Staff writer
USD 410 Superintendent Steve Noble said Monday that Hillsboro Middle School would be a part of an unprecedented hearing for the Kansas State High School Athletic Association Thursday in Hutchinson.
Middle schools from Pratt, Larned, and Hoisington are bidding to join the league already occupied by Hillsboro, Nickerson, Lyons, Sterling, Halstead, Hesston, Haven, and Smoky Valley, creating an 11-team league. KSHSAA has never made a decision on the placement of teams in middle school sports leagues.
Noble said it was a likely possibility KSHSAA would appoint the three teams to the league. In the possibility of an 11-team league, Noble said Hillsboro, Halstead, Hesston, and Haven had already agreed on splitting teams into two divisions to avoid late-night travel and the cost of traveling to further distances.
“We don’t need a lot of schools for a middle school league,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be some great big contest.”
School handbook changes
Noble went through the first reading of proposed handbook changes in elementary and middle school operations, covering teacher’s classroom assignments, dress code, and changes to schools’ meal programs.
He said schools are now required to be “offer” programs, where they present five choices as part of a lunch meal. Students will have to choose at least three of the five choices, two being a fruit and vegetable.
If a student chooses, though, they can take all five options available. Breakfast will include four options with a choice of three.
In other business:
- Lori Soo Hoo gave an update on the Parents as Teachers program, and the multiple resources and services it provides for parents of children from birth to age 3. The program currently serves 89 families and 104 children throughout the county.
- Board members approved the pre-school through kindergarten agreement with McPherson school district establishing guidelines for the Head Start program for the 2014-15 year.
- Noble compared what budget numbers for the district would look like with a 33 percent local option budget opposed to a 30 percent LOB. The school district stands to save roughly $147,700 in cash reserves if voters approve the higher amount.
- Members voted 4-3 in favor of transitioning a certified library and media specialist position to a classified position. Kim Klein, Chad Nowak, and Joe Sechrist were opposed. After the meeting, Klein said she voted against the motion because losing the media specialist position would create a void unfilled by a regular librarian. Different teaching aides would run the library instead.
- Board members approved a five-cent increase in student meals and adult breakfasts. Adult breakfast prices increase from $1.80 to $1.85 per meal. Breakfast will cost $1.60 for all students, elementary and pre-school lunches, $2.25; middle and high school lunches, $2.60, staff, $3.35; and adult non-staff, $3.80 per meal. Milk will continue to be priced at 40 cents.
- Kalen Moss, a sophomore at Hillsboro High School, presented her qualifying project for the National History Day competition June 15 on the University of Maryland campus in College Park. Board members approved the out-of-state trip, but district finances will not be used to support it.
- Board members approved the construction and improvement this summer for sidewalks and crosswalks leading to the elementary school.