The Superior Express -

President Kenny Mizner called the Feb. 8, regular meeting of the Board of Education for USD No. 107 to order in the meeting room at the district office. Those present were Kenny Mizner, Brenden Wirth, Brandon Hollerich, Lori Yelken, Marc Grout, Bobi Fogo (Zoom) Rex Boley, Sam Meyers and Janet Higer.

Communication and administrative reports were given. With the heavy snow load, elementary gutters froze up. When it started to thaw, water leaked into a couple of classrooms on northwest side of the old addition. A lot of time was used cleaning the rooms when temps warmed up.

The high school coaches’ office heat unit which was abandoned 30 years ago was not shut down properly. It has been repaired.

Two buses were out of service but work was done to get them repaired.

The principal said the KSHSAA executive board passed a proposal changing their regulations guiding the attendance protocols for winter sports activities effective Jan. 29. As a result, the protocol for attendance at events held at Rock Hills will be as follows: A “Spectator” is defined as any adult guest of a participant. No students or children will be allowed per KSHSAA rule. The following spectator restrictions are as follows by category **each category is allotted four spectators (except student journalists)

Participants: This category includes players, cheerleaders, dance team members, pep band members, and student managers. **A maximum of four spectators.

Coaches-Sponsors: This includes coaches, cheer sponsor, dance team sponsors, pep band sponsors. **A maximum of four spectators.

Student journalists: A maximum of no more than two student journalists per school.

**These individuals must be actively participating in this role during their time of attendance and must possess student journalist credentials (or the names must have been shared by school administrators).

All juniors will be taking the ACT exam on Feb. 23. School play try-outs will be held March 3and 4.

On Feb. 1, FBLA and FFA presidents went to the county commissioners meeting and asked them to sign a proclamation noting that February is Career & Technical Education Month (CTE Month) in Kansas.

The Business Essentials class members (all are FBLA members also) put up a CTSO (FFA-FBLA) window display and a CTE month display in the Mankato Plumbing Annex windows to showcase Rock Hills CTE programs as well as CTSOs. These displays will be up all of February.

The PreK-5 Principal’s Report was prepared by Mrs. Warne. This month the AIMS Web testing was finalized for students who were in quarantine and for new students to the district.

Several resources have been received on the topic of curriculum adoption to review. The district leadership team will discuss with this with the TASN team.

The superintendent reported 70 percent of the school district staff had received their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. The plan is these staff members will all get their second COVID-19 vaccine shot before spring break, March 5. At this time 60 percent of school districts in Kansas have started to vaccinate school staff as part of Phase 2 of the Kansas COVID-19 vaccine plan.

The district received from Kansas Association of School Boards the first district policy draft as well as district handbook drafts for review.

There were three snow days and a two hour late start.

Leaking from the roof occurred in the computer lab at the elementary building after the large snow. It stopped after snow was cleared from the roof.

The district rented a skid loader from Jewell Implement to remove the heavy snow.

KSDE will assemble a committee that will approve school district Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief 2 funding plans. USD 107 will receive about $249,000 of ESSER 2 funds.

Items the district is exploring for possible use of ESSER 2 Funds include HVAC systems, air purification systems, professional development, summer curriculum academy for teachers, FastBridge student screener that included social-emotional, summer education learning enrichment for all grade levels, and classroom furniture (student desks).

A goal is to have a new website and applications ready for the start of the 2021-2022 school year.

Three candidates were interviewed by the elementary principal in January and a contract was offered to and accepted by Ms. Cassi Owen.

Mr. Boley gave an update on COVID-19 and reported on employee COVID immunizations.

He reported Mr. Ost had reviewed the proposed 2021-2022 calendar with faculty. However he asked Mr. Meyers to report on a new development that came in after the agenda went out. Mr. Meyers reported that the district now has a District IV vice president for FBLA, which means Rock Hills will be hosting the district competition. Hosting this competition will require the district to shut the high school down for one day, which will alter the calendar.

Mr. Boley discussed with the board his desire to retain Mapes and Miller for guidance in preparation of the budget for the next fiscal year.

The surplus items that were presented to the board as surplus were approved.

The 2021-2022 school calendar was approved as presented.

The bid from Heritage Insurance for $60,314.00 for the district’s liability insurance policy was accepted.

The bid from David Warne for $1,000 for the brome grass contract was approved.

It was approved to offer a contract to Sam Meyers as Rock Hills Junior-Senior High School principal for the 21-22 school year.

Dennis Miller from Mapes & Miller presented the district’s audit report for FY 20 and reviewed the audit performance.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 15, at 7 p.m., in the board room of the district office.