School board supports field trips
Staff writer
Unified School District 410 Board of Education met for its regular meeting Monday night. Following school building reports, the board discussed out-of-state school trips, operational fund banking services, board policy, the results of the ACT and Kansas Assessment tests, fifth grade band instrument selection, local purchasing, and approved employment contracts.
Hillsboro Elementary School principal Evan Yoder told the board in his building report that Dibbles testing for kindergarten and first grade students had gone well and they plan to test all the elementary school students.
"The results of the test didn't surprise the teachers as much as confirm their own information," said Yoder.
The school plans to test at least three times a year to watch progress.
"We've already started to work with some of the kids to improve," said Yoder.
Results of the testing will be shared with parents at conferences, unless issues need to be addressed according to Yoder.
Three out-of-state trip requests passed with a vote of four-to-one by the board. The HHS band trip to Six Flags Over Texas was approved along with the request for $2,000 and two vehicles. The FFA trip to National Convention in Louisville, Ky., and $1,000 was approved. The FCCLA trip to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City and use of a school vehicle were approved.
The dissenting voter, Rod Koons, asked the board to be more "thrifty" and think about cutting costs such as board monetary support of such trips instead of having to cut programs.
The board also plans to change its policy to allow for trips to the Kansas City area without board approval.
After reviewing bid results for the district's operational funds, the board accepted the proposal from Hillsboro State Bank for the next three years.
Employment contracts for Vicki Hiebert, food services; Lois Shope, Catch up Corral tutor after school at HES; Shawna Brown, Catch up Corral tutor before school at HES; Tracy Isaac, HHS detention supervisor; and Chuck McMichael, percussion line aide were all approved by the board.
The board also approved increasing Sara Graham's contract as Title I aide by 30 minutes a day and approved a supplemental contract for Michelle Faul to serve as assistant girls' tennis coach.
The board reviewed ACT results for 2004 and compared them to results from the past 10 years. The percentage of students that took the ACT last year was the lowest since the school began compiling results.
The composite score was 23.3 and was average for the past 10 years. ACT English, science, and reading scores were lower than in past years, but math results at 22.8 were improved slightly.
Kansas Assessment Test results place fourth, seventh, and tenth graders at their Standard of Excellence for 2004 in math, and eighth graders at their Standard of Excellence for both math and reading
"We have made a commitment to look at every student who scores basic or unsatisfactory. We are committed to providing them help, and we will take it seriously," said Gordon Mohn, superintendent of schools.
The board discussed ways to improve the process for fifth graders and their parent's selection of band instruments including the possibility of starting the process in the spring of a student's fourth grade year.
Mohn asked the board for its opinion on local spending. The board discussed when the district should purchase locally and when it is better to buy out of town.
"I feel strongly we have an obligation to support our local businesses," said Mohn.
