South Barber's Board of Education met for their regular October meeting Monday night. President Mark Pollock called the meeting to order with the following members present: Melissa Simpson, Bryan Quick, Deb Helfrich and Mariah Doherty. Ryan Molz and Mike Miller were absent. Also seated at the board table was Superintendent Dr. Mylo Miller and Board Clerk Julie Johnson.

The bulk of the meeting involved a presentation about the building of a safe room at the South Barber Elementary School. Dale Zogleman, president of Protection Shelters LLC of Viola/Wichita, addressed the board. His company builds safe rooms, tornado shelters, etc. This includes FEMA-funded shelters, which South Barber qualified for earlier after Dr. Miller applied for it at the recommendation of local EMS Director Mike Loreg.

USD255 will receive $315,000 of the federal FEMA money for the safe room that can be used as a multi-purpose room as the school desires. The estimated cost Zogleman gave for the safe room is $419,000.

When asked, Dr. Miller said the school's part of financing the remaining balance is not yet finalized. He said he's visiting with the Kiowa District Hospital Administrator Robert Whitaker about the possibility of having a daycare in the building.

“A daycare is still to be determined,” Dr. Miller told the Newsgram. “KDH is interested in partnering in a daycare – tentatively they would contribute financially. There's lots of details to work out. Our next step is forming an advisory team.”

The board approved (5-0) the contract with Protection Shelters LLC for the safe room. “We are definitely doing the safe room,” Dr. Miller said. “We want to make sure our kids are safe.”

Zogleman told the board his company built 31 FEMA-funded tornado shelters for the people of Joplin after their devastating tornado. He said everything his company does has to pass approval of the Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC) and FEMA.

The building is concrete with a stucco outside and is handicap accessible with HVAC and LED lights, he explained. The floor is concrete. Weather permitting, he said it takes 90-120 days to construct the building. He reminded they have to wait an estimated 60 days on the engineer and FEMA before starting.

“My company does all the legwork for you,” Zogleman told the board. He uses local people to work on the building as much as possible, he said.

Zogleman reiterated to the board, “That shelter is 100 percent yours forever.” He said the school district can use the building as they want as long as they use it for a tornado shelter when needed.

More South Barber Board Business

Board members discussed at length the creation of a community/school weight room supervisor “less than part-time position.” Pollock said there is “tons of stuff that needs repaired” in the weight room. It's utilized lots, with 65 scans of the key cards in one week. It needs to be kept cleaner, etc.

The board works with the South Barber Rec Commission regarding the weight room. Quick said he wants all the details of the position before voting. Board members agreed and tabled the subject until next month. A job description will be drawn and presented to the board at the November meeting.

A five-minute executive session was held to discuss a bus driver with no action taken on the subject upon return to open session. Another five-minute executive session was held to discuss employee winter stipends. Then in open session, the board voted 4-1 to allow winter stipends of $100 each. Pollock, citing a conflict of interest (as his wife is a teacher), cast the "abstaining" vote which is an automatic "no" vote.

The removal of Current Events as a required graduation course was approved by the board.

The 4-H Club received board permission to use the high school commons area the second Sunday of each month starting at 4 p.m. This is under the supervision of Jenny Cantrell to align with CTE Curriculum.

With board approval, Studio Pro will hold their holiday dance presentation in the SBHS auditorium on Dec. 18.

Payment of current bills totaling $349,041.57 received board approval.

Dr. Miller will set up dates for board members to choose from to conduct a tour of buildings and experience the new lunch/breakfast program.

South Barber Accomplishments and Upcoming Events

The superintendent said, “It's been a great month. We've had overwhelming support of the community.”

Grade 7-12 Principal Brent Shaffer reported on numerous things at SBHS.

He said Malayna McKitrick and Regan Grieve were August students of the month. Nora Gugelmeyer and CJ Thayer were September students of the month

In sports, he said the Chieftains football team has the district championship and should have home playoff games. Parents Night is Oct. 25 against Pretty Prairie.

High school volleyball has regionals Oct. 22 at Attica. Tennis regionals were at Conway Springs.

Junior high football has their two final games this Thursday and with Skyline Oct 24. Junior high volleyball has the HOPL tournament Saturday.

At the FFA Greenhand Conference, Jacob Hughes placed ninth and Cash Tomberlin placed 11th out of over 350 test takers.

Miss South Barber Malayna McKitrick will compete in the Miss Cinderella pageant in Alva on Oct. 24–26.

There is NO SCHOOL with Fall Break Nov. 1-4. The HOPL Mass Vocal is at Pretty Prairie 11-6.

South Barber's Veterans Day Program is Nov. 11.