The Worth County School Board approved putting a $520,000 bond issue on the ballot for the April election after meeting with Roger Adamson of L.J. Hart, who would be handling the bonds. Superintendent Matt Robinson said that the next step would be presenting information to various community groups around the county. It would involve a 25-cent increase to the debt service levy and passage would require a 4/7 majority. Robinson and board members said that the money would use to pay off a lease that the school is currently making payments on so that it would free up money to cover operating costs for the school. The school has not raised their levy since the mid-1990’s. The bond will be a 10 year bond that will be paid off in 2021.
If the bond issue passes, the school will have the bond money by the first of June. There would be no principal payments for the first year; then, the principal would kick in. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would withhold payments to the school and make the bond payments for the school; the school would then recoup the money through the debt service levy. The bonds would be rated AA+ by bonding agencies, which would mean lower interest rates for the school.
If the school’s assessed valuation were to go up, the school would be able to pay off the bonds early. If it were to drop, the school could raise their debt service levy just enough so that the bond could still be paid off. State revenue from utilities will be used to help pay off 20% of the bond. Bonds will be issued in $5,000 increments and local banks would have first crack at them. There is no penalty if the school were to pay them off early; if the school were to pay them off early, board member Richard Mullock said that would create a track record in voters’ minds of being able to pay off bonds early.
The board voted to allow Superintendent Matt Robinson to use February 21st and March 18th as snow makeup days at his discretion; there were two snow days recently including Thursday morning.
The board 6-1 voted to award the mowing bid to Anthony Steinhauser for mowing all of the school grounds but the football and softball fields, which will be bid separately; the cost would be $275 per mow for the next three mowing seasons. The school would contact Steinhauser whenever they need the school grounds to be mowed. Steinhauser will carry liability insurance. Board Member Terry Green voted against the motion, saying that he felt that the school should have stayed with Kevin Kobbe, who had previously mowed the school grounds.
The board appointed the Missouri School Boards Association to assist the board in its superintendents’ search. The board will have the final say in the decision to hire the new superintendent.
The board appointed Angela Hoepker and Bailey Green to the substitute teacher list contingent on passing background checks. The board assessed a 1% penalty to Superintendent Robinson for his early resignation and voted to pay him $500 for his early notification for a balance due of $350, which board members said was in line with present board policy.
The Board passed several policies, including Policy 2130 on harassment:
It is the policy of the District to maintain a learning environment that is free from harassment because of an individual's race, color, sex, national origin, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or perceived sexual orientation. The School District prohibits any and all forms of unlawful harassment and discrimination because of race, color, sex, national origin, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or perceived sexual orientation.
It shall be a violation of District policy for any student, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel of this District to harass or unlawfully discriminate against a student through conduct of a sexual nature, or regarding race, color, sex, national origin, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or perceived sexual orientation as defined by this Policy.
It shall also be a violation of District policy for any teacher, administrator, or other school personnel of this District to tolerate sexual harassment or harassment because of a student's race, color, sex, national origin, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or perceived sexual orientation, as defined by this Policy, by a student, teacher, administrator, other school personnel, or by any third parties who are participating in, observing, or otherwise engaged in activities, including sporting events and other extracurricular activities, under the auspices of the School District.
For purposes of this Policy, the term "school personnel" includes school board members, school employees, agents, volunteers, contractors, or persons subject to the supervision and control of the District.
The school system and District officials, including administrators, teachers, and other staff members will act to promptly investigate all complaints, either formal or informal, verbal or written, of unlawful harassment or unlawful discrimination because of race, color, sex, national origin, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or perceived sexual orientation; to promptly take appropriate action to protect individuals from further harassment or discrimination; and, if it determines that unlawful harassment or discrimination occurred, to promptly and appropriately discipline any student, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel who is found to have violated this Policy, and/or to take other appropriate action reasonably calculated to end the harassment/discrimination.
The District prohibits retaliation against a person who files a complaint of discrimination or harassment, and further prohibits retaliation against persons who participate in related proceedings or investigations.
A complete list of board policies passed at Thursday’s meeting can be found at http://webschooltools.com/schools/worthcounty/boardmeeting/meetings.php and clicking on the January 21st regular meeting.
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