Unified School District 447 public meetings in 2020
15 substantive meetings from 2020, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Regular Meeting
The USD 447 board will vote on routine financial reports and consent items, including a worker's compensation carrier change saving about $6,000 annually. New business includes extending COVID-related medical leave through June 30, 2021, and deciding on remote learning for CMHS due to high quarantine numbers. The board will also discuss focus groups for the superintendent search.
- Extend FFCRA COVID leave through June 30, 2021
- Consider remote learning for CMHS until Christmas break
- Approve worker's compensation carrier change saving ~$6,000/year
- Declare 2004 Ford Excursion as surplus for auction
- Approve $100 gift from Greg Cameron for food drive winners
Special Meeting
The USD 447 school board is holding a special meeting to consider temporarily suspending face-to-face classes due to rising COVID cases and quarantines. The superintendent recommends going remote district-wide starting December 4, with other options including remote by building or classroom. The board will also approve the agenda and adjourn.
- Motion to temporarily suspend face-to-face classes
- Superintendent recommends Option 3: remote district-wide starting Dec 4
- Over 10% of students currently quarantined
- Staff shortages due to COVID cases and quarantines
- Meeting accessible via GoogleMeets; contact superintendent for link
Special Meeting
The Unified School District 447 board is holding a special meeting to plan the superintendent search with a KASB consultant, following the superintendent's retirement notice. The agenda includes opening procedures, the search planning discussion, and adjournment.
- Discussion with Sue Givens (KASB) on superintendent search planning
- KASB hired for superintendent search at Nov 9, 2020 meeting
- Superintendent's retirement notice accepted
Regular Meeting
The USD 447 board will consider ending remote learning for elementary students at semester, except for medical or quarantine cases, and requiring middle/high school students failing graduation-required classes to return to in-person instruction. The board will also decide on winter sports crowd policies, approve routine financial reports, and accept gifts including $8,020 from the Patterson Family Foundation.
- Proposal to end elementary remote learning at semester except for doctor-recommended or quarantine cases
- Require middle/high school students failing required classes to return to face-to-face instruction
- Decision on winter sports: allow normal crowds with mask enforcement or limit to 2 tickets per athlete
- Accept $8,020 from Patterson Family Foundation for COVID expenses and $500 from Tank Connection to Thayer School
- Approve second reading of policy updates and facilities use form with adjusted fees
Special Meeting
The USD 447 school board is holding a special meeting to discuss and potentially vote on specific components of the district's COVID-19 reopening plan, focusing on mask requirements at indoor KSHSAA activities, on playgrounds, and during PE. The board will hear from legal counsel, county emergency management, and local medical providers before considering action on these items. An executive session is scheduled to discuss legal issues with the board attorney.
- Discussion of mask requirements at indoor KSHSAA activities
- Consideration of changes to clarify face covering expectations on playgrounds and mask breaks
- Consideration of additions to specify mask requirements during PE classes
- Executive session for attorney-client privilege on COVID health safety mandates
- Report from building principals on inclement weather entry/temperature check plans
Special Meeting
The Board will conduct the annual Budget Hearing and consider approval of the 2020-21 budget. The proposed budget maintains the Local Option Budget at 30% and the Capital Outlay budget at 8 mills.
- Annual Budget Hearing
- Approval of 2020-21 budget
- Approval of personnel report
Regular Meeting
Unified School District 447 is meeting to approve its 2020-21 COVID-19 operations plan, including updated fever-free policies and quarantine protocols. The board will also accept a $41,674 KSDE Mental Health Initiative Grant to fund a behavioral health liaison. Additionally, the district is approving bids for a new van and milk supply, along with standard financial reports and policy updates.
- Approval of USD 447 COVID-19 Operations Plan 2020-21, including changes to 'Fever Free' policy and quarantine procedures.
- Acceptance of a $41,674 KSDE Mental Health Initiative Grant to fund a behavioral health school liaison with Four County Mental Health.
- Approval of a bid from Quality Motors for a new 10-passenger van at $29,421.90.
- Approval of a milk bid from Graves Foods at $.211 per half pint of 1% milk.
- Consideration of a student transfer request from Thayer to Cherryvale school boundary areas.
Special Meeting
The USD 447 school board is holding a special meeting to decide on COVID-19 mitigation measures for reopening, a revised 2020-21 calendar that delays the start of school, and policy changes for remote learning. The board will also approve the agenda, hear public comments, and consider a personnel report.
- Adopt COVID-19 mitigation measures for school reopening
- Revise 2020-21 calendar to delay start to Sept 1, end May 20
- Adopt remote learning attendance and extracurricular eligibility policies
- Allow activity travel with parents during pandemic
- Approve personnel report
Regular Meeting
The Unified School District 447 board is finalizing administrative operations for the 2020-21 school year, including financial reports and staff designations. Key decisions include adopting a 1,116-hour school calendar with designated snow days and approving a Neighborhood Revitalization Program with the City of Cherryvale. The board also discusses the district's plan for reopening schools during the pandemic.
