Members Present:       
Jim Waugh, President
Dan Ingalls, Vice President
Vicki Coash
Leon Leachman
Chris Locke
Bernie Spradling
Tom Storrer

Sue Givens, Superintendent
Norm Wilks, Director of Fiscal & Support Services
Jackie Clark, Board Clerk
David Wagner, Director of Operations (Work Session)
Julie Jensen, Director of Curriculum
Lora Meirowsky, ENEA
Jim Shum, Lincoln Teacher
Robin Nixon, El Dorado Times

Facilities Tour

The BOE toured summer projects at district facilities.

Jim Waugh adjourned the Work Session at 6:15 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m., Vicki Coash moved to recess into an executive session for a period of 30 minutes to discuss matters of non-elected personnel in order to protect the privacy rights of the individuals to be discussed, to discuss negotiations in order to protect the public interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract, and for consultation with our attorney on a matter protected by the attorney-client privilege, in order to protect the privilege and the board’s position with board members, the Superintendent and the Director of Fiscal and Support Services present. Bernie Spradling seconded the motion; the motion carried 7-0.

The board returned to general session at 7:00 p.m. with the same people as listed above present.

Bernie Spradling made a motion to approve the agenda plus the addendum (18a—Additional USD 490 Personnel Recommendations). Seconded by Chris Locke, the motion carried 7-0.

Leon Leachman made a motion to approve the consent calendar as presented. Seconded by Tom Storrer, the motion carried 7-0.

Minutes of the July 13, 2009, Regular Meeting
Financial Reports
Credit Card Report
Middle School Activity Report
High School Summer School Report 

•  El Dorado Inc. Report – Dan Ingalls
Dan Ingalls reported that the El Dorado 360 web site was discussed at the last El Dorado Inc. meeting.

•  Legislative Update – Leon Leachman
Leon Leachman spoke about pandemic flu preparations and the Legislature’s hearing on special education funding.

•  Director of Fiscal & Support Services Report—Norm Wilks
Norm Wilks reported on a recent Schools For Fair Funding (SFFF) meeting he had attended. He said that since the Montoy decision the base budget per pupil has decreased $379 from what was expected according to current law. Wilks said that 28 states have used federal stimulus money to improve funding for public education. He said that Kansas stimulus money is being used to backfill state cuts. He said that SFFF position is that we are in a tough economic time but the state is in its current financial position partly as a result of decisions made by the Kansas Legislature.

•  Superintendent’s Report—Sue Givens
Superintendent Givens told the BOE that some people have expressed interest in making donations to the new high school building. She suggested a committee be appointed to review any donations to determine what is appropriate and what would stand the test of time. She asked that a BOE member serve on this new committee. By consensus, the BOE appointed Chris Locke to serve on the donations committee.

Givens supplied BOE members with the results of their self-evaluations. She asked them to review the findings, look for gaps and continue to work on their expectations.

Givens reported that USD 490 has been accepted into a pilot project for new building administrator evaluations. She said that 14 districts in Kansas would pilot the new evaluations. Givens said the evaluation document is similar to the district’s current structure with annual goals and the addition of three surveys (one self evaluation, one parent evaluation and one staff evaluation). She said the new evaluation is evidence-based and based on national standards.

Givens also spoke about the Legislative Post Audit that compared school district efficiencies. She said USD 490 was grouped in District Peer Group E with other districts with similar district characteristics (district size, moderate to high poverty, few bilingual students and low property values). She said the audit shows that in our group only three districts had lower expenditures per student for top district level administrators, and only five districts spent less on school level administrators, food expenditures and transportation. She said USD 490 was second out of 21 in the area of instructional support services.  

In addition, Givens provided preliminary information about 2009-2010 enrollment. She said a couple schools had higher enrollments than last year. She said she is hopeful that the enrollment would be about the same as the 08-09 year.

Julie Jensen, Director of Curriculum, reviewed student assessment data and shared preliminary Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. She reported district scores increased 6.2% in math with 87% of our students in the proficient and above categories. She said reading scores increased 5.4% with 91.8% of our students scoring proficient and above. Jensen said science scores increased 5.7% and writing scores increased 8.2%. She reminded the BOE that Social Studies was not tested last school year. She said the district is off improvement because of the improved scores our students have posted in the last two years. Jensen said districts would not know if they qualified for Standards of Excellence until October 1. Jensen also reported on 08-09 NWEA scores, which show growth in scores from third to fifth grade. In addition, she provided the testing timeline for the 09-10 year.

Revisions to the previously approved Neighborhood Revitalization Plan were reviewed.

Bernie Spradling made a motion to adopt the revised Neighborhood Revitalization Inter-local Agreement as presented. Seconded by Dan Ingalls, the motion carried 7-0.

Recommended handbook and policy updates from KASB were presented during the July BOE meeting. The administration recommended the BOE approve the policy updates with the exception of Policy GCIA, which will be brought back for consideration at a later date.

Dan Ingalls made a motion to approve the policy updates with the exception of Policy GCIA. Seconded by Leon Leachman, the motion carried 7-0.

USD 490 and Butler County Special Education certified employees were presented with a tentative negotiated agreement for 2009-2010.  ENEA has presented the BOE with a letter verifying ratification of the agreement by the certified staff.  The BOE negotiations team recommended the board approve the contract as proposed.

