Alva Review-Courier -

South Barber's Board of Education met Monday night for their September meeting that lasted well under one hour. All members were present except Bryan Quick. President Mark Pollock called the meeting to order with members at the table including: Mike Miller, Ryan Molz, Melissa Simpson, Deb Helfrich and Mariah Doherty. Superintendent Dr. Mylo Miller sat at the head of the table with the president as did Board Clerk Julie Johnson.

The board welcomed their first student board member, Adrienne Allison, a senior at SBHS. She is an ex-officio (non-voting) board member which is part of the Civic Engagement Learning strategies, Miller explained. South Barber High School's focus is for students to be more involved in their communities. Allison will attend Wichita State University next year and has already been accepted through the early admissions program. While at SBHS Allison has attained her Certified Nursing Assistant's License by taking college courses online and completing her lab and clinical requirements on the weekend. Allison is involved in her school as the Student Council President, in the National Honor Society, in band, and plays volleyball and basketball.

Bus Driver Position and Parking Lot

Longtime Kiowa Baptist Minister Ken Bowden has driven a bus for USD255 many years. He and his wife Gail have reportedly accepted a calling from another church in western Kansas. In his letter of resignation to the board as a bus driver Bowden wrote that he had “been blessed” to work for the South Barber school district. The board accepted his resignation. September 20 is Bowden's last day

The board hired Kade Keast as the new bus driver to replace Bowden. The superintendent said Keast is from Sharon and relocating to Kiowa. His wife is Brook, formerly Diel, from Kiowa.

A lengthy discussion ensued about the need to resurface the parking lot at the high school and the access road that leads to it. Dr. Miller said the existing parking lot is not in good shape and has many spots that need patched. That was reportedly a chip and seal surface.

Miller said he checked with the county and companies they use for paving. None of them submitted a quote. He said Circle C Paving who does work for the City of Kiowa is willing to work with the school on the project this fall.

Circle C does slurry seal which will do better than chip and seal for the project, Miller said he was told. Looking back at 2014, Miller said USD255 soent $157,000 on the parking lot so it should have a good base.

For 2019, Circle C quoted the superintendent $32,000 to do the parking lot and $13,000 for the access road. The board and superintendent agreed they want to gather more information before voting so they tabled the subject until the October meeting.

Other USD255 Business

Auditor Randy Ford attended the meeting and presented a clean financial audit for USD255.

Classified employee contracts for 2019-2020 received board approval. Miller said they received a six percent increase.

Payment of Current Bills was approved with the total $240,482.41.

Student Handbook Changes Approved

The board and Grade 7-12 Principal Brent Shaffer High School discussed at length proposed changes to the high school handbook and elementary school handbook.

The first is defining bullying. “Bullying is unwanted aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. The handbook says that disciplinary action for bullying “Each incident on a case by case basis.”

Regarding Chromebooks, 7th and 8th graders are no longer allowed to take them home.

On dress code, no tank tops of any kind are allowed. In open discussion Dr. Miller mentioned uniforms for students. Before anything like that is seriously discussed a district-wide survey would have to be taken, the board agreed.

The board approved the proposed changes for the student handbook.

Shaffer said he is working on changing graduation requirements beginning with the Class of 2022. Some elective classes would be required such as Personal Finance, Current Events, Life Skills, etc. He will also tweak English class requirements.

Achievements, Upcoming Events, Etc.

Principal Shaffer reported that high school enrollment is 65; Junior High is 25. SBHS has one exchange student from Spain. Five students are taking college classes through Cowley and Pratt. Eight students are doing work study through Career Community Connection.

September 23 is the 1st Annual College and Career Night at the high school.

In sports, 18 boys are on the high school football team. Homecoming is September 27. Parade and pep rally are at 2:30.

In high school volleyball 12 girls are on the team; jr hi, 15 with 6th graders. High school girls tennis, 3; Jr High football,1 1 boys.

Miller reported that over 100 people attended the elementary open house. Enrollment at the elementary is 157.