School board approves raises for administrators

On the heels of a new contract for USD 234 teachers, the school board approved a 2 percent raise for administrators and certain staff members during the first meeting of the 2012-2013 academic year on Monday night.

Superintendent Diane Gross pointed out that administrators do not have the same opportunity for step increases that teachers do.

Board President Janet Braun agreed that since administrators and other staff cannot improve their pay through the same avenue as teachers, the board should approve the request.

A recent tour of Fort Scott High School was also discussed. In a report to the board, Gross said the visit showed "evidence of foundational shifts and framing shifts that sometimes result in leaks and water damage."

The report also showed that some of these problems may have been caused by past termite damage. Gross also discussed heating and cooling issues at the school, as well as plumbing problems.

"These are outdated heating and cool systems that we are struggling to find parts for," Gross told the board.

Gross shared the following written comments from board member Michelle Hudiburg, who did not attend Monday's meeting, which detailed her concerns after the tour:

"It is evident that some major facility improvements are needed -- sooner than later. We can no longer continue to hide from the problems our aging buildings have. Part of our long-range plan must include what we can do to improve facilities so faculty, staff and students have a safe environment in which to work and learn," Hudiburg wrote.

Gross said part of the discussion centers on when the district will make that decision.

"Is it something where we need to build a new high school or continue to upgrade and renovate the current facility?" Gross asked.

"We are probably going to have to prioritize what we can do at this point," Braun said. "Then we will have to decide how we can end up with more money in LOB (Local Option Budget) or capital outlay in the future to continue progress."

Gross also reviewed district goals and announced that Doug Moeckel from the Kansas Association of School Boards will meet with trustees next month to explain what it means to be a part of the Kansas Learning Network. She also announced that Fort Scott will be a recipient of a needs assessment conducted by KLN.

In other business, the board:

* Approved the transfer of three paraeducators within the district and the creation of an additional paraeducator position at Fort Scott Middle School. Members also approved hiring Teresa Allen as a paraeducator at Fort Scott High School and Matthew Crank as a paraeducator at Fort Scott Middle School. Other approved hirings were Jennifer Stafford, as a teacher's aide at FSMS; Aaron Weatherbie as an assistant director for the FSHS fall musical; and Bob Johnson as an assistant debate coach at FSHS.

* Approved letting bids for a new activity bus for FSHS. The present bus, a 2000 model, has more than 220,000 miles on it. USD 234 Business Manager Tiffany Forester said new activity buses run about $83,000 and that amount would come out of the general fund.

The board also agreed to sell an out-of-service bus for $500. The cost to the district to take the bus to salvage would be about $476.

* Approved two policy changes to Current Board Policy, including a change of wording in the lunchroom visitors policy. The old policy allowed for a parent or guardian to eat with a student at the building administrator's discretion. The wording was changed to allow a grandparent or immediate adult family member to eat with the student.

* Agreed that it is the job of the superintendent to recommend continued employment or termination based on performance reviews conducted according to state statutes.

In the past, the policy read: "All district administrators will be considered for employment at the March meeting of the board. If an administrator would not be considered for re-employment, notice in writing would be given as per Kansas statutes.

* 2012-2013 enrollment figures showed a drop of 20 students in the district, down from 1,894 in 2011-2012 to 1,874 students this semester.

* Reviewed a special education audit, which showed the district was overpaid $4,045 for special education entitlements, which auditors said for a more than $1 million total entitlement was "minimal." The difference will be adjusted from next year's entitlements.