Superintendent Kevin Coleman voiced concerns regarding the lack of a coach for Kingsville’s junior high basketball program during the regular meeting of the Kingsville R-1 Board of Education July 14.

According to Coleman, although the district has been searching for an individual to fill the position, they have been unable to find a coach for the teams yet.

Coleman said the coach must be certified or the district must have a certified person sitting on the bench during games. Board members suggested the names of several candidates to fill the position. Coleman said he would take the names under advisement and attempt to make contact with some of the individuals to assess for interest in the position.

In related business, board members discussed concerns about the number of junior high boys who have shown interest in participating in basketball this year. Concerns stemmed from hearing projections of 15-20 boys who are interested in the program.

Discussion was followed by the suggestion of holding tryouts to keep the number of boys on the team at 12. Another suggestion by board member Natalie Peterson was to continue with the regular team, but use the extra boys to play intramural games. The board tabled the issue until the next meeting in August.

In financial matters, Coleman presented bids for milk, bread and fuel for the upcoming school year, and the board approved the bids as presented.

In other financial matters, Coleman suggested the elementary playground be re-mulched for the safety of district students. “The big playground is pretty bare, as far as the mulch goes,” he commented. Coleman told the board he received a bid of $1,931 to mulch a 70 x 58 foot area, four feet deep. After some discussion the board agreed to purchase the mulch from Mulch Mart and make the necessary change to the playground for the safety of the children.

In related business, Coleman explained to the board the process of getting criminal background checks for new employees. “There is a $38 expense for this report, and I believe we should reimburse our employees this amount after their background check clears,” said Coleman.

Board member Wes Rutherford made a motion to approve reimbursement of non-certified employees 60 days after hire, and the board passed the motion. In addition, the board voted to reimburse substitute teachers for their background checks after they have worked a total of eight days for the district.

In other expenditures, vo-ag teacher John Ferguson told the board the department has received a grant to purchase a document projector and a digital camera for the vo-ag department. However, a condition of the grant is the district must match 25 percent of the cost. The board approved the expenditure.

In administrative reports, Coleman reported work on the fourth grade classroom is continuing in order to assure computers are ready for the first day of school.

Coleman also reported the school district recently received the highest accreditation possible during a state review. Areas of concern included the lack of a pre-school program and a low percentage of participation in the Parents as Teachers program.

In other reports, Ferguson reported that Kingsville students received 33 out of 48 ribbons at the Johnson County Fair. In addition, three of the students received grand champion awards for projects and/or animals displayed. According to Ferguson, the students will be competing at the State Fair in August.

In other business, the board discussed possible dates for “Back-to-School night.” Board members discussed the possibility of holding the event before school starts for the elementary students and after school starts for high school students. A decision was tabled until the next meeting.

The regular meeting was adjourned and the board went into executive session. The next regular meeting of the Kingsville R-1 Board of Education will be August 11.

By Dana Neubert
Staff Writer

Recent contamination to the water reservoir used as an irrigation system at Powell Gardens only caused damage to plants housed in their greenhouse according to Callen Zind, public relations specialist.

“Plants in the ground were not affected. The reason the plants were affected in the greenhouse is because they are watered more often and the soil is mixed which makes them absorb the water faster,” said Zind.

Zind says the problem arose several months ago when the power company sprayed weeds on an easement which goes through the complex. After spraying, Zind says it rained over three inches and they believe the runoff caused the problem.

Once the problem was detected, Zind says an alternative source of water has been used and testing continues on the reservoir.

“We plan to keep things in check and figure out what is going on,” she added. “We want to make sure everyone realizes the gardens were not damaged as the problem was contained to the greenhouse plants.”

Zind also added the reservoir is only used for irrigation purposes and is not utilized as a source of drinking water at the complex.

“We will continue further testing and will not use the water until our test show it is clear.”

By Rusty Hartwell
Publisher

It is not uncommon for people to seek divine intervention for life’s problems and concerns. Even on the big screen, the movie’s heroine can be seen dropping to her knees, face to the sky, praying for God’s help in her time of need.

The second week in August, area church members and other citizens will be taking a more proactive approach to prayer, when a 24-hour, seven day prayer vigil will be held at Holden First United Methodist Church.

According to the church’s minister, Pastor Pat Kelley, the program, which is a worldwide effort, is designed to create more intimacy with God and encourage people to pray for their community and expect great things to happen. “This is something people all over the world have been doing,” he said. “Great things have happened in churches who have spent a great deal of time in prayer.”

Kelley said all area churches are invited as well as other citizens who want to participate. Each hour throughout the seven days, someone will be scheduled to pray. Topics the church groups are focusing on for prayer include community leaders, teachers, military, national leaders, the community in general and Christian community groups such as Holden’s Christian Youth and Family Alliance.

“We feel it’s important for a lot of different groups and churches to be praying united,” Kelly said. “We thought it would be a good way to get the community together.”

In addition to prayer time, Kelley said a number of events will be held at the church with a special focus on young people. “We want to pray with a particular focus on our young people as they go back to school,” Kelley added.

