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

Others Present:           
Sue Givens, Superintendent
Norm Wilks, Director of Fiscal & Support Services
Jackie Clark, Board Clerk
David Wagner, Director of Operations
Brian Deterding, Middle School Assistant Principal
Karen Patterson, Patron
Kevin House, High School Assistant Principal
Robin Nixon, The El Dorado Times
Lora Meirowsky, E-NEA
Steve Fellers, High School Teacher
Lonnie Hus, Washington Teacher
Robin Carleton, EXTEND
Darlene Buhl, Energy Education
Blake Vargas, Middle School Teacher
Joshua Peiffer, High School Student
Jackie Peiffer, Patron
John Peiffer, Patron
Jeff Sherrard, Howard & Helmer Architects
Tammy Fellers, EXTEND Director

At 6:31 p.m., Leon Leachman 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, 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. Tom Storrer seconded the motion; the motion carried 7-0.

The board returned to general session at 7:01 p.m. with the same people as listed above present.

Bernie Spradling made a motion to approve the agenda plus the addendum (11a—Additional USD 490 Personnel Recommendations). Seconded by Vicki Coash, 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 August 11, 2008, Regular Meeting     
Financial Reports
Credit Card Report
Middle School Activity Report
High School Activity Report

•  Josh Peiffer, EHS student, thanked the Board for their support of his Eagle Scout project, the renovation of the high school sign located next to the west entrance. He also thanked friends and students who helped out — Dawson Brush, Leah Walters, Cris Sjogren, Kyle Koerner, Andrew Jiles, Tyler McCune, Sam Hanes, Garett Smith, Ben Jiles and Benny Bowden. In addition, he thanked others who helped including John Peiffer, Jackie Peiffer, Roger Smith, David Wagner and Dan Hill.

• Chamber of Commerce Golden Apple Award – Lonnie Hus, Washington 4th Grade Teacher
• KSDE 2009 Horizon Award Nominee – Blake Vargas, EMS Social Science Teacher
• KASB Level I Boardsmanship Award – Leon Leachman
• Energy Stewardship Award – Presented by Dalene Buhl, Energy Education, to Steve Fellers, USD 490 Energy Manager. Buhl said that the district’s cost avoidance in less than four years was $416,876 or almost 25% of the total energy costs. She said that Lincoln Elementary (Cathy Madison, Custodian) is the flagship school with the highest rate of cost avoidance.

• ExHS Report – Tammy Fellers
Director Tammy Fellers said the school’s goal is to empower students to find success. She said they would do that by building relationships with students, teaching expectations and engaging the learner (achievement). Fellers explained that they plan to engage the students through project-based learning (cross-curricular projects), determining the students’ interests, making learning meaningful and implementing differentiated instruction. She said her staff is teaching the students to generate their own power through energy and persistence.

• Activity & Athletic Programs Update – Brian Deterding, Kevin House and Scott Ennis
EMS Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Brian Deterding provided the BOE with a breakdown of the extracurricular activities and athletic programs available to EMS students. He said that by joining the Pioneer League EMS was able to add several activities including Math Relays and additional music contests. In addition, the middle school added boys’ and girls’ tennis to the sports opportunities. He said that 47.5% of our middle school students are participating in a sport (counting managers it is over 50%). Deterding said that over 165 students are participating this fall, which has caused some challenges. He said it has been hard to pick up C Team matches for the sports. He said they are looking at fifth quarters for football games to have more opportunities for student athletes to play. Another challenge, he said, is practice space for basketball.

EHS Assistant Principal/Activities Director Kevin House reported on both athletics and activities at EHS. House said that EHS still has some coaching positions open. In addition, he said the high school would make sure that the Athletic Review Committee is active this year per Board Policy IJB. He shared the report on participation in fall sports (cheerleading, cross country, football, tennis and volleyball). He said there are 138 students participating this fall. House reminded the BOE of upcoming athletic events, including Homecoming on Friday, September 12th.

House also provided an activity report for EHS. He gave a brief description of all the organizations and what these groups do. Activities available to EHS students include: Circle of Friends, Debate/Forensics, Drama, Earth Care, E-Club, Encore, FCCLA, Journalism, Math Club, National Honor Society, Pom-pon, SADD, Speech, Student Council, World Cultures, KAY, Band, Orchestra, Choral/Music, Scholar’s Bowl and Science Olympiad.

• Enrollment Report – Jackie Clark
Jackie Clark provided preliminary enrollment numbers. She said that compared to last year’s audited FTE we are currently down about 47 FTE. She said that the headcount is down at all the schools except Lincoln and Skelly. In addition she reported that 262 students are new to our district this fall. Clark also said that there are currently 753 USD 490 students that qualify for free meals compared to 721 students last year.

• Legislative Update – Leon Leachman
Leon Leachman reported on a recent KASB legislative meeting he had attended that provided strategies to involve patrons in school funding issues.

