The Perry School Board met in regular session Monday.
At the meeting a public hearing was held in regards to the fiscal year 2017 budget. The Board then approved the budget, at a published rate of zero percent State Supplemental Aid. Because the state legislature approved a 2.25 percent State Supplemental Aid the Department of Management will adjust the budget and therefore the tax rate will be set at $19.63 per $1,000 in property tax valuation.
Ned Menke and Joel Martin then presented their plans to co-principal at the elementary school starting this fall. The two have broken down responsibilities based on areas and grades. Martin said in many ways, he and Menke have been partnering together together already in their current positions of associate principal and dean of students. Board President Kyle Baxter stated that his initial fear was that “when you have two people in charge, no one is in charge” and worried that things would be overlooked. He asked Menke and Martin to keep that in mind moving forward. The co-principal positions were approved by the Board later in the meeting.
Middle school Principal Shawn Kruger and high school principal Dan Marburger then shared information on the Standards Based Grading Conference they recently attended. Kruger says this approach to evaluating students success helps give more information to parents and students. Instead of only giving a letter grade, this lists out what the students have learned in each class and how they meet the standards that are set. Kruger says they believe this is the best option for students to succeed. The goal is to fully implement Standard Based Grading at the middle school by the fall of 2017, while the high school hopes to fully implement the concept by the fall of 2018.
Superintendent Lynn Ubben then gave a legislative update.
An activity sharing agreement with the Woodward Granger School District for cross county was then tabled and will be discussed again at a future meeting.
High school juniors were then given permission to take a day trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha next month.
A professional services agreement with Shive Hattery for the high school industrial technology facility planning was then approved.
A cooperative food purchasing agreement renewal with the Area Education Agency was then approved for the upcoming school year.
The 2016-2017 school year calendar was then approved as presented with classes starting August 24th and the year tentatively ending May 25th.
A negotiated agreement with the Perry Education Association (PEA) was then approved at 3.6 percent. This includes a $400 increase in the base salary, with a total cost of $396,729 to the district. This amount also includes a 9.9 percent increase in health care costs.
The PEA staff roster for the upcoming school year was then approved as presented. Meal prices were also set, with a 10 cent increase to $1.75 for adult lunch prices, which Nutrition Director Gail McFarland says is the minimum increase allowed by the state. Personnel changes were approved as presented, along with the addition of Menke resigning as the high school boys head basketball coach. Board policy revisions were also approved as presented and the Board set a meeting for 8am April 19th to review the Superintendent evaluation and Board self evaluation.