Board of Education Minutes, January 7, 2008
by Jan Tremblay
Clifton Clyde USD 224
Board of Education Meeting
January 7, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Clifton Clyde High School Library
Members Present
Kenton Brown, Frank Brownell, Steve Feight, Paula Kieffer, Jeff Koch, Steve Rogers
Others Present
Superintendent David Roberts, Principal Brenda Odgers, Clerk Jan Tremblay
Patrons: Donice James, Mari Detrixhe, Adrianne Sorell, Nicole Schurle, Lana Moore
Call to Order
President Brownell called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Approve Consent Agenda
7c-Teacher Presentation and 9d-Grade School Teacher Aide were added to the
agenda. Motion made by Feight, seconded by Rogers to approve the consent agenda as
amended. Motion carried 6-0.
Approve Bills for Payment
Motion made by Brown, seconded by Kieffer to approve the bills for payment. Motion
carried 6-0.
Review Correspondence
None
Receive Patron’s Comments
None
Hear Board Member Reports
Service Center Report: Brown reported that the last meeting of the Smoky Hill
Educational Service Center was a phone conference. The approved a lease contract for
housing the center in Hays during the remodel project.
Board Member Arrives
Branfort arrived at 7:45 p.m.
Hear Building Reports
Ms. Odgers Reported from the High School:
• Forensics is being organized for the 2008 year
• The Knowledge Master team placed first in the nation for schools of 200 or less. They
were 119th out of 748 teams overall. The team consists of Anna Rogers, Christian
Jackson, Ben Detrixhe, Barrett Winters, Dylan Koch, Alex Potuzak and Laura Rogers.
• FBLA all-school interviews will be on February 7th.
• Christian Jackson and Michael Lambert were selected for the 8-man all-star team
• Coach Steinbrock asked permission to sell old football jerseys. It was the consensus of
the board to allow this.
Mr. Roberts Reported from the Middle and Grade Schools:
• Mr. Roberts informed the board that Clifton Clyde High School received a Bronze rating
in USA News and World Report as one of the top high schools in the United States.
• Lana Moore reported to the board on technology use at the grade school. They have
20 good computers with the largest class being 26. The classes meet 1-2 times a week
utilizing educational internet games, Turbo Math and Reading Rabbit .
The 3rd grade is doing state assessment practice tests and they will do the actual tests
on the computer.
• Donice James displayed the history quilt made by the students in social studies. They
did all of the sewing, tied the quilt and wrote a paper using six-trait writing skills.
Unfinished Business
Accept Audit Report and Contract: Motion made by Koch, seconded by Feight to
approve the 2007 audit report for USD 224. Motion carried 7-0.
Mr. Roberts requested information from 1, 2 and 3A schools regarding what they are
charged for audit services. Koch inquired as to whether KSDE requests districts’
financial information from auditors. The board will consider the contract with Kickhaefer
andAssociates for 2007-08 at the February meeting after receiving this information.
Capital Projects Update: Several contractors have picked up bid specs for the middle
school locker and restrooms. The bids will be opened at the February meeting.
The library project at the high school will also require bids and the weight room plans are
being formulated.
New & Miscellaneous Business
Tax Abatement: Mari Detrixhe reported to the board on the tax abatement request from
Foutch Brothers. This is a Neighborhood Revitalization abatement of 95% for 10
years. The grade school building has never generated any taxes for the district until the
sale to Foutch Brothers in 2006. It is now appraised at $16,640 and generates $127 per
year in taxes of which $30-40 goes to the district. The Clyde City Council and Cloud
County Commissioners voted to approve this abatement and Foutch Brothers would like a
vote of support from the Board of Education. Motion made by Brownell, seconded by
Brown that the Board of Education of USD 224 supports the City of Clyde in the request
for tax abatement on the former Clyde Grade School property. This is done with no
financial penalty to the school district. Motion passed 4-3. Branfort, Feight and Koch
cast the nay votes.
Koch stated that he would support the motion if developmental language was added to
include a reasonable construction timeframe, a landscaping plan and competent
management.
This motion will be rewritten and on the agenda in February.
Negotiations Items: February 1st is the deadline to exchange letters with the Teachers
Association for negotiations.
2008-09 Calendars: The administration has developed three calendars for the board and
staff to study.
Despite the snow days, the district is still good on total hours for the year.
Grade School Teacher Aide: Motion made by Branfort, seconded by Feight to approve
the hiring of Stephanie LeBlanc as the grade school teacher aide. Motion passed 7-0.
Superintendent Remarks
January 14th will be a two hour late start day. The December late start was presented by
Ms. Odgers on lesson planning, best practices and teaming.
January 21st will be a teacher in-service day. There will be no school for students.
Mr. Roberts informed the board that the 1995 van has developed rust spots and may need
to be disposed of.
Bus 92A has 125,000 miles and has 3 ½ years of service left.
The Intrepid is the only sedan remaining in the district and has 125,000 miles
Administrative contracts will be on the agenda in February.
The teacher request from the December meeting will be added to the February agenda..
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
*This is the unofficial record of the January 7, 2008 meeting of the Board of Education pending approval at the regular February meeting.
