Five to retire from U-234

The USD 234 Board of Education received letters of resignation from four educators and one bus driver at their meeting on February 11.

Janet Irvin, Title 1 reading specialist at Winfield Scott; Karen Hansen, media specialist at Winfield Scott; Karen Cook, fourth grade teacher at Eugene Ware; and Diana Endicott, secondary gifted teacher all submitted letters to the board announcing their retirement.

Bus driver, John Coyan, also submitted a retirement request.

Lacy Potter was employed at a part-time bus driver.

The board is seeking to add an additional early childhood teacher at the district's preschool center, as well.

Next years calendar was proposed, which basically mirrors this years calendar. The first day of school will be August 20, 2013; Christmas holidays will be December 20, 2013 through January 1, 2014; with school letting out on May 23 , 2013. Superintendent Diane Gross submitted two proposed calendar options, the second adding seven minutes to each day to account for late start or early release, but said because of finances, the first option, the mirror of the current year, was the option to take to the negotiation table with teachers later on in the spring.

In other business the board:

* Heard from the Student Leadership Club at Winfield Scott Elementary School an update on what activities the group does throughout the year. The student presenters were Kaleb Bailey, Ava Witt and Tenasia Baugher, all second graders.

* Received the superintendent's report on the state of the district with the vision, mission and goals for which she sought approval, and approval was given; gave an update on strategic planning; an update on the Literacy First Leadership Institute; an update on the district school improvement and Kansas Learning Network meetings; and an update on the Kansas legislature's education issues.

* Heard from teachers, at different schools in the district, updates on student progress.

* Acknowledged receipt of a negotiation list from the teachers for meetings later in the year.

* Authorized the sale of general obligation refunding bonds.

* Gave the softball team authorization to hold a fundraising project at the high school golf tournament in June 2013.

* Approved a change in the Fort Scott High School Handbook to read: Students from the graduating class who complete the Kansas Scholars Curriculum or equivalent anatomy and physiology courses with a grade point average of 3.8 or above, will be recognized at graduation.

* Went into executive session, once for 30 minutes and once fro 15 minutes, with no action taken following. The executive sessions were to discuss personnel matters for non-elected personnel; to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations; or to discuss matters relating to actions adversely or favorably affecting a person as a student.