Lunch remains closed for freshmen

During the monthly USD 234 Board of Education meeting Monday night, board member Jeff Knopp was honored for his eight years of service to the local school district.

Also at the meeting, representatives from the site councils at each of the district's schools explained to board members some of the activities that each group had completed through the 2008-09 school year. In addition, the board approved site council representatives for the 2009-10 school year.

Members of the board also approved a request by Mike Hansen, Fort Scott High School Construction Technology instructor, which will allow Hansen to proceed with preliminary plans for a remodeling project for the Construction Trades program.

Several bids and proposals were approved during the Monday night meeting. The board approved The Hartford company as the district's worker's compensation insurance company and Continental Western as the vehicle insurance company. The vehicle fueling bid was given to 5 Corners Mini-Mart and 5 Corners Tire and Service will service the district's vehicles for the 2009-10 school year.

The board approved the use of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act federal funding to be used under the Title I program. The money, which will enable the district to create new programs to help with student achievement, will be used within a two-year time period.

Also at the meeting, the board approved a change in policy in regards to the closed lunch hour for high school freshmen. After closing the lunch hour for one year, school officials were so pleased with the results that they asked the board to consider making the closed lunch a district policy. The board agreed, making sure to clarify that the policy only applies to high school freshmen, and that there is no intention of closing the lunch hour for any of the other grades levels at the high school.

In employment matters, members of the board approved the following:

* Accepted the resignations of Todd Ferguson, FSHS Assistant principal; Lori Ferguson, FSMS special education teacher; Chris Ratzlaff, school psychologist; Mandy Wright, Eugene Ware Title I teacher aide; and Jim Knopp, district bus driver.

* Approved the employment of Kim Eastwood, Eugene Ware second grade teacher; Mary Jo Harper, Winfield Scott music teacher; Kari Messer, FSMS special education teacher; Amy Farmer, FSMS eighth grade math teacher; Star Bowden, Fort Scott Preschool Center paraeducator; Rob McKim, FSHS assistant principal; central office classified personnel; food service personnel; FSHS classified personnel; FSMS classified personnel; Winfield Scott classified personnel; Eugene Ware classified personnel; and special services personnel.

* Approved an increase in contracted days for Andrea Scott, preschool teacher; an increase in a vacant Eugene Ware paraeducator position from six and 1/2 hours to seven hours.

* Approved a letter from Eugene Ware principal Billie Jo Drake recommending the board not offer a contract to Wilma Cagle, Eugene Ware paraeducator, for the 2009-10 school year.