Surplus school items to go on auction block

USD 234 officials plan to sell some surplus district items at auction next month.

At Monday’s USD 234 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Bob Beckham discussed auctions planned for June 13 and June 27.

“The goal is what staff doesn’t claim or is sold, it will be disposed,” he said.

Brian Allen, a teacher’s aide at Fort Scott High School, will conduct the auctions, which will take place at Winfield Scott School and Fort Scott High School. The auctions will involve items from all four district schools.

The board approved, at Beckham’s discretion, the sale of excess property as a result of the district’s school bond projects which voters approved in 2014 and are expected to be completed this summer.

USD 234 Business Manager Gina Shelton said Tuesday the sale ties into the bond projects as the district has had several items in storage in metal bins due to repurposing several areas. Items include furniture, kitchen equipment and computers.

“We replaced all the cafeteria tables in the schools, and some were repurposed into other areas,” she said. “It’s been awhile since we’ve had an auction. There are additional chairs left at the middle school. We just have some surplus from over the years.”

Shelton said another goal is to save money on costs related to disposing of the items.

“To take them to the dump will cost to get rid of it,” she said. “If there is a church or other group that has a need, or even a school … even if we make a little bit, we don’t have to pay a dump fee to get rid of those items.”

The $40.8 million bond projects involved safety, security and energy upgrades, as well as cosmetic changes at all four schools. Much of the work was completed in 2015-16. Remaining work at the high school and both elementary schools is ongoing and expected to be completed in July.

Shelton said money from the sale of surplus items will go back into the district’s general fund or capital outlay fund to put toward purchase of district needs, such as furniture or equipment.

“The requirement from KSDE is to sell in the district’s best interest,” she said.

Middle school wrestling

Also on Monday, the board tabled consideration of a request from Fort Scott Middle School Principal Brian Weilert to add middle school wrestling to the supplemental salary schedule.

Weilert said in a letter to the board that “the participation and success of the program warrants continued support.”

Weilert also requested a coaching stipend in line with other similar coaching supplemental contracts be added with the proposal.

Beckham said the pilot wrestling program at the middle school approved for the 2016-17 school year was “successful.” He said salaries for coaching positions would have to be negotiated with the supplemental salary committee.

Discussion by the board revolved around available funding as the Kansas Legislature continues to grapple with balancing the state budget and forming a new school finance plan and determining funding for it.

The board chose to table the matter until the July board meeting in order to determine if funding will be available for costs associated with the program, including coaches and trips.

“I’d like to keep it here if funding isn’t an issue,” board member Janet Braun said.

Redevelopment project

The board also approved support of a resolution already approved by the Fort Scott City Commission dealing with creation of a new redevelopment district on the property at 2322 S. Main St., formerly Woods Supermarket.

The redevelopment plan involves transforming an existing building into an approximately 39,500-square-foot grocery store and construction of one or more retail/restaurant pad sites on the property. The proposal involves financing of a portion of the approximately $9.5 million project through tax increment financing, or TIF.

USD 234 and the Bourbon County Commission had to be notified of the project as it involves those taxing entities and property within the proposed redevelopment district.

“We will continue to receive the exact same amount of tax,” Shelton told the board. “We’re not losing anything … but if nothing moves there, we could see a decrease.”

Other business

• Scott Minetti, senior project superintendent with Nabholz Construction Services, updated the board on continuing progress to wrap up work on the district’s school bond projects.

“Things are going really well, but slow,” Minetti said.