BOE Minutes - 12/14/2015
December 21, 2015
REGULAR MEETING – December 14, 2015
Minutes of the board meeting are not official until after approval at the next regularly scheduled board
meeting.
The Board of Education of USD #511 met in regular session on Monday December 14, 2015 and was
called to order by President Lynda Newberry at 6:00pm. Members present included Jolene Peterson,
Tye McDaniel, Brett Traffas, Rogena Grigsby, Eric Dark, and Roger Goodman. Guests present were Kate
Hankins and Cindy Warren. Also present was Superintendent Dale Adams, Principal Josh Lanning, and
Clerk of the Board Amie Loreg.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.
President Lynda Newberry recognized guests.
Eric Dark moved and Brett Traffas seconded to approve the agenda as amended to include 9n. Accept
gift/donation. 7-0, motion carried.
Brett Traffas moved and Roger Goodman seconded to approve the consent agenda. 7-0, motion carried.
Special Education: Mr. Adams reported the school being short two para positions. He stated that one
para position had not been filled and one recently quit.
Curriculum: A program is being started in Elementary for Student of the Month. The students will be
divided into two groups, K-2nd and 3rd-6th. Mr. Adams has been working with staff to implement
Academic Personal Performance Sheets for all students. The sheets will have grades, attendance, and
various testing information. The long term goal of the sheets is to create personal plans of study for all
students.
Technology: Mr. Adams reported that Danton Hilton would like for all chromebooks to be turned in over
the winter break. He will use the time to check them for any issues, cosmetic or otherwise.
Summer Rec: Biddy Basketball will be starting in January. There were some issues with the splitting of
teams but it has been worked out and teams are now set. Eric Dark reported that the water system at
the baseball field needs winterized, he will look into it.
Transportation Log: The special education route that had been morning and noon was changed to a
noon only special route.
Budget Summary of Funds: Funds were created so a larger portion of the budget can be spent from
supplemental general.
Old Business: Eric Dark moved and Tye McDaniel seconded to approve a $100 ESOL stipend for Sarah
Polson for acting as the schools migrant liaison. 7-0, motion carried.
Eric Dark moved and Jolene Peterson seconded to approve the reorganization of the Activities Account.
7-0, motion carried.
Page 2 December 14, 2015
Eric Dark moved and Tye McDaniel seconded to go into executive session to discuss non elected
personnel to protect the privacy interests of an identifiable individual for 10 minutes to be discussed
with the board and Mr. Adams. 7-0, motion carried.
Eric Dark moved and Jolene Peterson seconded to approve Classified Staff pay raises as presented. 7-0,
motion carried.
Mr. Adams briefly discussed erate the school receives toward phone, cellular phone, and internet bills,
mentioning that the program may no longer be available for the school in the next couple of years. He
commented that if the board is thinking upgrades to current systems the school could turn in to erate
until January.
Wellness Center Floor – Mr. Adams reported that the floor in the Wellness Center that had a “bubble” in
it was fixed by John Blick cutting a portion of the floor creating space between it and the threshold.
Controlled Building Access – Mr. Adams presented the board with an estimate of new door alarm
system. A discussion was held about various key/card systems. The long term goal is to gain controlled
access to the building and the Wellness Center.
Brett Traffas left the meeting at 6:44pm and returned at 6:48pm
Mr. Adams discussed a card system the Wellness Center could eventually lead to community members
being able to let themselves in and out of the building for 24 hour access.
Brett Traffas and Mr. Adams attended the Harper County Task Force November meeting. A brief report
was given about the discussions at that meeting.
Currently the schools cellular bill is through Pioneer and has two phones. One of the phones is not being
used. The board chose to remove that phone.
Eric Dark moved and Brett Traffas seconded the use of discipline sheets for students K-12 to help track
discipline issues. 7-0, motion carried.
Mr. Adams reported on Negotiations Training at Clearwater January 12th. After discussion it was decided
that both board negotiators, Lynda Newberry and Rogena Grigsby, would attend as well as Mr. Adams.
Roger Goodman moved and Eric Dark seconded to go into executive session to discuss negotiations to
protect the district’s right to the confidentiality of its negotiating position and the public interest for 10
minutes with the board and Mr. Adams, to return to regular session at 7:20pm. 7-0, motion carried
Roger Goodman moved and Rogena Grigsby seconded to ratify the Negotiated Agreement as presented.
7-0, motion carried.
Page 3 December 14, 2015
Eric Dark moved and Tye McDaniel seconded to accept the donation of a digital scale to the physics
department. 7-0, motion carried.
Board Comments:
Brett Traffas showed a bid for a 10 passenger van that is legal to haul students. Jay Adams had
requested Brett look for bids when the schools current van became illegal to haul students.
Administration Reports:
Mr. Adams presented three quotes for buses, informed the board that he stopped the sending of
eligibility reports to all teaching/coaching staff due to FERPA, meaning a need to know. The lists will go
to building superintendent, principal, counselor, and AD they will contact others if necessary.
Mr. Lanning reported the high school would be playing basketball in Ashland on Tuesday with both,
Junior High and High Schools first home games being on Thursday and Friday before Christmas Break.
He reported the starting of finals for students, with exemptions of finals being given to students who
meet specific criteria. Mr. Lanning also discussed a testing calendar being put together, next year’s
schedule being reviewed soon, and the upcoming Pratt Academic Olympics in February that Attica
students will attend. Beginning next semester he reported the start of a Senior of the Week program.
Eric Dark moved and Jolene Peterson seconded to go into executive session to discuss negotiations to
protect the district’s right to the confidentiality of its negotiating position and the public interest for 5
minutes with the board Mr. Adams and Mr. Lanning to return to regular session at 7:30pm. 7-0, motion
carried. Tye McDaniel moved and Eric Dark seconded to extend the executive session for 5 minutes with
Mr. Adams, to return to regular session at 7:35pm. 7-0, motion carried.
Eric Dark moved and Brett Traffas seconded to go into executive session to discuss non elected
personnel to protect the privacy interests of an identifiable individual for 5 minutes to be discussed with
the board and Mr. Adams to return to regular session at 7:43pm. 7-0, motion carried. Rogena Grigsby
moved and Brett Traffas seconded to extend the executive session for 5 minutes with Mr. Adams, to
return to regular session at 7:48pm. 7-0, motion carried.
Tye McDaniel moved and Eric Dark seconded to go into executive session for student matters to protect
the privacy rights of a student who is identifiable for 3 minutes to be discussed with the board and Mr.
Adams, to return to regular session at 7:53pm. 7-0, motion carried.
Brett Traffas moved and Eric Dark seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:56pm. 7-0, motion carried.
Meeting adjourned,
Amie Loreg, Clerk of the Board
