District board meeting recap March 25

Grace Altenhofen, Editor-in-Chief|March 25, 2019

Associate+Superintendent+for+Organizational+Support+Rick+Atha+and+Food+Services+Director+Nancy+Coughenour+give+a+presentation+on+negative+lunch+account+balances.

photo by Grace Altenhofen

Associate Superintendent for Organizational Support Rick Atha and Food Services Director Nancy Coughenour give a presentation on negative lunch account balances.

The following is a summary of the March 25 SMSD Board of Education meeting.

 

  • Adoption of agenda; approval of minutes from Feb. 25 regular and special meetings and March 5 special meeting

 

  • Report by Superintendent Michael Fulton
    • Brookwood Elementary opened after spring break
    • Horizons teacher Katie Black earned the Read to Achieve Award
    • A group of SMSD second graders won the Exploravision competition
    • Two SMSD high school students recently scored a perfect 36 on the ACT
    • Prairie Elementary librarian Lori O’Neal and Tomahawk Elementary paraprofessional Jordan Bright were named SMSD All Stars

 

  • Strategic Planning Update
    • The strategic planning committee is continuing to work within their action teams

 

  • Reports from Board Members
    • Laura Guy attended a SMAC PTA meeting last week
    • Heather Ousley discussed the all-district employee giving campaign
    • Deb Zila attended a KASB Board of Directors meeting last week

 

  • Financial Report
    • Chief Financial Officer Russell Knapp gave a brief overview of the current budget

 

  • Public Comments
    • A parent requested data about discipline in SMSD, citing her belief that there is a disparity in discipline between different racial groups

 

  • Lobbyist Stuart Little gave a legislative update in which he discussed the current school finance bill that is soon to be voted on in Kansas legislature

 

  • Food Services Director Nancy Coughenour discussed the effects of the revised lunch policy in which students can charge into the negatives on their lunch account balance. The current debt incurred from this policy is $17,972.30.

 

  • The board discussed the specifics of a board policy committee, which would review revised policy and polish it before bringing it before the entire board

 

  • Approval of consent agenda items

 

  • Approval of one-to-one Apple device refresh for middle schoolers

 

  • Approval of summer construction projects
  • Approval of new board policy committee

 

  • Comments from Board
    • Patty Mach invited everyone to a mental health awareness event at SM Northwest on April 10
    • Mary Sinclair said she is thinking about everyone at Highlands Elementary in wake of the recent lockdown during a shooting near the school. She also encouraged everyone to contact state legislators about the school funding bill
    • Sara Goodburn gave a shout out to SMEF for their distinguished leaders speakers series
    • Heather Ousley said the district is looking into the possibility of partnering with KCP&L to utilize wind energy

 

  • The board dismissed to executive session to discuss litigation and personnel matters