Agenda highlights ¢ 7 p.m. Monday ¢ 110 McDonald Drive ¢ Sunflower Broadband Channel 26 ¢ Meeting documents online at usd497.org

School board to address bullying

Bottom line

The school board will hear a report about the district’s efforts to stop bullying in school.

Background

“We are serious about preventing bullying,” said Superintendent Randy Weseman.

Weseman said the board will hear a report about bullying in the district’s efforts to rewrite its policies to deal with new types of bullying.

“There’s things now like cyber-bullying – it’s a different world,” Weseman said. “We still have kids that become victims of these kinds of acts, and I just want to make sure that we continue to address it, continue to refine it and continue to keep it in front of us so that we can prevent it.”

Other business

Special recognition

¢ Patrick Kelly, the district’s fine arts specialist, will introduce students who have been selected for Kansas Music Educators Association All-State Band and Choir for three consecutive years: Isaac Lewis O’Connor, Lawrence High School choral; Evan Hunter, LHS band; and Ben Smith, Free State High School band.

Consent agenda

¢ Approve, in the district’s personnel report, early retirement for Lynda Allen, the district’s math and science coordinator, who will retire at the end of the school year after 29 years in the district.

Other early retirees are Alan Brummell, Schwegler School art teacher, 23 years; Sandra Clanton, Wakarusa Valley School interrelated resource teacher, 26 years; Ronald Garvin, South Junior High School physical education teacher, 33 years; Susan Phenix, Central Junior High School mathematics teacher, 22 years; Susan Ralston, vocal music teacher at Schwegler, 32 years; Caroll Steacy, kindergarten teacher at Schwegler, 28 years.

¢ Approve monthly financial reports and vouchers.

¢ Approve a proposal for a district audit for the year ending June 30, 2007.

¢ Approve change orders for construction projects at South, Central and Southwest junior high schools and at Free State and Lawrence high schools.

¢ Approve the annual support contract for GEMS, the district’s financial/accounting management software package.

¢ Approve a purchase contract for science computers for the district. It includes 191 laptops and four media computers at a cost of $265,563.18.

¢ Approve a purchase contract for 16 science room projectors and brackets, costing $30,400.

Regular agenda

¢ Making up a snow day: The board will hear a recommendation from Sandee Crowther, executive director of planning and program development, about how to make up a Feb. 13 snow day.

¢ Hear a report on district efforts in relation to bullying by Crowther; Chris Squier, director of Safe Schools and Healthy Students; and Karen Vespestad, director of grants, board services and strategic planning.

Executive session

¢ Go into closed session to discuss negotiations and personnel matters.