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West Central School Board Discuss A 3-Year Bus Contract

BIGGSVILLE- At Wednesday's, January 17 regular board meeting of the West Central C.U.S.D. #235 Board of Education, the members discussed a 3-year lease agreement with Midwest Bus Sales.

The lease will provide 15-71 passenger busses and 1-77 passenger bus with storage underneath for luggage and equipment.

The 77 passenger bus is being provided at the same cost as the 71 passenger busses. This bus will also be used to transport the football team and equipment to away football games thus eliminating the need to take two busses.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.in the West Central Elementary School cafeteria by Board President Paul Anderson with all members except Mike Lenahan present at roll call.

President Anderson led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Under Good News Items the following items were highlighted:

• The third grade students collected items to be given to Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab Center in Stronghurst. They filled three large gift bags with donations.
• The 8th grade students visited the elementary in December to spend time with our kindergarten students. They helped them skate, created holiday crafts, and participated in many STEAM challenges.
• The elementary collects Box Tops for Education. We recently received a check in the amount of $447.80. Please continue to send these to the elementary! Each one is worth 10 cents.
• Charlie Huss was recognized for the extra time he has put in clearing the parking lots on the north campus and with the district rental property.
• The first Make West Central a Destination School Community Action Team meeting was held on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the north campus library.
• The agenda was approved as presented with no additions or deletions.
• Items approved under the Consent Agenda included the following:
• The minutes of the December 8, 2017 Special Meeting and Closed Session and the December 13, 2017, Regular Meeting.
• The December 2017 bills, December 2017 building Activity Account Reports, the December 2017 Treasurer's Report, and review of the District Financial Report.

The board approved the following proposed board policy revisions on First Reading:

• Policy 2:140 - Communications To and From the Board
• Policy 2:140-E - Guidance for Board Member Communications, Including Email Use
• Policy 2:150 - Committees
• Policy 2:260 - Uniform Grievance Procedure
• Policy 4:15 - Identity Protection
• Policy 4:110 - Transportation
• Policy 4:120 - Food Services
• Policy 4:130 - Free and Reduced-Priced Food Services
• Policy 4:150 - Facility Management and Building Programs
• Policy 4:170 - Safety
• Policy 5:20 - Workplace Harassment Prohibited
• Policy 5:90 - Abused and Neglected Child Reporting
• Policy 5:100 - Staff Development Program
• Policy 5:170 - Copyright
• Policy 5:200 - Terms and Conditions of Employment and Dismissal
• Policy 5:220 - Substitute Teachers
• Policy 5:240 - Suspension
• Policy 5:290 - Employment Termination and Suspensions
• Policy 6:50 - School Wellness
• Policy 6:60 - Curriculum Content
• Policy 6:150 - Home and Hospital Instruction
• Policy 6:300 - Graduation Requirements
• Policy 6:310 - High School Credit for Non-District Experience; Course Substitutions; Re-Entering Students
• Policy 6:340 - Student Testing and Assessment Program
• Policy 7:10 - Equal Educational Opportunities
• Policy 7:15 - Student and Family Privacy Rights
• Policy 7:20 - Harassment of Students Prohibited
• Policy 7:70 - Attendance and Truancy
• Policy 7:180 - Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment
• Policy 7:190 - Student Behavior
• Policy 7:250 - Student Support Services
• Policy 7:260 - Exemption from Physical Education
• Policy 7:275 - Orders to Forgo Life-Sustaining Treatment
• Policy 7:305 - Student Athlete Concussions and Head Injuries
• Policy 7:340 - Student Records

In other business the board:

• reviewed and heard reports from the building principals; Jason Kirby, Athletic Director; Melinda Frakes, District Technology Coordinator; and Shaila Ayer, District Psychologist and Special Education Director.
• heard a presentation from Mr. Gittings regarding the Three Circles Ag Grant and discussed it. West Central #235 will apply for this grant.
• Superintendent Markey presented the five-year enrollment projections. It is anticipated that enrollment will decline by approximately 41 students over the next five years.
• discussed the school facility in Media. The board wishes to pursue the sale of the buildings and the lots on which they sit. The board directed Superintendent Markey to work with the district attorney to begin the process to take sealed bids on this property.

The board entered closed session at 7:18 p.m. to discuss to discuss the following:

• The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.
• Student discipline.
• The setting of a price for sale of property owned by the school board.
• Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, whether for purposes of school board approval of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as required by the Act.

The board exited closed session at 8:40 p.m.

The board took the following action in regards to personnel:

• approved paying Jackie Olson a stipend to cover Transportation Director duties temporarily,
• employed Dennis Lawson as a substitute bus driver,
• employed Caralea Link as the WCMS Track Coach, and
• reviewed Closed Sessions minutes.
• approved the Resolution to release Closed Session minutes per Exhibits A and B.

The board was reminded that the next regularly scheduled meeting will be Wednesday, February 21, at 6:00 p.m. in the West Central Elementary cafeteria.

The board adjourned their meeting at 8:43 p.m.