- Approve Neighborhood Revitalization Program with City of Cherryvale, providing tax breaks on property improvements
- Adopt 1,116-hour school calendar option under K.S.A. 711-1106 with snow make-up days on May 6, 7, 10, and morning of May 11
- Approve Community National Bank and Trust as the official district depository of funds
- Discuss USD 447 COVID-19 School Re-Opening Plan for 2020-21
- Approve petty cash limits of $500 for Central Office and Middle/High School, and $200 for Lincoln Central and Thayer Schools
Regular Meeting
The USD 447 board will hold a work session and regular meeting to approve routine financial reports and consent items, including hiring an auditor. They will discuss first readings of policy and handbook changes related to COVID-19, and consider replacing two high-mileage vehicles. The board will also enter closed sessions to discuss personnel and negotiations.
- Approve Yerkes and Michels for 2019-20 audit
- First reading of policy and handbook changes for COVID-19
- Consider replacing 2010 Impala and 2007 Chevy Suburban
- Discuss 2020-21 planning for COVID-19 and COPS grant
- Approve personnel report and food service salary adjustments
Regular Meeting
The USD 447 school board will meet virtually to consider approving 2020 graduation plans, a new social worker position funded by Title I, and changes to graduation requirements and course offerings. They will also hear the 2018-19 audit report and discuss the 2020-21 budget, summer activities, and reopening plans related to COVID-19.
- Approve 2020 graduation dates: June 27 (non-traditional) and/or July 11 (traditional)
- Create second social worker/counselor position funded by Title I
- Amend graduation requirements to remove Success 101
- Approve course changes including new courses and deletions
- Accept 2018-19 audit report from Yerkes and Michels
Special Meeting
The USD 447 school board will hold a special virtual meeting on April 2, 2020, to act on several COVID-19-related items. The board will consider resolutions to pay idle employees during the shutdown and to suspend local graduation requirements for the class of 2020, reducing required credits from 24 to 21. It will also vote on a continuous learning plan and a waiver from the state's 1116-hour school year requirement, as well as approve a contract for managed IT services, phones, and a wireless speaker/intercom system. The meeting is procedural and action-oriented, with no public comment or discussion items listed.
- Approve personnel report and appoint Debra Leedy as Board Clerk, replacing Kristi Houston
- Resolution 2019-20-3 to pay idle employees during COVID-19 shutdown order
- Resolution 2019-20-4 to suspend graduation requirements for class of 2020 to state minimum (24 to 21 credits, remove Success 101 and Vocational Education requirements)
- Approve Continuous Learning Plan and waiver application for 1116-hour school year requirement
- Approve K12itc proposal for managed IT services, phones, and wireless speaker/intercom system (lease option, possible one-time purchase with year-end funds)
Special Meeting
The USD 447 board will hold a special meeting to discuss and potentially approve a personnel report and a roof replacement proposal for the middle school and CMHS library. They will also receive an update on the district's emergency preparedness plan for a contagious outbreak. The meeting includes an executive session for non-elected personnel matters.
- Approval of Personnel Report
- Roof proposal from DCS for $261,366 (CMHS library roof, middle school roof, metal covering for library EIFS, gym guttering)
- Alternative Heckman proposal at $279,198 plus fees
- Update on Emergency Preparedness Plan for Contagious Outbreak
- Executive session for non-elected personnel matters
Regular Meeting
The USD 447 board will vote on several contracts and projects, including a K12itc managed services and phone/intercom package, Thayer gym floor replacement bids, E-Rate fiber construction and internet service, and CMHS roof repairs. They will also discuss a possible Thayer football program and hear reports on finances, buildings, and the superintendent's update. The meeting includes executive sessions for personnel and negotiations.
- K12itc contract: early renewal of managed services through 2025, VoIP phones, and speaker/intercom system; one-time $19,600 charge, $8,470 annual net increase
- Thayer gym floor: approve low bid from Lankford Construction, $62,400 (Grade 2) or $63,600 (Grade 1)
- E-Rate: Kansas Fiber Network fiber construction to Thayer ($105,000, no district cost), 36-month 1 Gbps internet ($530/month after discounts), Cox 1 Gbps for CMHS (saves $11,532 annually)
- CMHS roof: consider proposals to replace library and middle school roofs
- Consent agenda: 2020-21 district calendar, $267 gift from Community National Bank, personnel report
Regular Meeting
The USD 447 board will hear cost estimates from Heckman & Associates and DCS Services for maintenance projects (ADA bathroom at CMHS, track repair/replacement, CMHS roof repairs) and may select one firm or divide the work. They will also consider a $5,345 camera system add-on for the central office, approve a $500 grant, and discuss pre-school programming and possible noon busing. Several routine consent items (budget, bills, minutes, policy updates) are on the agenda.
- Project proposals from Heckman & Associates and DCS Services for ADA bathroom, track, and roof repairs
- Camera system enhancements at central office: $5,345 from Capital Outlay
- Kansas FCCLA Educational Foundation grant: $500 for FACS classroom
- Sidewalk repairs using crack cut method to save about $14,000
- Pre-school programming discussion: possible noon busing for Cherryvale students