learning Coordinator, reported that Parent/Teacher conferences are coming up.  He recently attended a  webinar on the annual review of the virtual program.  The state is working on a model to conduct the review every three years, instead of annually.  Mr. Roberts said that the Soda Fountain has visitors stop in from around the world as they travel Route 66 and several were in town last week and were commenting on all the signs around town for Homecoming.  He also said he had to explain what homecoming is to several foreign visitors and they were all impressed with the celebration.

Daymon McCorkle, Director of Grounds and Maintenance, reported on roofing projects at HS and Central.  He reported that the wireless connection has been completed between downtown buildings at Keystone and the Archer pre-school.  He reported that the lawns have been seeded and this should be the last time in order to get the seed to take and fill in.  Daymon reported that the HS parking lot needs to be resurfaced.  His crew is busy trying to fill in chuck holes and cracks before winter and he talked about resealing the middle school parking lot as well.  His crews are busy winterizing the ball parks and other projects getting ready for winter.

Brandon Williams made a motion to enter into executive session to have preliminary discussions about the 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 session is to include the board and the Superintendent.  Josh Sweaney seconded.  Carried 7-0.

6:36 p.m.  Enter executive session.

6:46 p.m.  Resume regular session.

In comments and concerns, the board discussed softball uniforms and uniform rotation.

Brandon WIlliams made a motion to adjourn.  Josh Sweaney seconded.  Carried 7-0.

6:55 p.m.  Meeting adjourned.

Vicki Bradley                                    DeAnne Binns

Clerk/Board of Education                  President/Board of Education