Transporting kids a hot topic at NEVC

Vernon County, Mo. -- Buses, transportation and a storm-clobbered bus barn were among issues addressed at a Northeast Vernon County School Board meeting. on Thursday.

Directors of the R-1 District heard Superintendent Charles Naas say NEVC could follow suit with Sheldon Schools and hire a bus company to provide drivers and assume all responsibility for transportation to extra-curricular activities as well as daily routes.

"Do we even need a bus barn?" asked board member Roger Dade, in reference to the building's May 24 collapse in tornadic winds on the northeast side of the Walker school grounds.

Naas said Apple Bus Company of Mount Vernon could supply the vehicles if the panel took that route, but a barn would be useful to aid wintertime engine warmups.

"The bus companies wouldn't talk to anybody as small as we are in the past, but now they will," said Naas, adding that a new barn could be built west of the greenhouse on the southwest corner of the grounds.

He said the R-1 District's self-insured pool, administered by Gallagher Bassett Service of St. Louis, has paid $13,000 for damages to four of NEVC's five buses and indicated it will pay more than $80,000 for the barn.

Naas said the Missouri General Assembly and Gov. Jay Nixon cut schools' transportation funding from $153 million to $100 million, giving less than $30,000 for the schools in Walker and Schell City.

He said NEVC will spend about $100,000 on transportation in 2011-12 and make up the difference with property taxes. Naas said two district buses have run more than 170,000 miles.

He said state revenues are down in part because the May 22 Joplin tornado lowered property values and depressed sales tax receipts there.

In other business with Board President Robert Fox absent, the panel reviewed plans for Energy Solutions Professionals of Overland Park to start repairs on the district's 1929-vintage buildings in three weeks.

Naas said the workmen will begin by fixing the junior high-high school roof in Walker and installing programmable thermostats and sealing and caulking windows in both schools.

He had previously explained the district will keep paying MFA Oil and Propane of Nevada, the Walker and Schell city water departments and Kansas City Power and Light during its ESP contract's 15-year life.

Naas said NEVC will pay ESP the difference between what it usually expends for energy. If the lesser amounts derived are not enough to retire the debt, he said, the company will make up the difference.

New wiring and insulation are also needed, he said. The cost of the work has not been determined.

Board members David Highfill and Jeanne Hoagland left a half-hour into the 7 p.m. session to coach baseball teams in Nevada, leaving Dennis Vantellman, Andy Hays, David Bruce and Dade to finish the agenda at 8 p.m.

Cafeteria Director Edee McCoy won approval on a split 5-1 vote to comply with a federal mandate and increase the students' daily calories by serving more fruits and vegetables. Dade declined to elaborate on his "no" vote.

The board approved hiring Bronaugh English teacher Brian Pommier to replace Jill Robertson, who is leaving for McDonald County Schools, and reassigned third grade teacher Susie Ridgway to follow Emily Cottle as the junior high English teacher. Cottle has accepted a contract in Nevada, Principal Chris Hudson said.

"Mr. Pommier has a sportswriting background and relates well to boys who don't want to write," she said.

Volleyball coach Teresa Lyness said the area "Project Lanie" group raised more than $8,000 at a May 13 barbecue and volleyball fundraiser at the school for 2-year-old Lanie Watkins of El Dorado Springs, who is being treated for a brain tumor at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

"If you haven't heard, Lanie has been given a very sad prognosis," Lyness said.

Saying she wants to drive her son home from games, Lyness questioned the policy requiring players to ride buses to and from extra-curricular events except on Friday nights and weekends.

In a roundtable discussion, Hudson said basketball-baseball Coach Brian Sprouse likes the policy "because they should go as a team and return as a team."

Hudson said if coaches wanted to criticize their players on the way back, those who had left with parents would miss those instructions.