Board Highlights
November 11, 2002

The board was introduced to several of the staff members new to the district this year. Those present were:

Kirsti Place - K-12 media specialist
Wendy Mueller - special education aide
Marji Smith - special education aide
Katie Roys - special education aide
Kim Bell - special education aide
Approved a request from a teacher for 1.5 days of unpaid leave in November.

Approved the following recommendations for employment:
Trent Eckstaine:  9th grade boys basketball coaching position

Mr. Richard Steffen: teacher for Western Civilization I and II courses during the 3rd and 4th terms of this school year. These courses are offered through Iowa Central Community College and students receive dual credit upon successful completion.

Approved the following staff members to serve as volunteer coaches at various times during the upcoming winter sports season:

Girls Basketball: Kyle Galetich, Gary Nelson, Steve Olson and Jim Klein.
Wrestling: Todd Coy.
Approved two open enrollment requests into the district for 2003-04, a kindergarten student from Northeast Hamilton and a 2nd grade student from Hubbard-Radcliffe.

Approved the nominations of the following students for the Board Recognition Award for their achievements:

All-State Music selections: Brandon Holtan (choir) and Lynsey Carlson (band)
Girls State Cross Country Qualifiers: Ivy Arends, Emily Boyd, Felicia Buck, Jenna Neuman, Samantha Reinsch, and Ariana Wolf.
Discussed the need for the Instructional Support Levy, which expires at the end of June, 2003. The board reviewed various funding scenarios and the impact of increasing the levy by 1%. Supt. Kinley provided an overview of the types of technology expenditures previously supported through state technology funds that have been eliminated this year. Renewal of this levy will be very important to the district's ability to meet these needs and to maintain its program. The board will consider a resolution of intent to renew the instructional support levy at its December 9 meeting and establish the date for a public hearing on the resolution at that time.

Agreed to maintain the fee charged to students for summer driver's education at the same rate ($175/student) for the upcoming 2003 summer session.

Approved a proposal from Steve Olson and Gary Nelson, teachers in the Agriculture and Industrial Technology department, to upgrade several equipment items in the vocational agriculture and industrial technology programs at a net cost of $3,782.80. These expenditures will be financed through PPEL funds.

Reviewed responses to survey questions submitted by the Hubbard-Radcliffe board pertaining to any interest in possible cooperative planning and change efforts with Hubbard-Radcliffe. The survey was submitted to neighboring districts in preparation for future focus group discussions in the H-R district.

The board discussed the components of a concept proposal that is being developed that involves planning options for the future of the district. The board has extended an invitation to the board members from the Northeast Hamilton and Hubbard-Radcliffe districts to meet in the very near future to share these ideas for discussion and consideration.

Elementary principal Paul Hemphill reported that fall Parent-Teacher conferences went well and were very well attended.

Middle/high school principal Steve Gray reported that eight South Hamilton students were honored earlier in the evening at the Rotary Leadership Banquet in Webster City.

Supt. Kinley reported that the Neff Company has been asked to develop artwork and design ideas for banners that could be placed in the school gymnasium recognizing the achievements of South Hamilton athletic teams throughout the 45-year history of the district.

Mr. Kinley reported that the South Hamilton School Foundation's Waffle Dinner and Silent Auction was very successful last Thursday night. Approximately 295 people were served and the silent auction raised $1947 in support of the mini-grant program and field trip funding.