School board OKs tennis plan; Members approve particiaption plan to refurbish courts if other entities are with them.

The USD 234 Board of Education approved the district's participation in a plan to refurbish two tennis courts located on the municipal golf course property, provided other entities are on board with the proposal.

During their regular meeting on Monday, the board heard details of the plan from Superintendent Rick Werling, who said the district is interested in renovating the courts for use by the Fort Scott High School tennis teams next year. Two aging tennis courts located near the municipal pool will be removed later this year to make way for parking spaces needed for the new swimming pool voters approved last week.

"We'd like to keep our tennis programs going," Werling said.

Werling said the district is working with the city and Buck Run Community Center on the proposal, but there have been "no firm commitments" from those entities yet. The district would contribute $6,000 from athletic funds, and not the district's general fund, to refurbish the courts. The motion approved Monday would ensure the district's participation in the project, provided the other entities contribute an equal amount in cash or labor.

Officials said the courts at the golf course would replace the two courts that will be lost in the future and would still allow the teams to make use of four total courts. The teams also use two courts located at the school that are also not in good condition.

FSHS Principal Bob Beckham, who attended the meeting, said nearly 20 students participate on the tennis teams.

Werling added a proposal the board heard last fall from a local resident for a project to construct a tennis center on the northwest corner of the Fort Scott Middle School property has been moved "far back."

In other business Monday, the board:

* Heard a brief update on the district budget from Business Manager Tiffany Forester, who said there are currently three proposals to cut education funding and the district faces a variety of possible scenarios. According to numbers provided by Forester, Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal to cut base state aid per pupil next school year to $3,780 would result in a loss of $422,801 for the district. The Senate's proposal would reduce BSAPP to $3,786 for a loss of $406,643, and the House's plan would drop BSAPP to $3,762 for a loss of $471,275. The district won't know for certain how much state aid will be lost until lawmakers return from their recess to continue work on a final budget.

* Heard a report from Werling on the district's participation in the Kansas Learning Network, which is required by the Kansas State Department of Education because the district is currently "on improvement." The district's leadership team is directed by consultants hired by KSDE who are part of the network. Emphasis is placed on staff development, leadership skills and addressing areas that impact classrooms.

* Heard a report from Werling on the latest filming done by the KSDE at FSMS for the Eat Smart, Play Hard program.

*Approved a Health Career Sciences contract with Fort Scott Community College.

*Approved payment of the Kansas Association of School Boards dues and legal assistance fund.

*Approved a 10-cent increase in all meal prices for the 2011-12 school year as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

*Accepted a retirement request from Chris Judy, Winfield Scott kitchen manager. The board also hired Joe Beckham as a half-time assistant track coach at the high school, Amanda Metcalf as an assistant softball coach at the high school, Alvin Metcalf Jr., as an assistant baseball coach at the high school, and James Fox as an assistant tennis coach at the high school.