Food Service Hero Award
Rachel Coe, the food service supervisor at the high school, was recognized for receiving a food service hero award. Although she is technically an Aramark employee, she is considered by teh board to be a part of the “tiger family” within the district. The Aramark director for the district, nominated Rachel for this award, which was presented by the Aramark Corporation. The nomination highlighted Rachel’s exceptional qualities, including her “dedication, hard work, organizational skills, and continuous pursuit of best practices in managing routine activities.”
Rachel’s positive attitude, high energy, and personal touch have made her an invaluable member of the team. When the food service department went through changes, Rachel took the initiative to assist and guide her colleagues by sharing her knowledge and helping them familiarize themselves with the established processes and procedures. Her selflessness and genuine concern for the team’s success greatly impressed everyone and contributed to their rapid integration and smooth functioning. Rachel consistently supports and drives the goal of providing quality meals to students, exhibiting exemplary leadership qualities.
The board expressed their congratulations to Rachel for her well-deserved recognition and commended her on the award received from Aramark.
Approval of Fiscal Year 2023 End of Year Budget Items
the board discussed and considered two motions related to the completion of fiscal year 2023 district expenses and budget amendments. These types of motions are typically made at the end of each fiscal year to allow the district to continue conducting business until June 30th without the need for an additional board meeting.
Middle School Update & Approval of 2023-2024 Middle School Handbook
Dr. Brett Coffman, the principal of the Middle School, presented a report on the upcoming changes to the school handbook for the 2023-2024 academic year. Dr. Coffman highlighted that minor revisions have been made to the handbook, and emphasized that the staff of the Middle School would focus on their commitment to three key areas: relationships with students, curriculum relevance, and increased rigor. By prioritizing these areas, Dr. Coffman and the Middle School staff aim to enhance the overall educational experience for students, creating a nurturing environment where they can thrive academically, personally, and socially.
Approval of Asbestos Abatement Bid
It was announced that the district had gone out to bid for asbestos abatement at Lewis Elementary. Four bids were received, and after careful evaluation, it was recommended that the board accept the bid from B&R Insulation. The bid met all the requirements and was the lowest among the received bids. The recommended bid amount is $249,315.
The recommendation was based on the evaluation conducted by Axiom Service Professionals, who reviewed the bids and provided a bid tabulation to Anthony Berry, the Excelsior School District Maintenance Coordinator.
The board considered this recommendation and was informed of the bid details and evaluation process. They ultimately decided to accept the bid from B&R Insulation for the asbestos abatement project at Lewis Elementary.
Transportation Contract Addendum
Mark Bullimore, addressed the Board regarding an amendment to the Transportation Services Agreement for the period 2023-2027. Bullimore stated the purpose of the amendment is to establish a more competitive driver pay scale within the agreement between the Excelsior Springs School District (ESSD) and First Student, INC.
Bullimore said that the recommendation to amend the agreement was made after conducting a thorough analysis of the transportation program. This analysis involved collaboration with First Student, INC and the transportation director, with a focus on recruiting and retaining high-quality employees to serve the district’s families and students.
To achieve this goal, the recommendation suggests amending the agreement to implement a $3/hr increase in wages for all drivers.
By implementing this amendment, the ESSD aims to address driver recruitment and retention challenges by offering more competitive wages. This adjustment is seen as crucial in aligning the district’s transportation department with other local school districts and ensuring the overall effectiveness of the transportation program.
2023-2024 School Meal Prices
Dr. Bullimore informed the board about a recommendation regarding school meal pricing for the 2023-2024 academic year. The recommendation is based on a food service meal price analysis conducted by the district.
The recommendation proposes an increase in the current meal price structure to ensure the district’s food service program “remains committed to providing quality meals, excellent customer service, and reasonable prices.” while also covering costs.
