Web posted
Monday, January 28, 2008
School board gets report on academic progress
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
A broad range of discussion items fill tonight's local school board meeting agenda. They range from a report on academic progress at Arkansas City High School to work on a comprehensive district crisis plan to a preliminary discussion of the 2008-09 school budget.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Arkansas City High School.
The high school report will cover six areas: student achievement, Kansas Career Pipeline, spring open house, after-school programs, planning for college and other after-school options, mentoring and tiered learning.
Statistics will be presented on Kansas State Assessment results based on gender and race.
Assistant Superintendent J.K. Campbell will present a report on a USD 470 district crisis team's work on an all-hazards plan for emergency response. It will cover four phases of crisis management: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
"Information will be presented to the board about the plan, including strengths and weaknesses, in addition to next steps in ensuring the safety and security of students and staff," according to agenda notes.
Campbell also will discuss projected revenue and expenditures for the 2008-09 school year, focusing on potential additional costs to the district during the next fiscal term. They include costs in the area of student achievement and facilities improvement.
In the area of student achievement, the district foresees the need for an elementary counselor, 3 percent salary adjustments for all personnel and $300,000 for textbooks.
In facilities improvements, the district plans to resurface the Arkansas City Middle School track, purchase a cover for the Ark City High School pool, and contract for a lease-purchase agreement on two buses.
All planned expenditures -- amounting to about $1.2 million -- are projected to be covered by funds from the state school finance package ($223,014), potential increases to dedicated funds for at-risk, special education, and at-risk programs ($670,651), and local option budget funds ($273,663). The total from these funds would be about $1.2 million.
Also on tonight's agenda:
* A discussion of student handbook changes.
* A request being developed by the district business office for an improved parent alert system in case of a crisis or emergency.
* Two executive sessions -- one on negotiations and the other on personnel matters.
|
