USD 235 board wonders if community supports wrestling program

Seven district patrons came to the USD 235 Board of Education meeting Monday evening to further discuss adding a wrestling program to the district's athletic offerings.

Jim Mason, activity director for the district, presented a survey of potential wrestling athletes in grades six through11. Nineteen students have expressed an interest in the sport, and Mason gave the board an outline of the proposed program.

Scheduling practice times was the only stumbling block with the other coaches, Mason said, but they would be willing to work out a solution. He received no negative feedback from anyone, he said.

Mason listed spaces in the district that could be used for a wrestling facility, and a discussion followed with the patrons.

In the end, the board decided to let the parents in attendance see how the community would support the program by providing money to start the program.

The minimum amount would be about $7,000 plus the salaries of coaches to start the program.

"I'd like to see what kind of community support there is for this, before we decide," Board President Matthew Wood said.

The interested patrons were asked to gather information and return for the September board meeting to gauge community support.

Budget

Randy Rockhold presented the district's budget, saying he was "excited" that after 13 years of work by the board and the staff.

"We'll finally be able to adopt a budget that is fully inclusive of all our ongoing needs, will require no increase in mill levy rates (in the schools five-year financial plan) and will maintain cash balances to ensure we are solvent, even if the legislature continues to make payments late." Rockhold said. "Very positive signs. Only accomplished because everyone worked so hard to this point. We should all celebrate."

Reading Roadmap

A district Reading Roadmap summary was given by Delta Pollock, coordinator of the program for the district.

The spring after-school program had 46 attendees, she said, with teachers seeing increases in reading scores, attitudes and participation in the classroom. Students parents reported more eagerness to read at home. Each student had a daily healthy snack and participated in 30 minutes of physical activity each afternoon.

The parent involvement piece of the program, Families and Schools Together or (FAST), graduated eight families. The FAST team at West Bourbon Elementary School achieved certification with an exemplary implementation rating for fidelity, Pollock said in her report.

The Summer Boost Program started with 58 and ended with 49, because of Vacation Bible Schools, vacations and other conflicts. Twenty students attended 99 percent or more of the time.

"They did a pre and post test and improved 3.9 points on post tests in math," Pollack said.

Every day there were team building activities and additionally-science,technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities...increasing their understanding of levers, pulleys and other concepts, Pollock said.

On Fridays students were rewarded for attendance and behavior and also provided new experiences, such as a field trip.

In other business, the board:

* Re-elected Wood as board president and Doug Coyan as vice-president for the next school year.

* Approved the following for 2014-15: Clerk of the Board Sherri Hartman; Deputy Clerk Charlene Bolinger; Treasurer Kenneth Holt; attorney is the Kansas Association of School Boards; ex-officio member of the Vocational Agriculture Advisory Council, Jason Sutterby; Elementary Attendance Officer Tracy Smith; secondary attendance officer, special project director and Title IX coordinator, Rockhold; Kansas Public Employees Retirement System representative and Freedom of Information officer, Hartman and in her absence, Bolinger; school lunch, Title IV, Title I and Title II administrator, Rockhold; bank, Union State Bank; Newspaper, The Fort Scott Tribune; and governmental relations contact, Lynne Oharah.

* Approved the adoption of the Region H Mulit-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

* Approved no charge for textbook rental in 2014-15.

* Approved mileage reimbursement rate at 44 cents per mile, with no mileage provided if a district vehicle is available.

* Approved publishing the budget.

* Set the next board for meeting is Aug. 1.