In executive session Monday night, the Holden R-III School Board accepted the resignation of high school principal Matt Lindsey who is leaving to assume the position of principal of North Kansas City High School.  Lindsey, who has been principal of HHS for the past five years, will finish this school year at Holden before he takes the reins at NKCHS.

In other business, the board voted to cease legal means to ascertain the proper amount the district is owed by Johnson County for funds from the Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI) power plant.

In the matter of monies owed the district in lieu of taxes from AECI, district superintendent Scott Slava explained to the board that he had received a telephone call from county commissioner Scott Sader saying that he had located a document showing the intent of the original commission was that Holden should receive $87,814.

The document was apparently found by Sader in a file drawer in the commissioner’s office according to other media reports.

Slava had maintained that by an average of tax levies, the amount should be approximately $88,500, while the present commission had held that the amount should be approximately $42,000.

Slava told the board that the commission would honor the original figures and  send their apologies to the board.  The Holden Image had been notified of the document by Western Commissioner Destry Hough last week as well.

According to a letter sent to the district from the Johnson County commissioners, Holden R-III will receive the December 2006 payment in December 2007.  They will then receive the December 2007 payment in February 2008 and then receive each successive year’s payment in February for the remainder of the 15-year period.

Slava reported that he thanked Sader for calling him and school board president Jeff Miller asked Slava to relay the board’s “apology accepted” to the commission.

Also during the superintendent’s report, Slava updated the board on the school’s conference decision progress.  He stated that he would have to give the Missouri River Valley Conference and answer by the middle of April whether Holden will join that league. 

He also said that part of his decision-making process depended on the answers received from the three schools that were invited to join the Show-Me West Conference.  Slava said that they have had a yes and a no so far, but the final school to answer will weigh heavily on his decision to join the MRVC or stay with the SMWC.

In new business, the superintendent presented the board his preliminary budget for the 2007-2008 year.  The budget calls for expected expenditures to be $14,084,320, with projected revenues to be $13,298,441.  Giving the district a deficit spending amount of $785,879.  This according to Slava is less than had been projected.

Part of the preliminary budget includes a $1,150 per year raise of teachers’ base salaries.  The increase brings the starting salary of an R-III teacher with a bachelor’s degree to be $30,000.

Representing the teachers, middle school instructor Tonni Cannon was present at the meeting and asked that the increase be raised to $1,500, but Slava recommended the $1,150 figure which the board passed.

He said, “I agree that the teachers do deserve more money, but with our present budget restraints, I feel that the recommended increase is what we should stay with.”

In another area, Slava reported to the board that four middle schoolers have received state recognition in the 2007 Duke University TIP Talent program.  They are Colby Bales, Elan Buckley, Keith Henke and Chase West.

In a final item, Holden High School was once again chosen by the Missouri State High School Activities Association as an MSHSAA Leadership School for the 2006-2007 school year.  In the letter to Kelli Spies, R-III activities director, it states, “the distinction demonstrates that Holden High School truly believes in and emphasizes sportsmanship, citizenship, leadership and respect in its activities programs.”

By Steve Sullins
Editor

 
R. L. Phillips Construction, Inc., of Raymore, was the successful bidder on the high school renovation project and was awarded the contract in the amount of $4,500,330 at the regular meeting of the Holden R-III School Board Monday night.

The pre-finished casework contract in the amount of $128,667 was awarded to S & W Cabinets, while Lyon Workspace Products received the contract to provide lockers.  That contract was in the amount of $29,000.

A final contract in the amount of $159,317 was awarded to Feller’s Fixtures for kitchen equipment.

Grand total of the awards was $4,817,314.

Last week, the board had requested that Wade Lininger, of Sam Winn & Associates Architects,  ask R. L. Phillips to take a voluntary price reduction on the project, but in a letter to him, the company stated that they had already built-in a “reduced cost that was reflected in our initial proposal, which incorporated a reduced amount for the general conditions and a minimal profit margin.”

Lininger stated that since their original bid was nearly $400,000 less than the closest bidder, he was inclined to agree with them.  “They did their homework up front to get the best price for the district,” explained Lininger.

The architect stated he will plan to arrange a pre-construction meeting with all parties concerned the middle of next week.

The Holden Chamber of Commerce received a presentation from representatives of Meals on Wheels announcing their upcoming fundraising Miles for Meals Walkathon. The event will take place Saturday, April 28 at 8 a.m. with registration at the Holden Senior Center.

The walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. Walkers will return to the center where breakfast will be served. Chamber members were given literature to display at their businesses. The Miles for Meals committee has a goal of $8,000. Packets are going to the churches and the schools will be receiving their own special packets. Last year the kids made more than $600 for them.

Another guest at the meeting was Lisa Mosher from Whiteman Air Force Base. She thanked the chamber on behalf of the 509th Mission Support Squadron and expressed her gratitude for the holiday party.

In committee reports, Pat Zvacek for the Fair committee said they have not met yet but are interacting with internet meetings and working on a theme. The dates changed to September 13, 14 and 15 because of the new carnival.

The membership committee reports that letters have gone out to businesses with an updated application.  Everyone is encouraged to get membership information filled out and returned.

The Park committee reported the third order of pavers will be submitted. More information can be obtained on line at www.holdenchamber.com according to chamber president Dennis Mason. It was also announced that the Masonic Lodge may add another bench to the park.

Mason reported the Community Betterment committee progress has been slow going, trying to get on track. They are working on placing directional signs for city hall and the schools in city entrance points to direct visitors.

The history book committee reported they have had a great response on the book. There are a final 335 pages with 400 family stories. The price is now at $60 with the books due in August. The book contains the history of 35 area schools and 90 pages are devoted to military members.

The Economic Development committee has completed a fourth draft for comprehensive planning and zoning. It has gone to the city council.

In old business, members voted to move the annual banquet date with only one dissenting vote. It will now be in January instead of the rush after Thanksgiving. This move will also place the banquet in the membership calendar year.

In new business, Jenny Sollars and Jill Farnsworth will be organizing the sesquicentennial activities. A public meeting date will be announced. One date is set, with April 24, 2008, being the three-day Civil War reenactment at the lake.

The next chamber general meeting will be at Harmony House 7 AM on May 3.

By Terri Vinck
News Staff