Christmas break longer, Spring break moves

By OLIVER GOOD

Staff writer

Goessel students may be happy to hear that USD 411 board of education’s recent change the school calendar includes a longer Christmas break next year. And next month, Spring break has been moved to the week of March 14.

“The primary reasons we moved Spring Break around were to match other schools’ schedules in and out of the county,” Superintendent John Fast said of the option B calendar for next month. “We have some students who are enrolled in a vo-tech school in Newton and now our spring breaks match.”

USD 411 also wanted to synchronize its schedule with other county schools because of Marion County Special Education Cooperative employees. Fast noted that Christmas break would be about two days longer.

The board also approved a resolution to keep board of education elections in the spring as opposed to moving them to the fall. The resolution is in response to a bill proposing elections be moved to November and candidates would have to declare a political party affiliation.

“Our election system has always worked in the past,” Fast said. “If it were to move to the fall, new board members would be plopped down right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the school and fiscal year.”

Fast said the current election schedule works for Goessel because new board members begin serving their terms during the summer, which gives them a chance to experience two meetings, and get up to speed on school issues before school starts.

The resolution will be sent to Topeka, where school representatives and committee members will debate the issue.

In other business

• The board agreed to sell old education items for sale from 9 to 11:30 a.m. this Saturday at the school. “It’s mostly old agricultural education items like a welder, old tools, a refrigerator, some light fixtures, ceiling fans, and some furniture,” Fast said. “Some items will also have a silent bid that I believe ends at 11 a.m.”
• Board members signed letters inviting Kansas Senator Richard Wilborn and Representative Don Schroeder to attend a FFA breakfast at 7 a.m. Feb. 28 in the Ag. Shop, which is part of the school’s new addition. Fast said the free event would be open to the public regardless of whether Wilborn or Schroeder accept invitations. Donations will be accepted. “The FFA is going to have a great stick-to-your-ribs breakfast with biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, and the works,” Fast said.
• The board approved extensions of Fast and Principal Scott Boden’s contract through the 2016-17 school year.
• The board also went into executive session twice, once for 10 minutes to discuss property and a second time for 30 minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken after either session.