Wellington School Board roundup minutes: March 8, 2021
Sumner Newscow report — The following is the Wellington school board meeting minute for March 8 at Kennedy Elementary.
The complete agenda can be found at USD 353.com. A replay of the live stream of the meeting can be found on the USD 353 website. Please note that this is only a summary to provide a timely recap of each BOE meeting. Approved minutes posted by the Board Clerk can be found at USD353.com under the Board of Education tab.
Discussion Items:
Kennedy Presentation
Kennedy Principal Gillian Macias updated the BOE on all the happenings at Kennedy Elementary. Mrs. Macias presented a video featuring Kennedy staff and students talking about what they liked best about school. She spoke about the true family atmosphere at Kennedy Elementary.
Kennedy Elementary Playground
Three bids for Kennedy Elementary’s new playground were presented for discussion. The bids were as follows: Fry-$97,447.00, Happy Playgrounds-$99,815.00 and Star Playgrounds-$104,977.50. This project continues to meet the district’s Strategic Plan goals of replacing all four of our elementary playgrounds with new ADA compliant ones.
A motion was made and seconded to accept the playground bid from Fry for $97,447.00
Motion passed 7-0.
ELA Presentation
Dr. Jen Kern updated the BOE with the latest information on WHS ELA Curriculum. She reported that the ELA committee piloted three curriculums: Into Literature, My Perspective, and StudySync. She presented the committee research and findings on each and reported that they chose StudySync as their new ELA curriculum at WHS.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the purchase of StudySync for $75,078.90 as the new WHS ELA curriculum. Motion passed 7-0.
ESSER Stimulus Grant/Summer School
The BOE was updated on early plans for summer school in 2021 using the federal stimulus money. USD 353 will be gauging interest in a free Summer Learning program from parents/guardians of all K-12 students during conference week. Mr. Hatfield will continue to update the BOE as plans progress.
Virtual Learning Presentation
Dr. Kern updated the BOE on the latest ideas derived from the Virtual Learning Committee. The committee has started early plans for a virtual school in the district. The virtual school will be an opportunity for students to attend online classes through the USD 353 district. More information regarding the virtual school can be found at www.usd353.com under the Schools tab. The planning process is still in the early stages and will begin small with high school students only. Dr. Kern will send out survey to current 10th and 11th graders to gauge interest. She will continue to update the BOE as plans progress.
21-22 USD 353 Calendar
The USD 353 calendar committee finished drafting the 21-22 calendar. The calendar was presented to the BOE for discussion. A copy of the calendar can be found at www.usd353.com under the District tab.
A motion was made, and seconded to approve the 21-22 calendar as presented. Motion passed 7-0.
COVID Update/Secondary COVID Reopening Plan
Mr. Hatfield gave an update to the BOE on plans for reopening Secondary Schools to full in-person learning. He reported that the State Board of Education adopted recommendations to accept modifications to the Navigating Change gating criteria, reflecting information from the health professionals’ advisory team. The modified Gating Criteria chart allows for middle schools and high schools to remain in an in-person or hybrid learning environment when county metrics recommend a remote-only learning environment if school districts meet mitigation protocols. A Mode of Operation document outlining mitigation protocols put into place in order to open secondary schools full time beginning March 22nd was presented to the BOE for approval.
The Mode of Operation document can be viewed at www.usd353.com under the district tab.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the mode of operation document and send secondary students back to school full time beginning March 22. Motion passed 7-0.
Facility Use Requests
The BOE was presented with two facility use requests: Zack Avina and Kaeli Tucker for MAYB basketball practice and Jenny Hollman for a dance recital.
A motion was made and seconded to approve both requests. Motion passed 6-1
WHS Energy Audit
Last month the BOE discussed Facility Planning and out of that discussion came a request to inquire if ESP would do an energy audit at WHS. Mr. Hatfield met with ESP and they agreed to do a free energy audit of WHS.
A motion was made and seconded to approve ESP to do an energy audit of WHS Motion passed 6-1.
Action Items:
Chromebooks
Last month, the BOE was presented with the annual Chromebook purchase quotes that had come in at that point. The BOE was presented with an additional bid which came in lower since the last meeting. The quotes were as follows: CDW- $81,900, Two Trees-$90,000, TROX-$92,943.00, Zones-$93,684.00
A motion was made and seconded to approve the quote from CDW for chromebooks.
Passed 7-0.
Bond Resolution
Last month, the BOE approved Piper-Sandler to begin the bond refinance process. They have locked in rates that will result in a $650,000 savings for the community. The BOE was presented with a resolution to approve in order to move forward with the bond refinancing process.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution from Piper-Sandler. Motion passed 7-0
Food Service Addendum
Last month, the BOE approved the Food Service Waiver for an additional year with OPAA. An addendum to continue the process was presented to the BOE for approval.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the addendum. Motion passed 7-0
Restructuring Discussion
Last month, the BOE heard information and was presented with class size data that was gathered with district staff and Site Councils. This information was then presented to the public for feedback. The class size data was presented for approval. The class size data is as follows:
Kindergarten- 15, First- 15, Second- 18, Third- 18, Fourth- 18, Fifth- 18, Sixth- 22, Seventh- 22, Eighth- 22, Ninth- 22, Tenth- 22, Eleventh- 22, Twelfth- 22.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the class size data as presented
Motion passed 7-0.
Administrative Reports
Executive Session:
A motion was made and seconded to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel for 35 minutes. Motion passed 7-0.
Consent Agenda:
-
- Approve the Minutes of the Feb. 8th Meeting
- Approve Payroll and Bills Payroll: $1,047,523.18
Bills: $517,554.23 Transfers: At-Risk $200,000
Vocational-$50,000.
- Approve the Minutes of the Feb. 8th Meeting
Personnel:
Approve New Hires
-Joy Trillo- Para – WHS
-Jay Wyckoff- Custodian- WHS
-Gabe Hyer-Para- Washington
-Blake Bales-Assistant Golf Coach- WHS
-Brenna Brown-Para- Kennedy
-Brianna Morrison- Para- WHS
-Mary Miller- Math Teacher-WHS.
Approve Resignations
-Shalayne Richmond- Cheer Coach
-Courtney McDonald- Assistant Cheer Coach
– WMS -Allen Hisken- Sponsor- Flags/Winter Guard- WHS
Out of State Travel
• Approve to accept the KS All-Star Scholars fund grant for $23,057.00
A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion passed 7-0.
Board Member Comments:
BOE members came to a consensus to begin opening meetings to the public again and to send the approval of facility use requests back to the building level.