Anyone who is interested in signing up for a time slot to pray should call Kelley at the church 732-4718 or (816) 898-3449. In addition, individuals may call Kelley to inform him of prayer requests.

24/7 Prayer week will be held August 7-14 at Holden First United Methodist Church.

By Christi Stowe
News Editor

Holden R-3 Board of Education members voted to wait until March to seek bids for asphalt paving of a number of driveway and parking areas at the elementary, middle and high schools during their regular meeting last Thursday night.

Auxiliary Services Director Larry Arnone shared an estimated cost breakdown for the project provided by district architect Sam A. Winn and Associates. Winn broke the project into three areas and provided separate pricing estimates for each.

The first area to be asphalted would be a 3,210 square yard area extending from the elementary school to the outside of the high school kitchen. The estimate included removal of current gravel and installing four inches of asphalt over a four inch crushed rock base at a cost of $57,780.

The second area would include a 1,495 square yard area extending from the high school kitchen to the middle school driveway with the same specifications of the forementioned at a cost of $26,910.

The third estimate given by Winn is not for asphalting, but for providing an underground drain from an area outside of the high school boiler room. According to Arnone, the piping would alleviate a flooding problem in the boiler room and redirect the water to the athletics practice field. The cost estimate for placement of the drain is $13,500, which brings the total cost of the project to $98,190.

“I have some generic concerns I’d like the board to discuss in regards to the timing of this project,” District Superintendent Scott Slava said. “If we continue to roll this out, you’re going to have them tearing up the back of that (high school near football field) parking lot in September. Usually there is football and other events in the back of the high school and middle school... This probably should have been done last March. Bids should have been taken to have allowed it to be done in the summer.”

Slav told the board although his recommendation would be to wait on the project until next summer, he would proceed in whatever direction the board chose, noting the project had been on the board’s list of goals since last year.

“Is this something that is really necessary,” board member Renita Dougherty questioned. “This just seems like an awful lot of money for asphalt.”

Board president Jeff Miller told Dougherty the main motivation of the board to pursue the asphalting project is that the gravel is hard on the schools as far as tearing up carpet and floor, along with dust and the frequent need to change furnace filters because of collecting dust. “The gravel gets brought into the building, and it’s hard on carpets and hallways,” Miller commented.

Board member Mike Watterson said he considers the project to be an important one. “I know it’s expensive. It does cost a lot of money,” Watterson said, “but, I would hate to see us not do this. It has made such a big difference in the areas where we have done it so far.”

The board questioned Arnone about the possibility of price inflation between now and March when the board will advertise for bids. Arnone told the board to be prepared for a three to five percent increase due to rising fuel costs.

After a motion from board member Pat Zvacek, the board chose to table the issue until March when the district will advertise for bids on the project.

In executive business, the board accepted the resignation of district communication and grants coordinator Nathan Wittmaier as well as the hire of three district employees. The hire of Kim Hart, middle school and high school foreign language teacher was approved. In addition, Lela Davis will serve the district as a paraprofessional, and Terri Ridenhour was hired as a part-time day plus program assistant.

In reports, the board heard the annual food services report, which showed a positive balance in the district’s food budget of $60,797.21 left from the 2004-2005 school year.

Arnone contributed the stable financial status of the food services department to a strong push to use commodities as much as possible. Arnone said the food department has worked very hard to change recipes to include usage of commodities received from the state.

“This is great,” Watterson said. “We were running at a loss for several years. There has been a slight increase in charges, but that is not what has caused this.”

In addition, Arnone contributed the financial success of the program to faster reminders to parents when students have a negative balance approaching in their lunch account, allowing for faster correction of negative balances. The board voted to retain the current pricing schedule for school lunches for the 2005-2006 school year.

In other reports, Arnone presented the transportation report, noting the Holden R-3 Transportation Department meets the goals set forth by the school board to provide a safe, efficient and consistent means of transportation for students in the district.

Arnone told the board every driver must have a drug test screening, pass a criminal history check and obtain a current CDL license to be qualified to operate a bus for the district. In addition, Holden bus drivers met with representatives of the Missouri State Highway Patrol last April in order to secure an “S” endorsement on their licenses in lieu of a bus permit card. Arnone said the district hosted the bus drivers from neighboring districts, as well, in order to provide a testing site for all area bus drivers.

Arnone pointed out one new school bus route has been added in the north Kingsville area for the 2005-2006 school year, which will alleviate bus crowding on other routes in that area. The route will transport Day Plus program students, students who attend a daycare on AA Highway and will travel and make stops along Road 530.

In other business, the board voted to accept a bid from Sunnyside Dairy in Harrisonville to provide milk for the next school year. In addition, a bread bid was accepted from Interstate Brands Corporation in Springfield, and a bid was accepted from MFA Oil Company in Warrensburg for fuel for the 2005-2006 school year.

In other business, the board approved an increase in the district’s mileage reimbursement rates in order to fall in with the state average. The new rate will be 38 cents per mile.

The next regular meeting of the Holden R-3 Board of education will be August 11 at 7 p.m. The meeting will include a brief tax hearing.

By Christi Stowe
News Editor
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