• Director of Operations Report – David Wagner
David Wagner reported that weather conditions for the high school bond construction project have been favorable recently. He said that some dirt and paving work was completed and in addition the auditorium and commons floor slabs have been poured. Wagner said the steel work for the commons is complete and work has begun on the auditorium steel. He said grade beams are 50% complete and the block walls would start going up soon. Wagner reported that the asphalt pavement bus drop off lane and additional parking north of the activity center is complete except for the top 1 ½” surface course.

Wagner said he is working on bid specifications for the EHS gym roof. When the gym roof is complete, he said, there would be all new or upgraded roofs on the entire facility except the activity center. He is also working on EHS gym floor specs. This floor is scheduled for replacement next summer. At the elementary schools, he said he is working on school security issues, adding upgraded video and audio in the entryways. Wagner said work would begin soon on the ADA ramp at the stadium. He said that a contractor is repairing roofs at multiple buildings in the district. In conclusion, he talked about a water line leak at Jefferson. He commented that the pipes in our older buildings are deteriorating and will continue to cause us problems.

• Director of Fiscal & Support Services Report – Norm Wilks
Norm Wilks gave a follow-up to the enrollment report. He reminded the BOE that the district will use last year’s enrollment numbers for this year’s budget. He said that if the trend of declining enrollment continues the district would see an impact in the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year of a possible decrease in funding of around $275,000.

He reported that random drug testing began last week at the high school. He said it went well. Wilks also reported that the district is looking at digital cameras and recorders to replace the old video recorders in our buses. In addition, he said that all employees are in the process of completing online bloodborne pathogen and bullying training.

Wilks also said that two committees are working on redesigning the evaluation document for hourly staff and a pay plan with a schedule component for hourly staff. He said they would probably bring their recommendations to the BOE in January.

• Superintendent Report – Sue Givens
Superintendent Givens invited the Board to a Candidate Forum on September 20th at El Dorado Middle School. The forum is co-sponsored by E-NEA and USD 490. She said that all state house and state BOE candidates have been invited and that at this time four have accepted. She reminded the BOE of upcoming meetings — the KASB Fall Regional October 20th in Winfield and the KASB Annual Convention December 6 and 7 in Wichita.

Givens provided an update on the September 6th Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee meeting. She said that representatives of the committee would present their findings at the October BOE meeting. She asked the BOE to set a date for a work session to determine how the BOE will look at the committee’s goals as well as set a timeline and scope of work. She said the BOE would have more involvement in the long-range planning process once they receive the report from the committee. Givens said the September 29th BOE work session would need to be moved because some BOE members would be meeting with site councils that evening. She expressed her gratitude for the strategic planning group’s time commitment and for the work they did on the 6th.

Givens told the BOE that her next podcast would be available on September 12th. In addition, she reminded the BOE that a month of school is finished which involved a lot of hard work on the part of the entire staff and E-NEA. She thanked the teachers for their dedication to new instructional practices.

El Dorado High School has the opportunity to participate in the first KU Stringworks on the University of Kansas campus on September 27-28. Students will be given the opportunity to perform in mass orchestra under the direction of distinguished faculty. Because this requires an overnight trip and a Sunday performance, it requires Board action. Both EHS Administration and the Superintendent recommended approval of the out-of-town trip.

Leon Leachman made a motion to approve EHS participation in the KU Stringworks program on September 27-28, 2008. Seconded by Dan Ingalls, the motion carried 7-0.

Jeff Sherrard, representing Howard & Helmer Architects, presented information for Board action regarding Change Order #8. Items in Change Order #8 include: repair/replace roof deck above existing temporary kitchen ($8,428), add floor sink in kitchen per health inspection requirements ($1,633), remove and re-compact fill dirt under existing building ($28,455), rock removal at drop off ($5,340), and four ADA door operators at main entrances ($25,679). The proposed changes total $69,535.

Additionally, the auditorium color scheme (as previously approved) was reviewed. Sherrard said that the proposed schedule is to have the bulk of Phase II finished by Spring Break 2009.

Tom Storrer made a motion to approve Change Order #8 as presented (changes =$69,535; contract with all changes total= $20,752,519). Seconded by Vicki Coash, the motion carried 7-0.

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

The Board approved notice of intent in the August Board of Education meeting. Action is required to finalize the resolution.

Bernie Spradling made a motion to approve the Resolution. Leon Leachman seconded the motion.  The motion carried 7-0.

Bernie Spradling made a motion to approve the BCSBC recommendations. Seconded by Tom Storrer, the motion carried 7-0.

• September 8 - BOE Breakfast/Lunch @ EXTEND
• September 12 - Homecoming, All Schools Dismiss @1:00 p.m. – Parade @ 2:00 p.m.
• September 13 - Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet
• September 20 – Candidate Forum @ 9 a.m., EMS Auditorium
• September 22 – Enrollment Count Day
• September 23 - EHS/EMS Life Choices Programs @ EMS Auditorium
• September 24 - Early Release, All Schools Dismiss at 1:00 p.m.
• September 27 - Walnut River Festival
• September TBA – “Fifth Monday” BOE Meeting/Work Session