1.    The meeting was called to order by Board President Bernie Spradling at 5:30 p.m.

2.    Roll Call

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

Others Present:
Sue Givens, Superintendent
Norm Wilks, Director of Fiscal Support Services
Jackie Clark, Board Clerk
Doug Jensen, Director of Technology
Julie Jensen, Director of Curriculum
Jon Pic, The El Dorado Times
School Site Council Members:
Deb Hall
Sherri Engels
Jennifer Coslett
Misty Pope
Stacey Smith
Donnie Smith
Dawn Taylor
Page Pound
Connie Worley
Sherry Johnson
Lonnie Hus
Gina Butler
Laura Luehrs
Dorothy Miller
Tacy Smith
Kent Kunkel
Mike Ward
Amy Seeber
Jennifer Ryan
Rhonda Lara
Building Administrators:
Scott Ennis
Dallas Woolf
Kim McCune
Miles Harvey
Amy Clites
Bret McClendon
Stan Ruff

3.     BOE and Site Council Dinner Meeting

Site Council members, district administrators and board members discussed the board’s goals in the areas of communication, student achievement and safety. In addition, President Bernie Spradling asked for feedback in the area of possible future long-term goals. She thanked the attendees for serving on our site councils, for their dedication of time as well as their support of our schools.

1.    The meeting was called to order by President Bernie Spradling at 6:38 p.m.

2.    Roll Call

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

Others Present:           
Sue Givens, Superintendent
Norm Wilks, Director of Fiscal & Support Services
Jackie Clark, Board Clerk
Jon Pic, The El Dorado Times
Rob Klem, EHS Teacher
Jim Shum, Lincoln Teacher
David Wagner, On-Site Project Manager
Lora Meirowsky, ENEA
Heather Probasco, Middle School Teacher
Dallas Woolf, Skelly Principal
Doug Jensen, Director of Technology
Willie Krug, EHS Student
William Krug, Patron
Stan Ruff, Middle School Principal
Steve Rhodes, Aramark
Nancy Basquez, Skelly Speech Language Clinician
Jan Pippig, Middle School Media Specialist
Richard Garbee, Middle School Teacher
Nancy King, Middle School Teacher
Gina Meyer, Middle School Teacher
Pat Powell, Skelly Teacher
Ryan Pippig, High School Student
Jesse Waugh, High School Student
Sharon Waugh, Volunteer Coordinator
Talyn Feller, High School Student
Jennifer Feller, Patron
Tim Hamlin, Patron
Brandon Craft, High School Student
Monica Skiles, Skelly Teacher
Jim Hollingsworth, Band Instructor
Brooks Buckner, High School Student
Brett Petty, Middle School Student
Melissa Smith, Administration Office Secretary
Linda Olsen, Patron
Dr. Phil Olsen, Patron
Rhonda Morgan, Patron
Bryce Morgan, Middle School Student
Adam Olson, Middle School Teacher
Jay Buckner, Patron
Caitie Coley, High School Student
Pam Coley, Patron
Mike Craft, Patron
Joanna Hadley, Patron
Seth Hadley, High School Student
Sam Wheeler, High School Student
Mike Wheeler, Patron
Brandon Craft, High School Student

At 6:39 p.m., Leon Leachman moved to recess into an executive session for a period of 25 minutes to discuss student matters 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 to have preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property in order to protect the public interest in acquiring property for school district use with board members, the Superintendent and the Director of Fiscal and Support Services present. Vicki Coash seconded the motion; the motion carried 6-0.

4.    Approval of the Agenda

Jim Waugh made a motion to approve the agenda and the addendum (11a—Additional USD 490 Personnel Recommendations; 12a—Additional BCSBC Personnel Recommendations). Seconded by Chris Locke, the motion carried 7-0.

