The Prairie Hills USD No. 113 Board of Education (BOE) met at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at the district office in Sabetha. Board members present were Anissa Bloom, Kathy Lippert, Jim Scoby, Leslie Scoby, Kent Saylor, Phillip Buessing and Stan Keim.

The board adopted the agenda as amended.

The board opened the USD 113 Budget Hearing at 6:05 p.m. The board members also opened the USD 113 Revenue Neutral Hearing at 6:10 p.m. These hearings would remain open to give the public an opportunity to speak to the board about the budget or Revenue Neutral Rate.

The board received written reports from building administrators Nathan Bauman, Rusty Willis, Matt Garber, Rick Schnacker and Alana Seddon, as well as Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Gatz.

J. Scoby had some questions on Gatz’s report about the character education program for high school students: self-regulation – freshmen, assertiveness – sophomores, conflict management – juniors and self-efficacy – seniors. Gatz was not present to answer J. Scoby’s questions, so Superintendent Todd Evans answered the questions in her stead.

The board approved the consent agenda as amended, including the following: minutes from the Aug. 8 meeting; September bills for the amount of $1,241,248.41; August payroll for the amount of $628,846.86; approve payment to AHRS for the construction project – Capital Outlay for $301,280.04 and Lease Purchase for $304,842.15; approve payment to Civium Architects for $5,603.70 from the Contingency Fund; approve early dismissal (11:45 a.m.) for Sabetha High School (SHS) on March 1, 2023, to host League Forensics; approve “Special BOE Meeting” for the purpose of five USD 113 BOE members to speak to district high school students at the USD 113 Career Symposium at 9:05 a.m., Nov. 14, 2022, at the SHS Varsity Gym – public welcome to attend this portion of the event; approve Student Laptop Handbook; accept donations for student meals of $600 each to Sabetha Elementary School (SES), Sabetha Middle School (SMS) and SHS ($1,800 total) from Ron and Kim Rettele on behalf of the Kids Kloset; HSEC First Amendment (Revised from July); request for leave without pay for Liz Badertscher as SHS math teacher; correction: Aaron Duryea will not be on the Axtell BLT as approved on the August agenda; resignations of Scott Burger as SHS teacher and coach, effective at the end of 2022-23, and Kay Duncan as SHS cheer coach; contracts with Mason Chanay as SHS Scholars Bowl teacher, Tim McCoy as Wetmore Academic Center (WAC) National Honor Society, Kylah Foote as Wetmore Middle School volleyball coach, Caryl Schell as Axtell Pre-K para, Lindsey Willey as SHS Junior Class Sponsor, Kelsi Bloom as Wetmore High School volleyball coach, Christine Krebs as SMS assistant volleyball coach, Reuben Sullivan and Harlan Suther as Co-WAC Head Coach – Reuben 70 percent and Harlan 30 percent, Yalana Edelman as SHS cheer coach, Kelsi Strahm as SES part-time Instructional Support Staff (ISS), Alec Duryea as Axtell ISS, and Axtell co-concessions: Linda Hopp – 30 percent, Leigha Papa – 33 percent and Katie Sandmann – 34 percent; and termination of Curtis Goodman as WAC bus driver.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Evans reported on year-to-date expenses and other topics as follows:

Expense Comparison: The expense comparison from Sept. 1, 2021-22, through Sept. 12, 2022-23, compared with the same time frame last year, showed the district has spent $74,446 more in the general, supplemental general, 4-year-old at-risk, K-12 at-risk, food services, professional development and vocational funds. During the same time frame, the district has spent $1,086,319 more from the capital outlay fund, and $36,118 more from the special education fund.

Bus Behavior Code: Evans presented the board with a Bus Behavior Code document that has been shared with students.

Bus Fundraiser: Evans and L. Scoby let the board know that a new Greater Sabetha Community Foundation fundraising effort is in place to hopefully purchase a 2020 Stallion Higer Motorcoach, which has 8,000 miles and is listed at $161,900. This bus would be used for activities at SHS and will be funded through private donations.

Signage: Evans let the board know that an individual is interested in donating signage of the Bluejay logo to be put on the front of SES.

COVID: Evans shared an update about COVID-19 protocols in the schools.

Food Service Review: Evans told the board that Child Nutrition and Wellness staff members will conduct a School Nutrition Program (SNP) Administrative Review at the Prairie Hills schools during the 2022-23 school year to make sure that the district’s Child Nutrition Program meets federal requirements.

Career Symposium: Evans showed the board members who will speak during the Career Symposium and what times they will need to be at SHS.

Climate Types Report: Evans presented the board with the 2022 Kansas MTSS Climate Types Report for USD 113 from the Kansas Communities That Care (KCTC) Survey.

Axtell Tech Electronics: Evans let the board know that Tech Electronics will do daily test signals and monitor the alarm systems at Axtell.

Remodel/Construction Update

Evans reported on remodel/construction updates going on at SES. He said SES has received most of its kitchen equipment and would hopefully be up and running on Thursday, Sept. 15. Evans also let the board know that the AC units have finally arrived for SHS and Axtell, though the delivery date for the science room equipment for Axtell has been extended.

Needs Assessment for Budget

Evans and L. Scoby worked together to create a rough draft for the board rationale/comments section in the USD 113 Needs Assessment for Budget document. The board approved the revised Needs Assessment for Budget document with all in favor.

LOB Percentage Resolution

Evans presented a resolution to adopt an lob (local option budget) percentage of 33 percent for the 2022-23 school year, which is required by the Kansas State Department of Education. The board approved the motion to adopt the LOB Percentage Resolution with all in favor.

Revenue Neutral Resolution

After hearing no comments on the Revenue Neutral Rate, the board approved the motion, with all in favor, to close the Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing. The board also approved the Revenue Neutral Rate Resolution with all in favor.

Budget

After hearing no comments on the 2022-23 budget, the board approved the motion, with all in favor, to close the Budget Hearing. The board also approved the USD 113 Budget for 2022-23 with six in favor and J. Scoby opposed.

Also at the meeting:

Board members went into a 20-minute executive session for attorney consultation for the district, which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship. Present for the executive session were the board members, Superintendent Evans and district attorney Martin Mishler. Following the executive session, the board accepted a resignation from Axtell Principal Alana Seddon, effective Sept. 30, 2022.

Evans presented the board members with the Guide to Boardsmanship in Kansas for the board’s information.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10.