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District unveils staffing priorities
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: January 15, 2015

A school resource officer at the high school is at the top of the staffing needs list for the Valley Center school district.

But getting one may not be so easy, district Superintendent Cory Gibson told the school board Jan. 12.

If the district wanted to have its own full-time commissioned police officer, one who works solely for the district, it could cost up to $100,000 to hire and fully equip him or her, and the process could take several months if not a year or two, Gibson said.

The officer position is one of six jobs Gibson presented to the board as top-tier priorities for 2015-16. The school board has already approved a part-time Spanish teaching position at the high school and a full-time first-grade teacher at West to handle enrollment increases.

Also on the list, but yet to be approved, is a family and consumer science teacher or Spanish teacher at the middle school, math interventionists for the three elementary schools and the extension from 10 months to 12 months the technology assistant position at the high school.

The district has a resource officer who works at the intermediate and middle schools. Both buildings are in the Valley Center city limits. The officer is a city employee.

However, the high school is outside of the Valley Center Police Department's jurisdiction. Gibson said the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office cut SRO positions from its budget two years ago.

That's why officials are exploring options to staff and equip the district's own police department, which other districts, such as Maize and Goddard, have.

Gibson said school resource officers provide valuable education for students and serve as a positive link to law enforcement.

The estimated cost of the top priority staffing needs is $359,000. The district anticipates receiving additional state aid next year with its recent spike in enrollment. The district has 2,877 students, up 41 from the official Sept. 20 count day for the 2014-15 school year.

Tier-two priorities include a part-time media specialist at the intermediate school, a reading interventionist at the middle school, a math interventionist at the intermediate school, a district-wide math coach, an HVAC technician, an assistant mechanic for transportation and a reading interventionist at the high school. Total estimated cost was $305,000.

Tier-three priorities include a trainer and substitute bus driver and three science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at the three elementary schools. Estimated cost was $180,000.

Tier-four priorities include a technology assistant at the middle school, part-time math and full-time language arts, science and social studies teachers at the high school, a district-wide social worker, technology instructors at the three elementary schools, part-time art instructors at the elementaries, a half-time increase in the administrative assistant position at the middle school, aides at Abilene and Wheatland, a library aide at Abilene, a lunch aide at the middle school and a district director of operations. Estimated cost was $675,000.


Calendar adopted


The school board approved a district calendar for the 2015-16 school year.

School will start Aug. 13 and 14 (Aug. 18 for kindergarten students) and will end May 18, similar to this year.

The calendar includes at least two weekdays off for students each month (except for February, which has just one).

In September, there is no school on Labor Day or on Sept. 28, which is a teacher in-service.

In October, school is closed Oct. 15 (in-service day) and 16 (teacher comp day to make up for evening parent-teacher conferences they work).

In November, the Thanksgiving recess will be Nov. 25 through 27. Also in November, school will be out for two teacher in-service days, Nov. 2 and 30.

Winter break will be Dec. 21 through Jan. 1, a two-week recess.

Also in January, a teacher in-service day is scheduled for Jan. 18.

The only weekday off in February is Feb. 15, a teacher in-service day.

Spring break will be March 14 through 18, and school will be closed March 25, which is Good Friday.

April 15 is a teacher comp day, which was moved from March, and April 18 is a teacher in-service day.

Gibson said a committee worked on the calendar, a community survey was implemented to get feedback on proposed options and the school board discussed the proposals last month.

In other business Jan. 12, the board:

•Approved supplemental contracts with Nancy Taylor (Tier 1 mentor, second semester, $500, Jan. 5), Brianna Reyes (summer school principal, pay to be determined, summer 2015) and Kristen Curtis (district leadership team representative, second semester, $875, Jan. 5).

•Approved the hiring of Karen Vaughn (food service kitchen manager, high school, $18,000, Jan. 5) and Anita Hudson (food service head cook, high school, $10.05 per hour, Jan. 5).

•Accepted resignations from Barbara Johnson (food service, high school, Dec. 19), Gloria Jacob (math teacher, high school, May 23) and Marsha Taliaferro-Collins (counselor, Wheatland, May 23).

•Approved a transfer for Estella Ponce (from custodian, intermediate school, to lead custodian, intermediate school, $11.53 per hour, Jan. 6).

•Approved one-year contract extensions for Gibson and Bonner.

•Heard a report from middle school art teacher Todd Larkey about his students' involvement in the Memory Project.

•Learned that a second leak from the District Office's sprinkler system was discovered Jan. 8. Gibson said the pipes, which are in the building's attic, will be wrapped with heat tape to prevent them from freezing.

•Was recognized during Board Appreciation Month.

•Heard a report from the middle school's Junior Booster Club by the club's treasurer, Dawn Stiglitz.

•Heard a mid-year fiscal report from Gibson, who said the district's funds were "on the right track." Gibson also discussed end-of-year balances and the recent court decision on public school funding.

•Voted 7-0 to accept the financial audit report. No problems were found.

•Voted 7-0 to approve a contract, subject to final approval by the district's attorney, with PEL Industries, a manufacturer for Academy Sports, to sell apparel with the words "Valley Center Hornets." The contract allows the district to receive royalties on the apparel. A logo will not be used.

•Met in executive session for 30 minutes to discuss contract negotiations.





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