USD 411 Board of Education approved granting tenure March 8 to Donna O’Neill, Claire Overstake, and Susan Saunders. The board voted on each case separately, and all three votes were unanimous.

O’Neill teaches science, Overstake teaches math and science, and Saunders teaches math.

Tenure grants teachers job security, USD 411 Superintendent John Fast said. A district must show cause to dismiss a teacher with tenure, unlike an untenured teacher, he said.

Kansas law requires new teachers serve in a district three years before receiving tenure. A teacher who had tenure in another district can receive tenure after two years in a new district.

Board supports keeping special education co-op

USD 411 is interested in maintaining Marion County Special Education Cooperative, preferably with all five school districts remaining, Fast said after the meeting.

The board believes it is in the best interest of all parties, especially given the difficult economic times.

2010-11 calendar set

For the second year in a row, Goessel students will have fewer days of school, but the school day will be longer

Classes begin Aug. 26. The last day of the fall semester will be Dec. 21. Classes will resume Jan. 4, 2011. Students will have a full week of spring break, with class out of session March 14 through 18. The final day of classes will be May 17.

The board adopted a shorter calendar for 2009-10 to save money on utilities, as well as bus driver and kitchen staff salaries. The 2010-11 calendar continues that trend. Goessel lengthened the school day to maintain the total time students are in class.

Dallas

Goessel High School band and choir members will travel April 9 and 10 to Dallas. They will be competing against 300 other bands and choirs, including those from schools with enrollment above 3,000.

No school funds will be used for the trip, because students have been fundraising for four years. More than 80 GHS students will make the trip.