President Terry Graham was ready to call the November meeting of the Burlington Board of Education to order at 8 p.m., but only two members were present: Allison Armbruster and Aaron Smith. T.J. Rockenbach arrived at 8:30 p.m. to meet quorum requirements and the meeting started. Robert Hill arrived at 9:18 p.m. The absence of the two board members was related to two separate vehicle accidents, but all were okay, Superintendet Dr. Stacey Croft said.

The superintendent, Principal Lane Pruett and Minutes Clerk Tamre McGinnis also attended the meeting that adjourned just after 11 p.m.

Kisling to Seek Open Board Seat

Graham introduced April Kisling who is interested in running for the open board seat (No.4) that is currently held by Allison Armbruster. A phone call to Armbruster Tuesday morning found that she does not plan to seek reelection.

Dr. Croft reminded about board filing dates, which are Monday, Dec. 3, through Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the county election board secretary office in the Alfalfa County Courthouse in Cherokee. If needed, an election will be held Feb. 12.

Transportation Bond Projects Underway

Pat Carroll, of Chas. W. Carroll P.A., attended the meeting to explain to the board about the sinking fund balance and transferring the sinking fund balance to the transportation bond fund. Then the board approved transfer of the sinking fund balance, which has no known indebtedness, to Transportation Bond Fund No. 32. The board also approved the corrected 2018-2019 estimate of needs for reduction of the sinking fund levy.

GeoTechnical Engineering Services by Burgess Engineering for $2,160 was approved. The board also approved the Land Area Survey by Olsson Engineering in the amount of $5,200. This is for preparing the property where the bus barn will be built (which was part of the transportation bond).

The board spent about 30 minutes in executive session to discuss future building projects. Those present in executive session were board members Graham, Smith, Armbruster, and Hill, and Superintendent Croft, Principal Lane Pruett and April Kisling.

Concerning those projected building projects (the bus barn), the board approved to continue working on options with the architect from Boynton Williams and Associates.

Board members opened, reviewed and discussed the bids received for a 2019 nine passenger capacity four-wheel-drive vehicle. Bids were received from Washburn Motor Company and Croft Country Chevrolet. They tabled any further action until after Nov. 27 when the bond money will be available.

Superintendent Croft introduced Randy Hicks with Ross Transportation and Richard Burton. Hicks discussed route bus specifications and answered questions.

Regarding purchase of a 2019 Chevrolet pickup for the agriculture education program, the board reviewed a quote from Croft Country Chevrolet. They decided to table the matter until later in the fiscal year. This pickup is not part of the transportation bond issue. Superintendent Croft said the pickup has high mileage and the transmission went out so options must be considered.

More Burlington School Board Business

The general fund budget for 2018-2019 was approved. The total was $1,037,000, according to the superintendent.

The following encumbrances, change orders and warrants were approved as follows: general fund encumbrances – $30,256.33, change orders – $695.60, and warrants – $226,489.27; building fund warrants – $559.20; and child nutrition fund warrants – $4,399.69.

Dr. Croft will attend the McREL principal evaluation training.

Principal Pruett Reports on Student Achievements

Principal Pruett told the board of many student achievements.

He said the FFA Floriculture team competed at the National FFA Convention. Brenner Clark received bronze; Sadie Crusinbery, Caitlin Flackman and Gavin McCullough received silver; and the team received a silver emblem.

The robotics team competed in the Heartland Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) robotics competition at Northwest Technology Center in Alva. They took second in game and fourth in BEST. For the fifth year in a row, Burlington won the most elegant robot. The robotics team coach, Jennifer Newlin, said the “most elegant robot” is the “best looking robot,” the robot that has “the most eye appeal.”

With their second in game performance, Burlington's roboticstTeam will be competing at the regional competition in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, on Dec. 1. Heartland BEST hub awarded them a $750 stipend to help with expenses.

Basketball season is underway: High school boys are 2-1, high school girls are 2-1, junior high boys are 0-3, junior high girls are 3-1 and the Cherokee JH Tournament Consolation Champs, elementary boys are 1-2 and elementary girls are 0-2.

Pruett said, “We would like to thank the LaWilda Bishop Reitz Foundation for a check for $1,000 presented to Burlington Public School for individual student needs.”

The sixth grade attended the Northwest Technology Center's sixth-grade career fair on Nov. 16.

Three Burlington students (Anna Motyca, Lauren Lagos and Kaylis Stewart) sang in the NWOSU Holiday Choral Festival on Nov. 19.

Burlington's Christmas program is Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.