Schools preparing for losses
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 02:27 p.m., February 26, 2008
Updated 02:27 p.m., February 26, 2008
The Emporia school district’s board of education will continue dealing with the aftermath of the Tyson Fresh Meats cutbacks when the board meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Mary Herbert Learning Center, 1700 W. Seventh Ave.
Among the action items on the board agenda are consideration of postponing an improvement project at Lowther South Intermediate School and redefining the scope of an addition at Village school. A report on capital projects will be presented at the meeting.
The district will not know the full affect of the Tyson decision until enrollment this summer, and will need to estimate the number of students who might be moving out of town with their families.
Superintendent John Heim asked that teachers help in getting that estimate by asking parents about their plans during parent-teacher conferences this month.
Heim will present a report on estimated enrollment at the board meeting.
Action also is expected to be taken on defining fine arts credits and additional accelerated or honors courses, both at Emporia High School.
Staff from Maynard and the Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative will present a report on the birth- to 4-year-old program at those centers.
The board also will be asked to approve an amendment to the 2007-08 master contract to allow a bonus to be paid to teachers who choose to retire at the end of the school year.
Other items on the agenda include re-hiring district administrators, transportation requests for Kansas Shrine Bowl, the Emporia Recreation Commission’s summer program and Emporia State University’s Upward Bound program activities, a request to dispose of surplus property at auction, and a program-based budgeting committee membership roster for 2008.