In addition to addressing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic at their meeting Monday evening, USD 257 school board members tackled several other tasks, including the approval of a negotiated agreement between the National Educators Association of Iola and USD 257, which had been previously ratified by the teachers union.
Dan Willis, board president, noted this follows a pattern “for the last three or four years,” where negotiations between the union and district have gone well. Laura Caillouet-Weiner, NEA president for the district, informed the board of upcoming talks around tweaking the salary schedule.
Board members also approved entering into a one-year contract with Midwest Sporting Goods of Oklahoma. Jason Coke, athletic director for the middle school, and Matt Baumwart, athletic director for the high school, informed board members of the proposed agreement.
The partnership provides the district a 40% discount on all UnderArmour apparel purchased via Midwest Sporting Goods and rebates on all sporting goods. A $2,500 signing bonus is also included. All funds must be used within the school year of their purchase. District uniforms must be UnderArmour, according to the agreement.
By partnering with Midwest Sporting Goods, the district will be able to take advantage of kickbacks that could help relieve some of the fundraising responsibilities coaches and athletes assume, remarked Fager. Coke also told the board that the agreement could be used to help cover polo shirts for staff, blank tee shirts for screen printing at the high school, and a variety of other purposes.
AARON COLE, director of operations for the district, gave board members an extensive timeline of short- and long-term improvements he has planned for district buildings. Cole provided a schedule for moving classrooms into the new elementary building over next summer. Cole also expressed concern over aging water storage tanks at the middle school, one of which has a leak and showing signs of rust. The board approved Cole’s request to proceed with seeking bids for installing lighting at the tennis courts east of the high school.
At the top of Cole’s list is working with SJCF Architects to secure entrances at the high school. It’s paramount to student safety, explained Cole, and he hoped to have some blueprints and cost estimates to share with the board in the coming months.
Willis updated the board on the development of the new science and technology center. Its opening is slated for late August, Willis said, after several disruptions. A manufacturer reported defects in flooring tile already installed in two classrooms and a hallway. The tile was then ripped out and has had to be replaced. The silver lining is that the building will now have the board’s first choice of tile, which had been nixed for cost-savings. Some masonry on the building will also need to be redone, Willis said, but the project has proceeded well under budget. Part of the savings, board member Tony Leavitt reminded fellow members, will mean that the ground around the building will be seeded with grass, and not sodded.
The replacement of heating and cooling systems at the middle school is nearly complete, said Willis, and is on pace to be ready for students on their first day of school.
Superintendent Stacey Fager highlighted the achievements of band teacher Brandi Holt, who recently held a band camp for middle and high school students. It was a monumental effort, remarked Fager. The camp ran from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and ended with a wonderful performance Friday afternoon.
Fager also expressed his excitement for the upcoming visit of Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson and Deputy Commissioner Brad Neuenswander, who will meet with local educators, parents and others from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
In its last action of the evening, the board accepted the resignations of Rebecca Robb, Nick McAnulty and Lanita Jay. The board approved hiring John Taylor, assistant coach for high school football, Addison Prather as a long-term substitute, Darryl Hutchens as a custodian, and Gail Hoag, also a long-term substitute.
