September 8, 2009 Board of Education Minutes
by Jan Tremblay
Clifton Clyde USD 224
Board of Education Meeting
September 8, 2009, 8:00 p.m.
Clifton Clyde Middle School
Members Present
Renay Branfort, Frank Brownell, Steve Feight, Dean Michaud, Deb
Ohlde, Scott Seifert
Others Present
Superintendent Brian Pekarek, Principal Cheryl Keim, Clerk Jan
Tremblay,
Patrons: Jack Schwab. Nikki Barnes, Mike Duever, Bill Peterson,
Laura Rogers, Brenda Danielson, Karrie Peterson, Karla
Danielson, Keven Ward
Call to Order
President Brownell called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.
Approve Consent Agenda
2f-Acceptance of $1,000 Kansas Crossroads Grant, 2g-Acceptance of
$250 from Jim Germann Construction for Additional Wind Turbine
Expenses, 2h-Acceptance of Ready-Made Concrete Donation,
2i-Acceptance of Twin Valley Conduit/Drilling Donation,
2j-Acceptance of Prairieland Electric Cooperative’s Donation of a
Solar-Powered Water Pump, 2k-Acceptance of Kenton Brown’s Donation
of Rebar/Wire, 2l-Acceptance of Lowes Home Improvement Landscaping
Donation were added to the agenda. Motion made by Seifert, seconded
by Feight to approve the consent agenda as amended. Motion carried
6-0.
The August 3, 2009 minutes, under Unfinished Business were
corrected in the following manner: Motion made by Feight, seconded
by Michaud to approve a 2-year contract for Cheryl Keim, high
school principal, with a 1% salary increase, three personal days
and allow her to convert two sick leave days to personnel days in a
current year. Motion carried 6-0.
The August 17, 2009 Budget Hearing minutes were corrected by adding
Patrons Present: Jeff Koch.
Motion made by Branfort, seconded by Feight to approve the
corrections to the August board meetings. Motion carried 6-0.
Approve Bills for Payment
After discussion on the bills, motion made by Branfort, seconded by
Michaud to approve the bills for payment. Motion carried 6-0.
Review Correspondence
A thank you was received from Keri Feight for the new heating and
air conditioning units in the FAC room at the high school.
Receive Patron’s Comments
None
Hear Board Member Reports
Smoky Hill Educational Service Center: Brownell reported that at
the last meeting of the Smoky Hill ESC, he gave a report on the new
wind turbine and solar pump being installed at the high school.
Hear Building Reports
Student Council Report: President Laura Rogers:
• Clifton Clyde High School Student Council President, Laura Rogers
reported to the board on the
projects they are planning at the high school this year. They will
be presenting information to the
public at the ballgames on green schools, maintaining the
landscaping around the turbine and solar
pump area, trading ideas with other school student councils and
many more projects.
High School Report: Mrs. Keim:
Mrs. Keim thanked Laura Rogers for presenting to the board.
• Homecoming has been moved back to a Friday at the request of the
Student Council.
• Dual credit classes were discussed as to whether they are
deterrence to the electives.
The Board of Regents is looking also at whether the dual credit
classes are preparing students for
college. The board will revisit this issue at semester. Mrs. Newell
currently does a survey of
graduated students to see how well they felt they were prepared for
college.
• The facilities looked great for the beginning of the school
year.
• The pop machine is back in the high school after students wrote a
persuasive paper on the merits of
having it in the school.
• The Salvation Army has games on October 3, 10 and 17. The want to
use the playing field on
Thursdays for 30 to 60 minutes to practice kicking field goals and
use the high school field for their
games. The coaches will be consulted about this.
• The board discussed ways to keep vehicles off of the lawns at the
high school.
• The Pepsi Cola Company is now the vendor at the high school. The
school will receive incentive pay at the end of the year.
Grade School/Middle School/District Report: Brian
Pekarek:
• The wind turbine will be installed on Friday the 18th. PFIM, the
manufacturer, will be here to hoist
it in place.
• A solar-powered pump will also be installed at the high school to
pump water for various projects.
• The district is hoping to receive bids for an updated telephone
system for the district.
• The district has some computers that could be auctioned off.
• Rock was put down at the back of the grade school for faculty
parking.
• The 4th grade classroom has been having issues with an odor of
unknown origin.
• The district could face another budget cur this year of $60,000
and $182,000 in the next year.
• The administration is encouraging all certified staff to write a
grant this year.
• The district received a grant from Lowes that will help to
landscape the area around the wind
turbine and solar pump. Students will help maintain this
project.
New & Miscellaneous Business
FFA Presentation and Request: Several FFA students talked
to the board about the National FFA Convention this year in
Indianapolis, IN. They earn the money to pay for their expenses and
requested transportation from the district. Motion made by Feight,
seconded by Ohlde to allow the FFA to use district transportation
for their field trip. Motion carried 6-0.
Bus Transportation Request: Brenda Danielson and
Karrie Peterson, representing the Branfort Covenant Church,
requested transportation for students going to the Wednesday night
youth group. Bill Peterson, driver of the bus, explained that it
would not add any miles to his route or delay any students from
getting home. The program lasts until November 18th and then has
another session in the spring. Motion made by Branfort, seconded by
Seifert to allow students to use the unused seats in Mr. Peterson’s
route bus if they want to attend the Branfort Covenant Church
Wednesday Night Youth Group since this is along Mr. Peterson’s bus
route and since it would be a cost savings to the district.. Motion
carried 6-0.
Keven Ward from Trane Energy: District Energy Audit
Presentation: Mr. Ward toured all of the district
buildings and reported to the board that the buildings were very
well maintained. Most of the larger projects, such as the windows,
roofs and boilers systems have been updated in the recent years. It
was the consensus of the board to have Mr. Ward proceed with the
initial steps for the energy audit and report to the board at the
October meeting.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance Bid: This item was
removed from the agenda.
Grant Writing Request: Discussion only on compensating staff
members for writing and receiving grants. The board asked that Mr.
Pekarek check with other districts and see if they do this and also
check with the CPA auditors on the legality of it.
Unfinished Business
Adopt Board of Education Policy Changes and Additions:
Motion made by Branfort, seconded by Michaud to update our
bullying policy and change our coaching evaluation policy to the
changes suggested. Motion carried 6-0.
Evaluation of KASB District Goals/Superintendent Checklist:
Discussion only on the district goals and the superintendent
checklist established at the July 13, 2009 work session. It will be
discussed at the October meeting.
Superintendent Remarks
The wind turbine is to be erected on Friday, 11th.
Robison Solar Systems donated the solar pump system that will be
located at the high school along side of the wind turbine. The well
will be dug for $1,000 by Associated Drilling of Olsburg, KS.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.
*This is the unofficial record of the September 8, 2009 Board of
Education meeting pending board approval at the regular October
meeting.



