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School year gets 1 day shorter
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: March 15, 2018

Valley Center students will get out of school early this spring and start later next fall.

The school board approved a proposal this week to end the school year on May 17, one day earlier than planned, and begin the 2018-19 school year a week later than usual.

The extra days are needed because of the reconstruction projects that are taking place this summer, Superintendent Cory Gibson told the school board March 12.

Teachers will use May 18 as a moving day, clearing out classrooms affected by the projects.

Each building except the high school will have some work done to it this summer. The calendar changes will affect all students.

"We want our students in seats as much as possible, but I'm very concerned about this summer," Gibson said.

He said crews need time to finish the projects, and he doesn't want to scramble when next school year rolls around.

"Last year, it was down to the wire," Gibson said.

Even though students have had four snow days this year, ending school early won't affect the amount of teaching time the state requires, primarily because the calendar included two flexed days of professional development, which count toward student contact hours.

Next year's calendar will extend summer break by a week, with students starting Aug. 23 and 24.

The school board on March 12 approved a couple of projects that will take place this summer. They include:

•Replacing water and sewer pipes at Abilene, West and the middle school and repair work at the intermediate school. The board approved a maximum price of $479,557. The winning bidder of three was Commercial Mechanical. The original budget was $600,000. The work is part of the 2016 bond issue.

•Installing monument signs, including LED displays, at each elementary school and the intermediate school. The board approved a maximum price of $160,217. After considering more expensive LED displays, the board directed district officials to contact other districts that have experience with the less expensive ones and determine whether they would be a good fit for Valley Center. If not, the board gave the district permission to increase the project price to $193,266 to get the more expensive Watchfire displays, like the one used at the high school.

•Replacing the artificial turf and the track surface at the District Stadium. Hellas Construction, which recently installed the turf on the practice fields behind the high school, won the contract with a bid of $669,000 for the turf and track work. The turf has been in place for nine years and is out of warranty. The district had attempted to receive some compensation from the company that installed the original turf because it wore out prematurely, but was unsuccessful. "We really don't feel we can get another year out of it," said Mike Bonner, assistant superintendent. "… We feel like it's time to move forward." Jason Reffner was the only board member to vote against the project.

In other business March 12, the board:

•Approved a resolution to declare March as Theater in our Schools Month.

•Accepted gifts of $753.50 from the intermediate school PTO to purchase books, $20,000 from the EPA through its National Clean Diesel Rebate Program, and $165 from the intermediate school PTO to pay an entry fee to the Kansas Music Educators Association state choir.

•Approved the sale of a 1984 pickup and two mowers.

•Approved an out-state-travel request for DECA students to attend the International Career Development Conference April 21 through 25 in Atlanta.

•Heard a report from the middle school site council.

•Heard a legislative update from Gibson.

•Heard a presentation from the middle school's student leadership team.

•Heard a presentation from Valley Center High School Thespian Troup 522 members about March being declared Theater in our Schools Month in Kansas. The school board approved a resolution with that declaration.

•Learned that Mike Bonner, assistant superintendent, received his doctorate degree. "I do appreciate all the support from the board, Cory, all the people in the office," Bonner said. "… They helped me achieve this goal."

•Approved the purchase of a 65-passenger bus for $100,110 from Midwest Bus Sales. The purchase was planned for next year but was moved up when the district received a $20,000 grant from the EPA to go toward the new vehicle. It will replace a 2001 model with 200,000 miles, which must be made inoperable, according to the specifications of the EPA grant.

•Approved the district's out-of-district enrollment procedures, which set four guidelines when allowing students who live outside of the district to enroll. They include children of school district employees, students who have previously attended Valley Center schools, students who live with members of their immediate family who currently attend Valley Center schools and students whose parents or guardians own property or businesses in the district. Each guideline is based on classroom availability and requires students to be in good standing. The board also made the procedure perpetual, but said members said they could revisit them for possible changes in the future.

•Approved a proposal to expand the number of courses that can be used toward a high school student's information technology credits for graduation. The courses, which are already being offered, include computer graphics, drafting, computer integrated manufacturing and architectural design.

•Approved an agreement giving the City of Valley Center easement access to a water pump on the north end of the West Elementary playground.

•Met in executive session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel.

•Accepted supplemental contract resignations from Natalie Horton (high school cheer coach, May 18) and Scott L'Ecuyer (spring off-season conditioning at the high school, Feb. 16).

•Approved supplemental contracts for L'Ecuyer (assistant track coach at the high school, $3,200, Feb. 26), Tate Lowe (spring off-season conditioning at the high school, $1,400, Feb. 26), Jessica Stuart (middle school cheer coach, $3,200, Aug. 9) and Melissa Segovia (high school volleyball head coach, $5,400, Aug. 9).

•Approved a supplemental contract transfer for Stephanie Gillig (from middle school cheer sponsor to high school cheer sponsor, $4,800, Aug. 9).

•Approved the hiring of Aaron Price (custodian at the high school, $12.60 per hour, Feb. 27), Christina Garcia (custodian at West, $10.10 per hour, March 8), Melissa Harris (custodian at the intermediate school, $13.50 per hour, March 9), Shauna Holloway (at-risk aide at the intermediate school, $9.95 per hour, March 15), Deanna Brake (ESOL teacher, $45,704, Aug. 9), Claire Watkins (English teacher at the middle school, $40,550, Aug. 9), Rebekah Carver (science teacher at the high school, $43,853, Aug. 9), Segovia (science teacher at the high school, $55,254), Jordan Funk (teacher and athletic director at the middle school, $70,500, Aug. 1), Kyle Lefler (music teacher at the intermediate school, $45,550), Janeigh Dantzson (social studies teacher at the high school, $40,000, Aug. 9) and Callie Greenwood (art teacher at the intermediate school, $40,000, Aug. 9).

•Accepted resignations from Angela Myers (at-risk aide at the intermediate school, Feb. 14), Terry Jones (at-risk aide at Wheatland, Feb. 28), Mike Vestering (HVAC technician, March 9), Jayson Artaz (math teacher at the middle school, May 22) and Brenda White (English teacher at the middle school, May 22).

•Approved a transfer for Jaime Moses (from kindergarten teacher at Abilene to fourth-grade teacher at the intermediate school, Aug. 13).

Bart Balthazor did not attend the meeting.





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