Administrator, teachers attend bullying prevention program
Staff writer
Unified School District 410 Board of Education met Monday evening in the technology center at the Hillsboro High School. The meeting began a half hour earlier for board orientation regarding the legal aspects of school operations.
Following orientation, the board approved the regular and consent agendas. The consent agenda included minutes previous meetings.
The consent agenda also included acceptance of gifts, the addition of a middle school clearing account to the chart of activity fund for the middle school/high school, and the approval of membership lists for the school improvement teams, school site councils, and the professional development council.
Hillsboro Middle School principal Corey Burton said he and several teachers had participated in the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Burton said the program defines bullying behavior and works on how to change the behavior and school climate.
He said the program involved students, teachers, and parents.
"I deal with some bullying issue almost daily," said Burton, "so I'm excited about this."
Dale Honeck, HHS principal told the board the board "we're off to a great start."
Hillsboro High School principal Dale Honeck said one of the goals at the high school this year is improving teachers' use of technology in the classroom. To aid in this goal, teachers have been divided into work groups and will use their planning period once a month to share ideas.
According to Honeck, the high school's PIN night went well but only about 30 percent of the parents were in attendance.
Honeck also gave the board a report on ACT scores. According to figures he received from ACT, Hillsboro High School students who took the ACT this past year exceeded the state average in all major test areas. This is consistent with past years. English scores were up from last year; however both math and social studies scores were lower. HHS student's average composite ACT score this year was 22.8 while the state average was 21.7.
An area of concern, according to Honeck, is reading. He said scores in reading went down.
In his building report, HES principal Evan Yoder, said seven kindergarten students had begun the extended day kindergarten program. He said students in last year's program were doing well, and he expects the program to keep students out of special education programs as well as keeping them at grade level.
Following the building reports, the board discussed and approved policy changes to the school year, field trips, wellness policy, and student self medication presented at last month's board meeting.
Mohn said the district is planning a surplus property auction sometime in October.
Board member Rod Koons will represent USD 410 on the ESSDACK (Educational Service and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas) board of Ddirectors.
The board approved a teaching contract for Keli Chisholm as a half-time fifth grade teacher and half-time extended day kindergarten teacher.
New classified contracts were approved.
Irene Bezdek will work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays when school is in session.
Loyal Martin will work Mondays when school is in session.
Mary Clay's bus driving contract was revised. She will be employed for four hours per day when Head Start is in session and one hour per day when only USD 410 is in session.
Shawna Brown will supervise the HES Catch Up Corral. Lois Shope will serve as tutor. Hours for these positions will be determined by the HES principal.
The Catch Up Corral is the before and after school program at the elementary school.
Tiffany Miller will serve as high school detention supervisor. Hours will be determined by the HHS principal.
Supplemental contracts were reviewed and approved.
Terry Bebermeyer will serve as assistant drama coach; Keli Chisholm will serve as HMS assistant girls' basketball and HHS and HMS assistant track coach. Jim Robb will serve as assistant cross country coach. Bob Woelk will serve as assistant girls' tennis coach.
FFA adviser Tim Kilgore asked permission for a student trip to the national FFA convention Oct. 25-29 in Louisville, Ky. He plans to take eight students and two sponsors. The board approved the trip and $1,000 toward expenses.
Mohn said he had received some requests from adults wanting to ride buses to athletic events. After some discussion, it was decided not to offer this service.
He said the new portable bleachers should be here by the end of the week.
Mohn said the city was interested in updating Memorial Baseball Field. He said that the mayor and recreation director proposed repairing dugouts, correcting drainage problems, and installing a permanent outfield fence at a cost of approximately $40,000.
Mohn said they may make the same arrangements for the ball field as they have on the tennis courts, in that the district will pay a user fee to cover half the cost of improvements.
The next board of education meeting will be Oct. 3.
