Burlington's Board of Education conducted business at their regular August meeting in one and a half hours last week. They held a special meeting earlier in August where they conducted lots of business with hirings, etc., as reported in the Newsgram.

Yesterday, Aug. 23, Burlington School District voters went to the polls to vote whether to approve the school's proposed $210,000 transportation bond issue.

The bond issue calls for the purchase of a bus with a lift to replace a 2000 model bus with over 188,000 miles and a lift that is not functioning. Also, the bond proposal includes purchase of a Suburban to replace the current 2006 Suburban with over 166,000 miles, and a new 15-passenger van.

At the meeting last week, Superintendent Glen Elliott handed out a flyer about the bond issue that was distributed to district voters.

Board President Terry Graham called the meeting to order with all members present including Allison Armbruster, Aaron Smith, Robert Hill and T.J. Rockenbach. Others present were Superintendent Elliott, Principal Shane Feely, and minutes clerk Tamre McGinnis.

Miss Burlington Pageant

Three young women from the senior class will vie for the Miss Burlington title tomorrow night, Thursday, Aug. 25. This gives the winner an opportunity to represent her school in the Miss Cinderella Talent Show and Pageant in Alva during Northwestern Oklahoma State University's homecoming festivities Thursday, Sept. 29 – Saturday, Oct. 1.

Miss Burlington contestants are Rebecca Bonham, Bayli Hyde and Kelsi Smith. They'll compete onstage in poise and appearance, talent and evening gown. They'll be interviewed by the judges prior to the pageant.

Burlington School Board Business

Elliott told the board the current projected number of students for the new school year is 180 with 151 riding the buses. Classes started Aug. 10.

The board briefly discussed an underpayment made for last school year (2015-16) to Superintendent Elliott. They approved making the payment to Elliott in the 2016-17 school year with an addendum to his contract for reference.

Ten-month employee contracts were signed. They are: Raye Lyn Bird, Kelly Campbell, Ginger Cass, Kaye Christensen, Stacey Croft, Cheryl Czerniak, E.J. Diel, Judy Elliott, Kiley Feely, Aliene Gosselin, Vicki Harmon, Barbara James, Danielle Jewell, Ken Jones, Misty McCullough, Zina McLeod, Apryl Burleson, Kaci Mead, Lindsey Morgan, Kathy Motycka, Jennifer Newlin, Jenell Newman, Kirsten Pruett, Kristen Sciara, Rose Mary Shepherd, Jessica Smith, Jennifer Stewart, Randy Turney, Letisha Wade and Kelsey Yarbrough.

The board approved the following items: Lifetouch as the school photographer for the 2016/2017 school year, the July activity report, and reaffirmation of the Burlington School procurement policy.

The following encumbrances, change orders and warrants for 2017 were approved. General Fund: encumbrances $83,126.28, change orders $716.67, warrants $300,481.76; Building Fund: warrants $152.45; Child Nutrition Fund: warrants $4,162.73; and 2016 Reserves: General Fund warrants $23,493.41.

Following discussion on the policy manual subscription services offered by OSSBA, the board approved the purchase of the Policy Review Service for $1,000 and the Maintenance Subscription Service for $500 for the 2017 fiscal year.

Principal Feely Explains New Online Spanish Program

Principal Feely updated the board on the Rider classroom online Spanish program that's being used this year. Rider provides a “virtual classroom,” a distance-learning program for high schools.

Feely explained that Rider Classroom Spanish is a program based out of Norman with Randy Rider as the owner and operator. He has teachers all across the nation that have gotten their Oklahoma teaching license in Spanish. Students use Skype, an online videoconferencing tool similar to Apple's Facetime, to connect with their teacher.

The principal said the school buys all the curriculum and instructional materials from Rider Classroom Spanish for a one-time fee. The lesson plans are the same for each teacher and are sent out on a weekly basis by Rider to all monitors and teachers. The school has to have a monitor in the classroom to help facilitate the classroom technology and work period. The class time is divided into two parts: instruction period (25 minutes) and work period (25 minutes).

Feely is monitoring a Spanish II class and Misty McCullough is monitoring two Spanish I classes. “So far the teachers have been fantastic,” Feely said. Tests are done online through a learning management system called Moodle. “I am very pleased so far with the quality of instruction that our kids are getting,” he said.

Feely also reported on a new reading series, McGraw Hill’s Wonders, for the elementary students.

The principal also told the board that three of the emergency mandatory 12 drills were given the first three days of school. Those were for bus evacuation, fire and intruder.

Principal Feely also reported on the ACT Test Data Training for teachers; the four tests that will be given during the year replacing the EOI tests; staff training with the GCN program on various subjects.

Besides enrollment information, Superintendent Elliott's report consisted of a reminder of the upcoming OSSBA/CCOSA Convention at the end of August; and a short update on 2016 legislative action.