School board says no to testing out of classes
But a similar policy could go into effect next fall
The Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh Board of Education has decided not to approve a new policy that would let high school students test out of classes.
Board members made the decision at their regular monthly meeting held Monday evening at Hillsboro High School.
The policy was first presented to the board at its October meeting, and it's been open for public comment since then. It did not receive any comments.
But the district isn't ruling out the opportunity to earn "performance-based credits" just yet.
HHS Principal Dale Honeck plans to study the issue further this year, discuss it with his faculty members, and then possibly present a similar plan for next year's HHS handbook. That would be adopted next fall.
The board did approve 11 other new policies, which deal with topics ranging from personnel records to computer use.
The new personnel records policy says that all records of district employees are completely confidential and can't be requested by a third party without consent of that employee. Also, the district is required to give other prospective employers a salary history, dates of employment, and the reason the employee left the job.
Another new policy details the release of student records.
Also at Monday's meeting, board members discussed a new entrance for the Robert C. Brown Gymnasium.
According to the Kansas State Fire Marshall, the gym needs more exits to accommodate its maximum seating capacity. The gym can hold 2,000 people.
According to state regulations, the gym must have 0.2 inches of exit-door space for each person in the gym. That means that Hillsboro needs 400 inches of exit space.
It now has 288 inches of exit space, distributed among eight 36-inch doors. To meet state requirements, the gym needs four more doors.
The plan approved by the school board Monday night adds six new doors directly west of the current front entrance to the gym. There would be three outer doors, a lobby area, and then three outer doors.
This would cut the east raquetball court in half, said Superintendent Gordon Mohn. The other side of the court would be walled off and used to store gym equipment.
The new design would also extend a canopy over the entrance and add a handicapped-accessible ramp. That ramp would also necessitate handicapped parking spaces in front of the entrance, Mohn said.
Right now, the only handicapped entrance into the gym is by the auditorium.
Preliminary estimates put the project's cost at $115,370. The district would most likely bid out the project next spring and begin construction next summer.
Local contractors have expressed interested in the project, Mohn said.
"I think the (current) entrance is the greatest weakness," he said. "The public sees it a lot."
In other BOE business:
— The board approved an employment contract for Tisha Bielefield, a new parent educator for the Marion County Parents as Teachers program.
— All FFA alumni are invited to a dinner Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the high school. More than 150 people are expected to attend the inaugural FFA alumni meeting, where officers will be elected for an alumni association. Contact FFA sponsor Tim Kilgore for more information.
— Reg Matz was chosen to represent USD 410 at the Kansas Association of School Boards Delegate Assembly to be held Dec. 7 in Wichita.