5.    Approval of the Consent Calendar

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

    Minutes of the February 11, 2008, Regular Meeting
    Minutes of the February 24, 2008 Special Meeting
    Financial Reports
    Credit Card Report
    El Dorado High School Activity Report       
    El Dorado Middle School Activity Report   
    Nurses Reports

6.    Comments from the Public

Sam Wheeler spoke about his Eagle Scout project to relocate the Larry Parsons’ plaque to the new middle school playground. He invited BOE members to his upcoming Eagle Scout ceremony.

7.    Recognition

        •  Rob Klem, Kansas Horizon Award Winner
        •  Friends of Education - Linda Olsen & Prairie Bowl (Shawn Light)
        •  EHS State Wrestling Qualifiers
        •  EHS State Bowling Qualifier
        •  EHS State Swimming Qualifiers
        •  EHS KMEA State Band Qualifier
        •  EMS WVL League Wrestling Champs

  •  OSPM Report – David Wagner    
On-Site Project Manager David Wagner reported that the EHS building contractor is working on the final punch list items. He said that the district would take possession of the academic wing on March 14 and we would start moving into the new building March 15. In addition, he reported that the Fire Marshall’s office has issued an occupancy permit. He said the additional fire hydrants and 8-inch water line are installed and being tested. The teachers’ parking lot has been paved, he said. Wagner said that the driveway behind the academic wing would not be paved until after demolition is complete. He also reported that teachers are packing classroom materials and the video surveillance equipment has been installed.

•  El Dorado Inc. Report – Dan Ingalls
Dan Ingalls reported that committee assignments and a strategic plan were discussed at the last El Dorado Inc. meeting.

•  Legislative Update – Leon Leachman
Leon Leachman highlighted some key items the Legislature is considering including special education funding.

•  Stadium Committee Report – Chris Locke
Chris Locke reported that this committee has asked several architectural firms to provide options for renovation of the existing stadium facility as well as possible sites for a new facility.

•  Building Principal Report – Dallas Woolf, Skelly Elementary
Principal Dallas Woolf, Speech Pathologist Nancy Basquez and Kindergarten teacher Monica Skiles were on hand to speak about activities at Skelly Elementary.

Nancy Basquez provided information about a language development program, Sounds in Motion, implemented district-wide this school year in the kindergarten classrooms. She said the program ties in with phonemic awareness and includes strategies for enriching language, vocabulary, comprehension, active listening, whole body listening and articulation. She said it also teaches students how to tune out distractions. In addition, Basquez reported that Skelly has added the First Grade Panther Hour after school to provide help to first graders who are struggling.

Dallas Woolf spoke about Skelly’s Friday Assemblies that celebrate students’ accomplishments. He also talked about the benefits of the new all-day kindergarten program. He said all-day kindergarten benefits include more time for lessons and small group instruction. He told the BOE that Skelly recently earned full accreditation from the North Central Association.

Monica Skiles reported on the Reading Curriculum Maps that Skelly teachers have developed to look at content, state indicators and teaching strategies. She said these “maps” make teachers more aware of each state indicator and help ensure that all the indicators are being taught.

•  Director of Fiscal & Support Services Report – Norm Wilks
Norm Wilks provided the BOE a summary of the 2007-2008 impact of the Frontier valuation settlement. He said the increase in district valuation over 2006-2007 is $55,807,659, which is a reduction of $24,842,855 from what the County used to calculate taxes last summer. He reminded the BOE that the district put amounts in “Do Not Spend” lines in the Local Option Budget and Capital Outlay Fund and held an amount in Cash Reserve in the Bond and Interest Fund when building the budget last summer. By doing this the district can cover the decrease in taxes. He said the only increase in budget authority the district will receive due to the settlement would be in the Capital Outlay Fund, an increase of $271,504. He said the bottom line is that the district would receive $2,347,884 less State Aide in the future and that amount would be made up by local property tax.

