Enrollment numbers down in district
Enrollment figures in Hillsboro Unified School District schools are down, just as officials expected, board of education members heard Monday.
Full-time-equivalent enrollment is 671 students (682 actual). Students who attend less than a full day, such as kindergartners and those at Marion County Learning Center, are calculated at less than full time.
Enrollment is higher than in 1989-90, when the FTE enrollment was 589. It is down about 20 students from last year.
Highest recent enrollment was 760 in 1997-98.
"You can expect that number to continue to decline as our bigger classes leave," said Gordon Mohn, superintendent.
The largest class are the seniors, with 69. The middle school has classes of 64 and 65. All other classes have between 34 and 58 students.
Mohn and board member Reg Matz noted that the learning center has asked students to work in the center for at least six hours on Sept. 20, the official enrollment date for schools. State aid is based on enrollment that day.
Matz said the learning center currently has 24 students actively working on diplomas, plus home schoolers and other students working an hour or two a week. The learning center uses a computer-based curriculum that lets students work at their own pace but not advance until they demonstrate mastery of a subject.
It isn't clear how many students will be able to spend six hours at the center, since for many, it means taking a day off work or finding a baby sitter, Matz said. But it could mean a significant increase in state aid to the district.
FFA trip
Board members voted to allow up to eight FFA officers plus sponsors to attend the National FFA Convention Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 in Louisville, Ky., and pay $1,100 in sponsor expenses.
Cost for eight students and two sponsors is estimated at $2,590 for transportation, motel, and registration. Student participants must pay $200 for food and entertainment. The rest will come from chapter funds or the individual members.
Teacher Tim Kilgore, who is starting his first year at Hillsboro, said the national convention would be a valuable educational opportunity for students.
In a related matter, HHS Principal Dale Honeck announced that Jared Fish has been selected to perform with the national FFA choir at the convention. This is the second year Fish has been selected.
Insurance review
Richard Nickel of The Insurance Center, Hillsboro, met with board members to review district coverage.
The district has a blanket building coverage of $18 million for all buildings and contents.
"You're not restricted to a certain amount on a certain building," he said.
General liability insurance is $1 million.
Currently insurance is provided by Employers Mutual. It is one of the few companies willing to write policies for school districts, Nickel said. The company has made a profit on school policies only two times in the past 11 years, he added.
Final figures have not been determined, but Nickel said he expected a premium increase of at least 25 percent.
Administrative reports
The school year has started smoothly, administrators reported.
HES Principal Pat Call said many students are active in after school programs, including 22 in a guitar class.
HMS Principal Evan Yoder said numerous clubs have started, including archery, wildlife, cooking, and "oldies but goodies," where students read classic novels. Another club, focusing on hunter safety, has 54 students participating.
In other reports:
The board approved hiring an architect to present options for a remodeled entrance to Robert C. Brown gymnasium. The gym has been identified as lacking adequate exit capacity. In a related matter, the gym floor was finished in time for volleyball. A few areas will be repainted next summer.
Marion County United Way needs volunteers, particularly to serve on its board of directors, Mohn said. The local agency will be an affiliate of Harvey County United Way, using its tax-exempt designation and expertise, but donations will stay in Marion County.
Board members received brochures for Bike Marion County, a fund-raiser and family activity sponsored by Communities In Schools. It will be held Oct. 12 at Marion Reservoir.
USD 410 Education Association was recognized as the exclusive bargaining unit for teachers in the district. No other organizations have asked to be recognized.
Wichita State University doctoral candidates will conduct at study of Hillsboro schools. The focus will be to identify those things in the school and community that help students perform well. For example, Tabor College is an asset to the school in many ways, Mohn explained.
Supplemental contracts were approved for Terry Bebermeyer, debate sponsor; Michelle Faul, assistant girls' tennis coach; Matt Carroll and Dustin Dalke, sophomore class sponsors; and Robert Woelk, Tracy Isaac, and Ruth Baldner, freshman class sponsors.
Tawnya Siebert was hired as technology assistant, and Marci Kelsey was moved to full-time technology assistant. Rene Matz's contract as Culture Club director was extended to 10 months.
The board approved payment of $1,557.51 to Joyce Medley as compensation for unused vacation time, totaling 14 days and one hour.
Purchase of a 47-passenger bus was approved. Cost is $57,784 from Midwest Bus Sales, Bonner Springs. The Thomas bus on a Freightliner chassis was the low bid and includes a trade -in of a 1993 Chevrolet 20-passenger bus with 125,000 miles.
