Fridays get longer for Iola students

If Iola students notice Fridays to be a little longer from now until the end of the school year, rest easy because it is — but by only one minute. To make up lost snow days USD 257 board members decided Monday night to add one minute at the end of every Friday school day to make up the missed time.
Due to recent snow days the school district is deficient by 39 minutes for the needed 1,116 contact hours with students.
There were a few options as to how to make up that time. The one minute will begin for all USD 257 schools this Friday.
USD 257 Superintendent Brian Pekarek was able to give a little bit of good news regarding the legislature.
The Common Core standards in Kansas schools appear to be safe and still moving forward.
There had been some concern regarding the newly adopted standards. The House Education Committee worried the Kansas Department of Education was pressured or forced to take on the new standards.
Board members stressed they acted on their own accord and were not pressured by outside forces.
Instead of banning the standards there is now a move to only rename the standards to the Kansas College and Career Ready Standards.
Curriculum Director Angie Linn said Common Core curriculum is moving forward and math will be ready for full implementation next year.
Today the Senate Education committee will conduct a hearing on Senate Bill 224, which would increase base aid funding to $4,492 but would do so by cutting all levels of at-risk funding plus virtual school aid.
Pekarek said at first the bill looks good because the base aid increases from the $3,838 they received this year, but at a closer look what would be cut is not ideal.

THE BOARD heard a review of the district’s drivers education program by Jack Morrell that will start May 22. Morell asked for the driver’s education courses to be open to community members.
Driver’s education, if taken after receiving a driver’s license, can add a discount to vehicle insurance.
The eight-hour course would cost an extra $20 per driver’s education non-traditional student and would give a 5- to 15-percent discount on car insurance.
School bus drivers have to take the course every three years. Opening up the course to community members would allow for bus drivers to go through the course as well, as opposed to going out of town, as they had to in previous years.
The request was a discussion item and no action was necessary but the board unanimously gave their approval for the program. Morell, who also teaches at Humboldt, said he wanted to speak with the Humboldt school board and get them involved in the program.

BRETT Linn, USD 257 technology director, gave a brief update on security and safety procedures.
CDL Electric Company out of Pittsburg, who won the bid for the district’s new security system installation, will begin the process today at the schools.

IN OTHER news, the board made the following motions:
Accept the retirement of McKinley custodian Joe Shrum effective June 1.
Approved Danny McKarnin as a bus driver.
Approved Randal Pumphrey as the food service custodian.
Approved Teresa LaCrone as a food service cook.
Approved Joyce Wright as a food service substitute.
Approved Susan Beasley’s resignation at food service.
Approved Gavin Cole as the assistant golf coach at Iola Middle School.