Vicki Coash made a motion to adopt the USD 490 2009-10 Negotiated Agreement as presented. Seconded by Tom Storrer, the motion carried 7-0.

Annually, the Board is asked to approve procedures and credit limits established for various individuals (Board Policy CGA). There were no changes in policy or credit limits recommended for the administrators listed (Sue Givens, Doug Jensen, Julie Jensen, Norm Wilks, Greg Buster and Karen Wright).

Bernie Spradling made a motion to approve the credit card procedures and credit limits as listed in Board Policy CGA. Seconded by Tom Storrer, the motion carried 7-0.

In order to meet on-demand expenses, the administration recommended that the EMS petty cash fund be increased from $500 to $1000.  This does not increase budget authority, only ability to pay for immediate expenses within the building budget.

Tom Storrer made a motion to approve to increase the El Dorado Middle School Petty Cash Fund from $500 to $1000. Seconded by Vicki Coash, the motion carried 7-0.

The administration recommended the following:
• Changing the Section 125 dependent care and medical reimbursement administrator from American Fidelity to Colonial Life Insurance Company effective September 1, 2009.
• Adding Colonial Life Cancer insurance as a voluntary employee Section 125 election.
• Adding Colonial Life Health Advantage as a voluntary employee Section 125 election for employees not eligible to participate in the USD 490 Preferred Health insurance plan. The Health Advantage is a very limited benefit medical plan that pays a limited, clearly defined health benefit for physician and hospital expenses.
• Adding Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. as a voluntary employee salary deduction benefit to purchase a pre-paid legal service and/or identity theft protection.
• Continuing the following benefits and providers:
Health – Preferred Health Systems
Dental – Delta Dental
Cancer – American Fidelity
Vision – Vision Care Direct

Bernie Spradling made a motion to approve the above recommendations. Seconded by Chris Locke, the motion carried 7-0.

The proposed budget for 2009-2010 was presented for approval for publication with a public hearing scheduled for Monday, August 24, 2009 @ 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Office, 124 West Central, El Dorado, KS.

Norm Wilks provided the following highlights regarding the proposed budget:
1. 2008-09 General Fund was $13,964800. 2009-10 Proposed is $12,750,592.
Down $1,214,208.
2. General Fund without Special Education and New Facility Weights (real operating)
2008-09 General Fund operating was $11,452,638. 2009-10 Proposed is $10,765,046.
Down $687,592.
3. 2008-09 LOB was $4,091,304. 2009-10 Proposed is $4,142,053.
Up $50,749.
4. LOB without funds generated by New Facility Weights in the General Fund
2008-09 LOB operating was $4,001712. 2009-10 Proposed is $3,959,192.
Down $42,520.
5. Total General Fund and LOB, which are major operating funds.
2008-09 General Fund and LOB was $18,056,104 2009-10 Proposed is $16,892,645.
Down $1,163,459 or 6.444%.

Leon Leachman made a motion to approve to the 2009-2010 budget for publication as presented with a public hearing to be held on Monday, August 24, 2009 @ 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Office at 124 West Central. Seconded by Bernie Spradling, the motion carried 7-0.

The lease is for use of specified facilities for not more than 7 home games and bowl game competition during the 2009 season.

Tom Storrer made a motion to approve the lease with Junior Wildcat Football as presented. Seconded by Vicki Coash, the motion carried 7-0.

The lease with New Life Ministry is for use of specified facilities for weekly services through October 31, 2009. (Ongoing leases require BOE approval.)

Dan Ingalls made a motion to approve the lease with New Life Ministry. Seconded by Vicki Coash, the motion carried 7-0.

The district’s current vending agreement is with Pepsi.  Information was provided to support the recommendation to enter into a new beverage vending agreement with Wichita Vending Co. Wichita Vending would provide all vending machines and the district would receive 26% commission.
        
Leon Leachman made a motion to approve the lease with Wichita Vending Company. Seconded by Chris Locke, the motion carried 7-0.

Bernie Spradling made a motion to approve the USD 490 personnel recommendations, which include the addendum. Tom Storrer seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.

Jim Waugh returned to the meeting at 8:29 p.m.

Bernie Spradling made a motion to approve the purchase card requests for Shari Hatfield and Susan Holthaus. Seconded by Dan Ingalls, the motion carried 7-0.
Purchase Card Requests
Shari Hatfield - $1000 monthly limit; Susan Holthaus - $1000 monthly limit

Vicki Coash made a motion to approve the BCSEC recommendations. Seconded by Chris Locke, the motion carried 7-0.

Purchase Card Requests
Kent Schaal - $200 monthly limit
Margo Buscher - $1000 monthly limit
Brandy Underwood – increase from $200 to $500

• August 12 - All Staff Meeting @ EHS Auditorium, 8:00 a.m.
• August 16 – EHS Building Dedication, 2:00 p.m.
• August 19 – First Day of School, K-6th and 9th
• August 20 – First Day of School, 7-8 and 10-12
• August 24 – Budget Hearing, 5:30 p.m.
• August 31 – 5th Monday BOE Meeting, 5:30 p.m.