Wilks reported that KSDE has asked USD 490 to host a budget meeting in June at the Civic Center. In addition, he said the district has been asked to provide bus transportation to and from the El Dorado Airport for participants in an April 2008 “Fly-In.” He said the City would reimburse the district for the costs. Wilks said the BOE would need to approve an agreement with another government unit in order to provide this service. Jim Waugh made a motion to enter into an agreement with the City to provide bus transportation for the April 2008 fly-in. Leon Leachman seconded the motion; the motion carried 7-0.

Wilks told BOE members that there might be a problem with the roof over the old weight room (now the temporary kitchen). He said a workman stepped through the roof in that area and the entire roof will be examined to determine the extent of the damage.

Wilks also spoke about the move into the new classroom addition. He said the district has purchased some carts and will borrow carts from Sam’s. Wilks said the contractor has poured a sidewalk between the old and new facilities so there is a hard surface to both levels when moving classroom materials. He said the move would begin Saturday, March 15 and continue Monday through Saturday of the next week.

•  Superintendent Report – Sue Givens
Superintendent Sue Givens shared a screen shot of the district’s new web site design. In addition, she shared information about a Kansas Open Meeting Act and Kansas Open Records Act training the board members are invited to on March 27, 2008 at the Butler County Community Building.

Mrs. Givens shared the new Math Department Placement Process developed by the middle school. She said that the EMS math department believes there are more students developmentally ready for Algebra I than are placed in the class each year. Next year, she said, there will be more sections of Algebra I offered at EMS. EMS will use a developmental level rubric to determine placement in all math courses.

Mrs. Givens invited BOE members to the Friends of Education Banquet to be held in Wichita on April 5. She also asked the BOE to return self-evaluations to her by March 30.

She provided tentative results on state assessments that USD 490 students have completed so far. She said that all testing would not be complete until early May. She said that district fourth graders are doing very well on the math and reading assessments and sixth and eighth graders are scoring well in reading. In addition, she said, the tenth graders’ preliminary math scores look good. She said that there are concerns in the areas of third grade reading and eighth grade math. She said that eighth graders scores have improved greatly but may not be enough to meet the target.

Mrs. Givens thanked the BOE for hosting the dinner meeting with Site Council members. She said she plans for this to become an annual event.

A calendar was presented to the faculty for input and to the Board of Education for adoption.

Vicki Coash made a motion to approve the 2008-09 Academic Calendar as presented in the final draft. Seconded by Dan Ingalls, the motion carried 7-0.

Norm Wilks provided an outline of Requests For Proposals for auditing services to be sent to prospective bidders. He said the services requested include: performance of all audit procedures along with timely reports to the BOE, State of Kansas and United States; preparation of an Annual Management Letter and review audit suggestions for improved fiscal management and reporting with fiscal administrators; periodic consultation with district fiscal administrators regarding preparation for annual audit, including in-district fiscal procedures and fraud prevention; and consultation and/or annual report to the USD 490 Board of Education. Wilks said that the proposals would be brought back to the board at the April 14, 2008 meeting.   

The process to be utilized for district strategic planning was discussed. The administration recommended that the district accept the comprehensive, long-range planning proposal submitted by Kansas Association of School Boards. The estimated cost for KASB’s planning proposal is $5,000. Superintendent Givens said that the process would begin at a work session prior to the regular June 2008 board meeting.

Leon Leachman made a motion to contract with KASB for long-range comprehensive planning. Seconded by Tom Storrer, the motion carried 7-0.

The BOE reviewed the proposed changes to policies in Section H of the policy book.

Vicki Coash made a motion to approve the draft of Section H policy revisions for further review. Jim Waugh seconded the motion; the motion carried 7-0.

Vicki Coash made a motion to approve the USD 490 personnel recommendations, which include the addendum. Dan Ingalls seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0        

Jim Waugh made a motion to approve the BCSBC personnel recommendations, which include the addendum. Seconded by Chris Locke, the motion carried 7-0.

Bernie Spradling adjourned the meeting at 8:36 p.m.