The USD 457 Board of Education met Monday, May 1, during a regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting was held in the Educational Support Center Board Room, 1205 Fleming Street.
The board recognized Maria Quintanar, kindergarten teacher at Alta Brown, Membership Chair of Garden City Education Association, and Ethnic Minority Representative for the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) Southwest - was honored for her work in advocating and elevating ethnic minority educator voices with the 2023 KNEA Human and Civil Rights Award. The award was presented to her at the annual KNEA Representative Assembly in Topeka.
The board received a building presentation from Horace Good Middle School. The school is getting students prepared for their academic success to attend high school. It was highlighted that many students are involved in a variety of activities at the school.
There was an update on the Student Intern program from Dr. Joe Alcorta, Human Resources Director and Afton Huck, Human Resources Coordinator. The program hired 15 high school seniors that were in ten school buildings around the district. It added 1300 hours of student contact time during a three-month period. The interns helped with math, reading and writing.
Amy Ricks, Principal at Charles Stones Intermediate Center, and Gina Galpin, Principal at Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center, presented on Standards Based Grading. This was the first year of a two-year pilot of the program. They discussed the difference between traditional grading and Standards Based Grading. They discussed how this would look if it was implemented at the 5th and 6th grade level.
Colleen Drees, Financial Officer, provided a presentation on the American Tower Agreement. This agreement covers the cell tower contract with the district. The board did not take any action on the item.
The board approved the following items during the meeting. They include the minutes of the April 17, 2023, Board of Education meeting; Plant Facilities Storage Building: Concrete bid from Scott Wren Construction for $66,750.00. Adoption of curriculum 9-12th grade High School PE. An agreement for Sports Medicine Services between St. Catherine Hospital and the district between 6/1/23 through 5/31/24 for $38,220.00. Seasonal Painter job description and Revised Therapist Intern Agreement.
The board held an executive session relating to personnel matters for non-elected personnel. There was no action taken after the executive session.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be Monday, May 15, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Educational Support Center Board Room, 1205 Fleming Street.
The Board of Education agenda can be viewed here.
The Board of Education meeting can be watched here.