Iola High School students interested in a career in the automotive industry could have an option to earn certification, if an area school proceeds with plans to add the program.
Anderson County is considering adding a technology program related to the automotive field, USD 257 Superintendent Stacey Fager told board members at their regular meeting Monday night. The program would allow students to earn a certification, similar to the welding and construction programs at the Regional Rural Technology Center in LaHarpe. If the program were to materialize, its possible Iola students could travel to Garnett for classes.
IHS will need to gauge interest in the program, Fager said, but previous surveys have shown about seven local students want to pursue an automotive career.
Such programs attract a large number of students, he said. Garnetts location could bring students from districts in Ottawa, Osawatomie, Burlington and Central Heights (near Richmond). Im not sure what the interest would be but my guess is theyll probably fill their programs pretty fast, especially something as unique as automotive, he said. Well see what materializes and what the interest is.
IN HIS final official act in front of the board, outgoing Director of Operations Scott Stanley asked the board for just under $7,000 to buy a dump trailer.
The district frequently rents a dump trailer for help with various projects, such as removing or dumping gravel at school parking lots or moving chairs to and from McKinley Elementary School. The districts flatbed trailer is awkward to use because it doesnt have lift or dump capabilities.
Stanley presented bids for the new trailer and the board approved the low bid of $6,999 from Trailers Plus in Tulsa. The district will offer the flatbed trailer for sale using a sealed bid process.
Stanley, who is leaving to pursue a job opportunity in Missouri, said he will miss those he worked with for the past eight years. Fager also thanked him for his service, and said whoever the district chooses to succeed him will have huge shoes to fill.
IN OTHER news, the board:
Heard a presentation about a new literacy program designed to identify areas where students need special help. The district will host two trainings for the program and will attend a third in Lawrence, all in early March. A literacy grant from Greenbush is paying for the training, a cost of about $3,000. Because Iola adopted the program early and is a model for other districts, Greenbush also will pay the costs for Iolas substitutes to attend as well.
Discussed plans for a memorial for Audrey Gardner, a fourth grade teacher who died unexpectedly Dec. 3. School officials and Gardners family discussed possible uses for the memorial, but decided to wait and see if voters approve funding to build a new elementary school. They may want to designate the memorial for something at the new school.
Fager recognized board members in honor of School Board Recognition Month. Board members received gift cards to local businesses.
Fager also discussed, briefly, the coming Kansas legislative session. It could be a difficult session if legislators fight over whether to add $90 million to school finance to satisfy the Supreme Courts dictate that state schools must funded adequately and equitably. Fager said he hopes the Legislature will take up the matter early in the session, but history has shown the matter tends to drag on until the very end.
