Alva Review-Courier -

South Barber's Board of Education met for their regular August meeting Monday evening to talk storm damage, approve negotiation agreements, make personnel changes and discuss capital outlay projects lease financing.

Board President Steve Allen called the meeting to order with the following members present: Mike Miller, Mark Pollock, Melissa Simpson, Deb Helfrich and Mariah Doherty. Later in the meeting the board accepted the resignation of Dooli Rugg from the board, effective Aug. 5. Superintendent Dr. Andi Williams reminded the board that with the absence of one board member, it will still take four yes votes to pass an agenda item.

The following changes in personnel received board approval:

• Clint Erickson as head junior high football coach and assistant track coach

• Evelyn Watson as full-time head cook at the high school (replaces Kaley Stoner)

• Terminate employment of full-time custodian Terry Wolf

• Resignation of ESOL para-educator Jeanine Cloyd

• Delores Diel as ESOL para-educator to replace Cloyd

• Janelle Maltbie as substitute teacher

• Sonya Schantz as substitute classified

• Janet Cook as substitute classified

• Shane Holt as substitute classified

Negotiations Approved

The following was approved regarding personnel negotiations and finances:

• Negotiations agreement as ratified by teachers (5.5 percent on base, 1.4 percent on steps, $5,964 toward health insurance benefit)

• Classified wages and placement scale, 7 percent increase

• Contracted classified salaries, 3.5 percent increase

• Building administrators' salaries, 3.5 percent increase

• Superintendent salary, $7000 on base

• Classified salary placement guidelines, 7 percent increase

The superintendent told the board that this should all be done in the spring, not this late. So for this coming school year, she said negotiations should be finalized by spring.

Football Field Damage Repairs to Begin

Regarding the SBHS football stadium that was destroyed in the major storm Aug. 5, the superintendent said the school's insurance is paying at replacement costs and she is “very pleased.”

The grass football field and track surface had significant damage (gashes, holes, debris, etc.) when the home side bleachers and press box blew across the field landing at the visitor's side.

The superintendent said a company from Derby is to start repairing the football field today (Wednesday). She said the field will be removed in sections and re-sodded. The plan is to have the SBHS Chieftains and SBJH Tornadoes football games at home.

The first home game for the Tornadoes is Thursday, Sept. 7, when they host Burrton at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, the Chieftains host Norwich at 7 p.m.

Helfrich voiced her concern about making absolutely certain that all the debris and metal fragments are removed from the soil to avoid injury to a student when playing football.

The superintendent said one of the tall stadium wooden pole lights in the early summer wind storm was damaged and needs to be replaced. She said the other tall stadium lights and poles also need replacement. The cost to go with metal instead of wooden poles is about $3,000 more per pole, she said.

Discussing replacement of the bleachers, the desire for more leg room was mentioned, as was a handrail in the middle of the aisles. Also, some said since the home side bleachers are never completely filled, they could possibly build back not quite as large. Dr. Williams said she's received interest from two companies so far regarding rebuilding the stadium: P1 Group of Wichita; and Heartland Seating (who SB used for the last bleacher improvement project).

While insurance is paying for most of the costs from storm damage, the superintendent said there will be some cost to the school for the insurance deductibles, etc.

Dr. Williams updated the board on the status of numerous capital improvement projects. The K-6 building sewer is complete with a $7,000 savings. The gas piping project on the high school building should be finished Friday. The auditorium lighting is almost finished. New toilets and sinks are installed at the elementary building.

She said a “definite estimate” of completed and ongoing capital improvement projects is $357,000. The superintendent presented the board with about four scenarios for financing options.

The board approved authorizing the superintendent to seek capital outlay projects lease financing from Citizens' Bank of Medicine Lodge for less than $400,000. The superintendent said that bank had expressed interest in financing the project to her.

Mill Rates, Budget Hearing and More SB Business

USD255's proposed budget for the 2017-18 school year is $2.6 million. Last year the budget was about $2.2 million. The budget hearing is Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 a.m. at South Barber's central office on Main Street in Kiowa.

Superintendent Williams said the mill rate for the Local Option Budget (LOB) is down almost one-and-a-half mills for 2017-18. The rate was 18.6 last year and decreases to 17.250.

The board approved payment of current bills of $341,898.89.

In her update to the board, Dr. Williams spoke briefly about USD255's accreditation process. South Barber is starting at “Year Zero,” she said and explained the process is “validating what we do.” A team will evaluate SB. The superintendent said she serves on one of the teams that evaluates some other schools around the state so she'll know what is expected.

At the school district's inservice Aug. 21–23, they'll have various speakers with breakfast and lunch served. Williams said the historical eclipse happens on Monday and the group will take notice.

The Kiowa District Hospital is providing training to school personnel for CPR, choking, etc. The superintendent said KDH is paying the $30 fee per person, which is appreciated by the district.

Board member Miller reported on the success of the Monty Thompson Continuing Education Foundation Memorial Golf Tournament held last weekend. He'll have final numbers in the near future.

Elementary Principal Eric Stoddard thanked everyone who helped clean the school area after the big Aug. 5 storm.

“Our staff and community is incredible in helping in times of need,” Stoddard said. He said the elementary school grounds had some tree damage, but only a little water in the front entry. The usual physical education swimming at the city pool won't happen due to damage to the city pool, which is now closed for the remainder of the summer from the Aug. 5 storm. Stoddard said physical education teacher Deb Hitchcock is seeking other options for students.

The elementary principal said enrollment there is estimated at 162 students. He said that teachers Mr. Maloney and Mr. Rector are considering different character education programs for students. K-6 students have pre-planned time daily for character education, class meetings and keyboarding.

Jr/Sr High Principal Brent Shaffer was busy with a multitude of issues at the high school (enrollment, and much more), so was not present at the meeting.

South Barber's first day of school is Thursday, Aug. 24.