The Laredo R-7 and Princeton R-5 boards of education met Monday, with the Laredo board voting to increase salaries and the Princeton R-5 board continuing its discussion of the purchase of an electric school bus.
Laredo R-7
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education elected new officers and voted to increase salaries during its meeting on Monday.
According to information provided by the district, the board certified the April 5 election results, with Kristi Urich and Angela Lowrey being elected to three-year terms. Officers were elected and include Matt Foster, president; Casey Bowe, vice president; Mrs. Urich, treasurer; Robin Griswold, board secretary; and Mrs. Lowrey, MSBA delegate.
The board considered the salary proposals and voted to increase Superintendent Misty Foster’s salary by 5 percent as well as non-certified salaries. The board voted to increase the base salary for certified staff by $1,500, making the base $32,500 per year. The board voted to table bus driver salaries until May to correspond with transportation reports.
Non-certified contracts, as well as extra-duty, band and counseling contracts were approved, with occupational and speech therapy contracts tabled until May.
The board voted to accept a bid for mowing from Jack Bethards at a rate of $120 per mowing and approved the payment of MSBA dues for 2022-23. The district will pay for the basic package up to $26 for the employee health fair if insurance does not cover the cost. Also approved was the expenditure of $2,000 toward band instrument purchases as well the NEE contract.
Board members also discussed the budget, upcoming events and the district’s Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service Plan.
Following a closed session, the board voted to increase the daily pay rate for substitutes from $80 to $90 and approved a pay rate of $16 per hour for tutoring hours for the special education paraprofessional.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 9, following the graduation ceremony.
Princeton R-5
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education is continuing to look at the possibility of purchasing an electric school bus, with bids for the bus considered during Monday’s meeting, which also involved the board considering offering its own summer school program.
According to information provided by Superintendent Jerry Girdner, the board considered three bids that were submitted for an electric school bus. The district has been working for several months to secure grant funding that would make the purchase price comparable to if the district purchased a traditional bus. The bids included one from Bluebird Electric Bus, $338,095 (no charging station included and up to one year for delivery); Thomas Electric Bus, $339,978 (no charging station included and up to one year for delivery); and Lion Electric Bus, $315,320.23 (charging station included and immediate availability). The bid specifications included a Level II charging station and delivery within six months, so the Lion Bus Company bid was the only one that met the specifications.
Girdner said the district has been awarded the Volkswagen grant in the amount of $200,000 for the purchase as well as a USDA grant to assist with the purchase. The administration will review the bids and coordinate with all grant administrators to finalize the district’s contribution amount. It is estimated that the district could have 85 percent of the new electric bus paid for through grants.
Board members certified the results of the April 5 election, which resulted in Ron Parsons and Nathan Evans being elected to three-year terms. New officers were elected, with Rick Ellsworth elected as president and Parsons as vice president. Chad Smith was appointed secretary and Karla Meinke was appointed as treasurer.
Summer school was a topic of discussion under new business. The district has been presented a possible grant to host summer school for this summer. The program has become a possibility due to the American Rescue Plan’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Summer School Grant.
In the past, Princeton has not hosted summer school due to the unique state funding formula which would have caused the district to possibly lose significant funding from the school grant and the “hold harmless” provision. Girdner said the grant for summer school is directed toward schools just like Princeton who have not had a recent summer school and would be otherwise negatively impacted by the state’s funding formula. The board authorized the administration to apply for the summer school grant and it is hoped that the plans could be completed by May 2 if the grant is approved.
In other business, the board set tuition for the 2022-23 school year at $6,375 for all students in grades kindergarten through 12 and were provided a list of upcoming events, including baccalaureate and awards, 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 4 at the First Christian Church; graduation, 7 p.m., Friday, May 6; prom, Saturday, April 30; and home tracks meets, Monday, April 18 and Saturday, May 7 (Class I District Meet).
Following a closed session to discuss real estate and personnel, the board approved the retirement of Kami Stark as high school secretary and the hiring of Lindsay Landis as junior high math instructor. Also approved were extra-duty contracts for 2022-23.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
