Teacher-contract ratification delayed
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 03:24 p.m., June 26, 2008
Updated 03:24 p.m., June 26, 2008
The Emporia board of education meeting was shortened Wednesday evening when a vote on changes to the teachers’ contract was struck from the agenda.
Susan Hernandez, assistant superintendent for finance, explained prior to the meeting that the number of teachers who had voted on the contract was not adequate to present the contract to the board for ratification. The contract will be placed on the agenda for a future meeting.
Hernandez and Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning George Abel presented a review of the district wellness plan, including the progress that has been made and plans for the future.
About four years ago, Hernandez said, “wellness” became required curriculum through actions at state and federal levels. Wellness includes three facets, she said: physical activity, nutrition education and nutrition. Nutrition primarily involves the Food Service department, though vending machine issues also are within that category.
The district formed a committee of teachers and people from the community, such as nurses and Lyon County Extension Office agents, who were interested in promoting wellness in schools and within the area in general.
The committee studied state recommendations for wellness standards and did a self-evaluation of whether the district met the basic, advanced or exemplary level in various categories. The committee then set goals and areas where emphasis would be placed to achieve those goals.
“In almost every area, I would say we accomplished everything we went out to do,” Hernandez said.
The district now is ready to focus on nutrition education, which already has been developed in some classes through a partnership with the extension service’s family and consumer sciences agent.
Abel said that a curriculum committee will be formed, with representatives from each school, parents, community members and students.
“Last year I think we actually had a sixth-grade student who participated on one of those committees,” Abel said. “We want to have students involved so that they can help to communicate. ...”
Hernandez, who will retire on Tuesday, said that the cost of the nutrition portion of wellness has become expensive because of the cost of fuel and food.
“Vendors are very leery of turning in bids for a full year and locking themselves in,” she said.