Board of Education Minutes, October 5, 2009
by Jan Tremblay
Clifton Clyde USD 224
Board of Education Meeting
October 5, 2009, 8:00 p.m.
Clifton Clyde High School
Members Present
Renay Branfort, Frank Brownell, Steve Feight, Paula Kieffer, Dean Michaud, Deb Ohlde,
Scott Seifert
Others Present
Superintendent Brian Pekarek, Principal Cheryl Keim, Clerk Jan Tremblay, Eric Germann,
Renata Ramonda, Laura Stunkel, Connie Winter
Patrons: Barb George, Barb Hubert, Laura Rogers, Joe Ryan
Call to Order
President Brownell called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.
Approve Consent Agenda
9h, Executive Session for Non-Elected Personnel, was added to the agenda. The minutes
from the September 8, 2009 meeting were corrected under Building Reports, Grade
School/Middle School/District Report to read “The wind turbine will be installed on Friday the
11th.” Motion made by Branfort, seconded by Ohlde to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried 7-0.
The minutes included accepting the KS Crossroads Grant for $1,000, the Cloud County
Community Foundation grant for $3,000, the TASK grant for $200, the Clyde Chamber of
Commerce Grant for $150 and accepting the resignation of Sheri Ryser as secretary at
Clifton Clyde High School.
Approve Bills for Payment
Motion made by Seifert, seconded by Kieffer to approve the bills for payment. Motion
carried 7-0.
Introduction of New Teachers to USD 224
Laura Stunkel, art teacher at the high school, Renata Ramonda, band and music teacher at
the middle and high school and Eric Germann, 6th grade teacher at the middle school,
introduced themselves and gave some background on their education and experience.
Review Correspondence
Thank You Notes: None
Receive Patron’s Comments
None
Hear Board Member Reports
Smoky Hill Educational Service Center: The October meeting will be on the 8th.
Brownell reported that Keven Trane would like students from Clifton Clyde High School to
give a presentation to Smoky Hill Educational Service Center on our wind turbine and solar
pump.
Learning Cooperative of NCK: Mr. Pekarek attended the superintendent’s council of
LCNCK.
Hear Administrator/Student Council Reports
High School Report: Mrs. Keim
-Mrs. Keim has been looking at a new LED sign for the front of the school. She showed pictures of the sign she would like to purchase and different funding options were discussed The current sign could be moved to the grade school.
Student Council Report: President Laura Rogers
-Homecoming was a success
-The student council will have a Krispy Kreme fundraiser with funds to be used to update the lettering on the outside of the school.
-The student council representatives traveled to Salina to meet with other student councils to trade project ideas.
-The Student Council and National Honor Society worked on the landscaping around the wind turbine.
-Laura demonstrated how to use and read the Skystream information on the district
website. The computer set-up is being used by the Vo Ag classes and others will use it in the future.
-A video tape of the channel 27 news spot highlighting the wind turbine was played for the board.
CCGS/CCMS/District Report: Brian Pekarek
-There were no questions on Mr. Pekarek’s report.
New & Miscellaneous Business
Nex Gen Presentation on Wind Energy: Mr. Joe Ryan
Mr. Ryan presented to the board on Nex Gen Energy Partners LLC, which is a private third party energy provider. The company out of Boulder CO installs and owns the equipment used for the renewable energy system and sells the energy to the customer at stable rates.
He told the board that there are many factors that need to be sorted out before they can set up a system in this area. An energy study would need to be done beforehand to determine the needs of the district.
ClydeNeighborhood Revitalization: Mrs. Mari Detrixhe
The Clyde Neighborhood Revitalization Group needs a member of USD 224 Board of
Education to serve on the committee. The group will meet on Monday nights in October to formulate a plan to bring more businesses to the area. The Neighborhood Revitalization Plan encourages business investment, both new and existing businesses, by awarding tax rebates for up to five years on sizeable investments. The committee consists of representatives of all taxation entities in Cloud County.
Motion made by Branfort, seconded by Feight to appoint Deb Ohlde as the USD 224
representative for the Neighborhood Revitalization Project. Motion carried 6-0-1. Ohlde
abstained and an abstention counts as a nay vote.
USD 224 Curriculum/Grant Writing: Mrs. Connie Winter
Mrs. Winter reported on the status of grant writing in the district. Almost $20,000 in grants and gifts have been received to date with six more pending and many more in progress and being considered. She stressed that staff is not required, but can use their plan time for grant writing and the 2-hr late start days will be used.
Motion made by Feight, seconded by Ohlde to approve the grant writing requests as
presented. Motion carried 7-0.
The first reading for a change in policy DGAA was presented. The proposed change will
read “The board and/or the Superintendent shall approve all grant applications before their
submission.” It will be voted on at the November meeting.
Internet Safety Public Hearing: This is a required public hearing to confirm that we have an internet filter for student protection purposes. Motion made by Branfort, seconded by
Feight to approve the internet “firewall” protection services for USD 224. Motion carried 7- 0.
Auction of Surplus USD 224 Items: The district has 20 computers, 12 monitors and 2
pianos that are considered surplus. The board requested that 12 computers and monitors be donated to students and the remaining be auctioned off.
Motion made by Ohlde, seconded by Seifert to approve up to 8 computers and 2 pianos for surplus and allow USD 224 to organize a bid-auction to sell them. Motion carried 7-0.
CCHS Homecoming Voting Format: Discussion only on the selection process for
homecoming candidates. This item was tabled until the November meeting.
CCHS Handbook Attendance Policy: Motion made by Branfort, seconded by Brownell to enter into executive session for a period of twenty minutes to discuss matters affecting a student(s) in order to protect the privacy interests of the individual(s) to be discussed. Motion carried 7-0.
The board entered into the session at 9:35 p.m. and reconvened in open session at 9:55 p.m.
Mr. Pekarek and Mrs. Keim were invited into the session.
Motion made by Seifert, seconded by Feight to reenter into the session for a period of five
minutes. Motion carried 7-0.
The board entered into the session at 9:56 p.m. and reconvened in open session at 10:01 p.m.
Mr. Pekarek and Mrs. Keim were invited into the session.
The board tabled the attendance policy change to the November meeting.
Executive Session to Discuss Non-Elected Personnel: Motion made by Branfort,
seconded by Feight to enter into executive session for a period of ten minutes to discuss non- elected personnel in order to protect the privacy interests of the individual(s) to be discussed. Motion carried 7-0.
The board entered into the session at 10:05 p.m. and reconvened in open session at 10:15 p. m.
Mr. Pekarek and Mrs. Keim were invited into the session.
Unfinished Business
Evaluation of KASB District Goals/Superintendent Check-List: Discussion only on the USD 224 Board/Superintendent Goals for 2009-2010.
Superintendent Remarks
Mr. Pekarek discussed budget cuts for next year and possibly this year. The board would
like to have a budget/fact finding workshop after the first of the year.
He also talked about lease-purchase agreements in conjunction with the local banks.
The Salvation Army football program requested to use the high school football playing field for the rest of the year.
Motion made by Branfort, seconded by Seifert to allow the Salvation Army football team
access privileges in order to use the CCHS football game field playing area for the reminder of the 2009-2010 season for 30 minutes on Thursdays for practice. Motion carried 7-0.
The KASB Fall Regional meeting is on October 22nd at St. George Elementary School in St. George and the 2009 KASB Convention is December 4-6 in Overland Park.
The board will do superintendent evaluations at 7:00 p.m. at the November 2nd meeting.
Adjourn
Motion made by Feight, seconded by Branfort to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
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*This is the unofficial record of the October 5, 2009 Board of Education meeting pending board approval at the regular November meeting.
