The Trenton R-9 Board of Education approved a change to the 2018-2019 school calendar Tuesday evening.
The district will make up the day of school canceled so students and staff could attend the state softball tournament May 16th. Superintendent Dan Wiebers said that would be the final day of school. Wieber noted putting the make up day on May 16th protects the only day-long professional development day during the school year January 2nd which was originally set as the first makeup day.
The board approved hard surface bus routes for this school year. Wiebers reported there was no change in the routes from last year. Information was presented on winter weather procedures for the district.
Announcements concerning cancellations, early dismissals, late starts, and/or use of hard surface bus routes will be made locally on the Trenton R-9 Twitter account, Facebook page, website, and Bulldog text alert system as well as on KTTN and the Republican Times. Announcements will also be made on Kansas City television stations Fox 4 and Channel 5 if time permits.
Students will operate on a two-hour delay in the event of a late start. School will begin at 10 o’clock, bus routes will be delayed two hours, and there will be no breakfast served. Morning preschool will not be held, but afternoon sessions will meet. In the event of school being dismissed early due to weather, after school activities and programs will be canceled. No afternoon sessions of preschool would be held in the event of an early dismissal.
Wiebers said he would determine if an evening practice could be held if school had been canceled for the whole day and conditions improved. District personnel will use information from weather organizations to make determinations about dismissing or canceling school. Road conditions, wind chills, and student safety will be taken into consideration as well.
Mark Higgins from Conrad and Higgins, LLC presented a rough draft of the 2017-2018 school audit. He reported budgetary compliance “looked good”, the fund balance of four point six million dollars was “well funded”, and he was “impressed” that things went “smoothly.” The audit found the average daily attendance for the 2017-2018 school year went down. There was also a lack of segregation in positions, which Higgins said is found almost every year.
The final draft of the audit will be presented in December for board approval.
Wiebers announced an agreement with Ellison-Auxier Architects, Incorporated is being negotiated. Representatives from the company were at architectural priority meetings November 1st where staff and patrons shared ideas for the possible building project.
Wiebers said the board will probably approve ballot language in December or January for the April election. Board of education election filing dates were announced. Candidates may file December 11th through January 15th during Trenton R-9 District Office hours. Election day is April 2nd. The terms of Dorothy Taul and Marcie Cutsinger will expire at the April 9th, 2019 board meeting.
Wiebers presented information on Summer School. Curriculum, supplies, and gift cards for students who had perfect attendance was provided through Catapult Learning. He reported total enrollment was upwards of 418, and there were 348 students on the last day. The average daily attendance was 323.55 students, which is 92.9%.
Wiebers said a representative from Catapult called Trenton R-9’s average daily attendance “exceptional” because percentages in the 80s are normal. Princeton students also attended Trenton’s summer school program.
The estimated net revenue to the district for summer school before payroll was listed at $189,880, but he said the district will actually receive more than that. Summer School Principal E’Lisha Gass announced she has retired from her position. She recommended using the same program next year.
Wiebers reported that Trenton High School freshmen went through Safe Date Training with the staff of the Green Hills Women’s Shelter of Trenton. Melissa King of Hometown Pharmacy of Trenton provided prescription drug awareness training to seventh and eighth graders.
During a drill, it was discovered that an intercom in the middle school computer lab was defective. Wiebers reported the intercom was repaired.
Director of Special Services Tara Hoffman presented the Gifted Program evaluation. She said Nancy Link is the gifted instructor. There are currently 59 qualified students, one deferred, and 13 testing. Gifted programs must provide at least 150 minutes per week of direct instructional time in which students work exclusively with the instructor or gifted.
Rissler Elementary School Principal Tiffany Otto reported a standard-referenced grading training will be held at the school November 19th.
Middle School Principal Daniel Gott reported standards-referenced grading at the middle school is going well. Gott reports he and teachers using the grading system received good questions from parents about it during parent/teacher conferences.
Gott reported the school is partnering with Wright Memorial Hospital of Trenton for partners in education. A representative from the hospital came and talked about the dangers of cell phones.
High School Principal Ron Franklin said students recently participated in Manufacturing Day presented by the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Trenton Middle School Students of the Month and High School Students of the Quarter were introduced. Rissler Student Council members introduced themselves.
The board entered into a closed session.