Bottom line

The board will be asked to give district administrators permission to play the natural-gas futures market.

With the board’s blessing, the administration will follow day-to-day movement in the market and sign on for a price “most advantageous to the district.”

Background

Tom Bracciano, director of operations and facility planning is shooting to hold the price increase at 20 percent in 2003-2004, despite projections that an increase of 30 percent could be the norm.

Last year, the district’s price through Cornerstone was set at a maximum of $4.65 per thermal unit. The open market price for natural gas was $5.66 in February and $9.16 in March.

The budget for natural gas was $400,000 in 2002-2003.

Other business

The agenda:

• Convene 6:30 p.m. for an executive session with the district’s lawyer. The regular meeting is at 7 p.m.
• Receive comment from Austin Turney, board president; Supt. Randy Weseman; and board members.
• Consider a staff proposal to group large facility improvements in 2003-2004 by site or by type of work.
• Consider a $64,130 “errors and omissions” insurance policy with United National Insurance Co., which would be a 20 percent increase over last year’s policy.
• Consider a $15,602 contract with Savin Corp. Uniontown, Ohio, for 8,800 reams of white copy paper.
• Consider a $12,670 contract with Theatrical Services, Wichita, for replacement of auditorium theater curtains in Lawrence High School.
• Consider a $29,292 contract with Wenger Corp. of Owatonna, Minn., for musical instrument storage lockers for LHS.
• Consider a one-year contract with Cornerstone Energy for natural gas service to district buildings.
• Discuss a report from Kathy Johnson, finance director, on options for soft-drink contracts at the district’s secondary schools.
• Discuss issuing an assignment to the district’s boundary committee for items needing study in 2003-2004.
• Consider on first-reading action policies on the district authority, compensation and benefits, administrative personnel, security and safety, and infectious or contagious diseases.
• Receive the annual report from Sarah Martin, director of Lawrence Education Achievement Partners.
• Receive a report from Weseman about efforts to develop a half-cent sales tax for benefit of public schools in Douglas County.
• The next meeting of the board is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 13.