The price changes for the 2023-24 school year are as follows:
Student Breakfast (K-12): Current Price $1.70, Proposed Price $1.95
Lunch (K-5): Current Price $2.20, Proposed Price $2.60
Lunch (6-8): Current Price $2.35, Proposed Price $2.70
Lunch (9-12): Current Price $2.45, Proposed Price $2.80
Breakfast (Adult): Current Price $2.40, Proposed Price $2.65
Lunch (Adult): Current Price $3.20, Proposed Price $3.70
Extra Milk: Current Price $0.75, No ChangeThe proposed price changes for à la carte items will be determined separately.
Staff Turnover and Exit Survey Review
Dr. Jaret Tomlinson shared information about staff turnover and exit survey comments for the District. According to the information provided, a total of 30 employees left the district during the year.
Out of these 30 departures, some were due to resignations and non-renewals, resulting in a deduction from the total count. The communication states that there were 20 positions that left the district for reasons other than resignations and non-renewals.
Based on these figures, the turnover rate for the district stands at 8% which is below the goal of 10% set as part of the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP).
Dr. Tomlinson did not provide specific details about the reasons behind the departures or the nature of the exit survey comments. However, the turnover rate information indicates that the district’s efforts to retain staff have been relatively successful, surpassing the targeted goal.
Summer School Update
The Excelsior Springs Summer School program for 2023, as presented to the board by Anneliese Tadlock, was considered beneficial for many students in the Excelsior Springs School District. The report provided an overview of various aspects of the program, including staff, enrollment, attendance, discipline, extra activities/field trips, strengths/weaknesses, start and end times, and bus transportation. Here are the key points from each section:
Staff:
Elementary: The program employed 19 certified elementary teachers, four para-professionals, two secretaries, and one registered nurse.
Secondary: The Middle School employed 16 certified teachers, and the High School had nine full-time teachers for ACT Prep and Human Performance courses.
Enrollment and Attendance:
Elementary: The program started with an enrollment of 358 full-time students from incoming kindergarten through 5th grade. As of June 20th, 344 students were still attending, with a decrease of 130 students compared to the previous year’s end-of-program enrollment.
Secondary: The Middle School had an enrollment of 222 full-time students from incoming 6th through 8th grade, which decreased to a consistent range of 188-154 students. The High School had 54 full-time students in the ACT Prep course and 76 students in the Human Performance course.
Discipline Summary:
The use of the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) program contributed to maintaining consistent office referrals over the past two summers. A total of 12 students were referred to the office for disciplinary purposes, and 6 students were dismissed from summer school due to multiple offenses.
Extra Activities/Field Trips:
Camp Wilderness had six off-campus field trips for Middle School students, while the functional classroom had one field trip. Each elementary student received a free book from the Excelsior Springs Mid-Continent Public Library for meeting the reading challenge during summer school.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
The program allowed teachers to meet individual student needs and keep them engaged in learning experiences. The integration of science into enrichment classes was well-received, and students participated actively. The emphasis on behavior expectations and the use of Positive Behavior Support (PBS) positively influenced student behavior.
Start and End Times:
Start times were staggered to accommodate bus scheduling, and the Middle School dismissed 15 minutes earlier than the Elementary School to facilitate timely bus loading and transportation.
Bus Transportation:
Tadlock said the program faced challenges in coordinating bus transportation due to changes in routes and bus lists. However, after a few days of working together, the correct bus assignments were established, and transportation became more efficient. Overall, the report reflected a successful summer school program with positive student engagement, supportive staff, and a focus on meeting individual student needs.
2023-2024 Salary Step Increase
The last item on the agenda was the approval of the salary step increase for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Dr. Tomlinson explained that it is customary to review the financial situation at the end of the fiscal year before deciding on salary adjustments. After careful consideration, it was recommended to the board that a 3% salary step increase be given to all eligible employees in the district, including both certified and classified staff.
The motion passed unanimously.
Farewell, Dr. Gross
It was the last board meeting for Dr. Heather Gross who accepted a job as superintendent for the Crest Ridge Johnson County R-VII School District. Dr. Christen Everett has been hired to fill the position of Superintendent of Student Services beginning July 1, 2023.
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