Unofficial summary of the Board of Education meeting held April 4, 2022.
ACTION ITEMS:
Agenda/Consent Agenda. The Board approved the Agenda and Consent Agenda with the following change:
- Addition of item “D. Naming of DHS Softball Field” under “VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS.”
Auditor RFP. Julie Stucky, Director of Finance, shared results of a Request for Proposals for an accounting firm to conduct the school district’s annual, independent fiscal audit. The Board accepted the low bid from Varney & Associates.
Land Purchase. Steve Deghand, Assistant Superintendent of Facilities & Operations, told the Board that in 2018 district patrons passed a bond issue that included 39 projects. He said at this point the district is just about finished with all of the projects. Mr. Deghand then explained that $5 million in bond funds were set aside for the purchase of land for future schools. He shared the process the administration uses to identify where the district needed to look for land. He then presented the Board with an offer to purchase approximately 150 acres near 127th and Waverly Road in Olathe and said the estimated purchase price is $1.65 million, just under $11,000 per acre. Superintendent Harwood explained that the land was advertised as 150.7 acres, but until it is surveyed the exact size of the property is not known. While it will be several years before the property is needed, it speaks to the long-term planning that is necessary to be prepared for future needs. The Board approved moving forward with a contract with B & C Land and Cattle Company, LLC, for the purchase of approximately 150 acres at 30400 W. 127th Street, Olathe in the amount of $10,951.22 per acre.
Construction Management Contract Reassignment. Steve Deghand said the district entered into a contract with Manning Construction in 2012 and has a good working relationship with the construction company up to this point. He said last week owner Tom Manning called to announce he is planning to retire and has decided to sell his company to the Russell Group out of Iowa. Mr. Deghand said there will not be any change in project manager or site superintendent, and commitment to finishing remaining bond projects will remain. He said the only change will be ownership of the company. The Board took action to give Manning Construction consent to assign the school district’s current Construction Management Agreement to the Russell Group, Inc. of Davenport, Iowa.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Social Studies Materials. Michelle Hite, Director of Elementary Curriculum & Instruction/Accreditation, gave the Board an update on the elementary Social Studies adoption process and Dr. Joe Kelly, Director of Secondary Curriculum & Instruction/Title Programs, gave the Board an update on the secondary Social Studies adoption process.
Kansas Education Systems Accreditation/Outside Visiting Team Update. Michelle Hite gave the Board a Kansas Education Systems Accreditation end of cycle report. She noted that the school district has reached the end of the 5-year accreditation process and will be fully accredited once the recommendation from the Outside Visiting Team is approved by the State Board of Education.
Legislative Update. Superintendent Harwood gave the Board an update on Senate Bills that have been passed in the Kansas legislature that could have an impact on public schools. He also shared status of School Finance legislation.
Naming of DHS Softball Field. Board member Bill Fletcher asked administration to look into the possibility of naming the new softball field at De Soto High School in honor of a deceased, former employee. Superintendent Harwood said the administration would gather more information and report back to the Board at a future meeting.
Next Meeting
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be Monday, May 2, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., at the Board of Education / Administrative Office.
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