Board discusses declining enrollment
Staff writer
Unified School District 410 Board of Education met May 26 to discuss resignations and retirements, financial planning, and the approval of teaching and supplemental contracts.
The major topic of the meeting was the financial challenge of education.
The board discussed revenue enhancing measures such as increasing fees for enrollment, textbooks, sports and activity participation, and charging senior citizens at all activities.
They also put forth options for spending cuts such as eliminating sports programs, downsizing staff, or cutting bus routes.
Besides ideas for increasing revenue and cutting spending, board clerk Jerry Hinerman also projected options with and without an increased mill levy.
Hinerman gave projections for the declining number of students in the elementary, middle, and high schools over the next 10 to 15 years.
"In the future, we'll have to figure out how to make the change," said Hinerman. "Either through the legislature, with an increase in taxes, or by making significant cuts."
With declining enrollment as a major issue, Superintendent Gordon Mohn told board members extra athletic programs as well as technology and building maintenance were in jeopardy.
Mohn also told the board that there had been no action by the Kansas Legislature on the issue of school finance. He said that the ruling by Judge Terry Bullock had been granted a stay by the Kansas Supreme Court and hearings on the issue would begin in August.
"Who knows how likely it is that there will be any change, but I think we've increased the possibility that something will happen," Mohn said.
The board plans to invite area legislators to a future meeting to discuss decreasing enrollment issues and school finance.
Resignations were accepted from Sunshine McEwen, elementary teacher, Rene Matz, Culture Club sponsor, and Norma Cabeen, food service aide. Sara Hill's retirement as high school English teacher was accepted.
The board approved Michele Melton as a full-time English teacher. Melton will spend half her time teching middle school, the other half in the high school. Sandy Arnold was approved as half-time elementary school media specialist.
Supplemental contracts also were approved. At the high school Len Coryea will be head football coach and winter and spring weight room supervisor; Darrel Knoll was approved as assistant football coach. Megan Kilgore will be cheerleading sponsor. At the middle school Phil Oelke will be head football coach and Matt Carroll was approved as head wrestling coach.
The interest-based bargaining team will meet June 16. Mohn told board members a tentative budget would be approved in July.
