Hume schools must replace 24 stolen basketball uniforms

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

Both boys and girls basketball uniforms were stolen from the Hume high school gymnasium last month after someone broke in through the back door, but Hume R-8 Superintendent Ryan Huff said that no additional information was available on the theft.

Huff said two sets of uniforms were taken, 12 boys and 12 girls uniforms in all. So, the district has decided to replace the missing uniforms. The good news is that the replacements will eliminate the need for the district to purchase a full set when the current uniforms need replacement, the school will only have to purchase half as many. The bad news is the new uniforms won't match the old ones. "The original cost for all of the uniforms was $7,000," Huff said. "The uniforms to replace the stolen ones will cost $3,100 to $3,600."

The theft and replacement of uniforms was one of several items discussed by the Hume-R-8 board school board Tuesday, March 15. Another concern brought before the board centered around the schools aging jungle gym. Donita Davis, PTO representative, spoke to the board about her concerns. Davis said the bars were too narrow, the structure is too high, concrete is showing and there is insufficient pea gravel.

Davis said the PTO would pay for the removal of the jungle gym and replace it with a carport building to provide shade and enable classes to study outside.

The future of the jungle gym is still up in the air. The board voted on two motions, one was to remove the jungle gym and one was to keep it. Both motions failed because each ended in a 3 to 3 tie.

Huff told the board that there were leaks in the social studies room on the high school side of the building and in the kindergarten, fourth and fifth grade rooms on the east side of the elementary school. The board discussed repairing the leaks and voted to do so

The board discussed the proposed calendar for the 2005-'06 school year. They talked over the benefits and drawbacks of starting the year later, shortening the winter break and adding a day after Easter. After the discussion the board voted to keep the calendar as proposed by the administration with no changes.

The board also reviewed the senior trip itinerary for the trip to Branson. The seniors will leave May 8 at 3 p.m. and return May 16 at 2 p.m. They're scheduled to visit Silver Dollar City and take a ride on the Branson Belle as well as going shopping and taking advantage of other diversions at the tourist resort.

The board spent time considering the proposed new foundation formula from the legislature.

The new formula would categorize the Hume R-8 School District as a "hold harmless" district.

Hold harmless districts don't lose funds to the same extent as other districts if the state withholds funds.

However, a hold harmless district cannot use a local levy to raise new funds, and any increase in a local levy would decrease the money the district receives through state funding. Currently the district has an operational levy of $3.90 and a debt service levy of $1.

Huff told the board there are several school districts with the same problem.

Larger districts classified as hold harmless can continue to operate more easily due to their large tax base and high student populations, making them more efficient.

Huff said that the district needs an influx of students, more special education students or more English as Second Language students to help leverage more money from the state.

Many of the larger school districts could pull out of the pending lawsuit filed by the Committee for Educational Equality if the proposed legislation passes since they would receive a substantial increase under the new formula, Huff said.

One potential solution Huff said apparently under discussion by some is the consolidation of some smaller school districts.

"Consolidation is not officially being talked about by the state legislature," Huff said. "However, many state school organizations and educational leaders are hearing that consolidation is being talked about behind closed doors."

State Rep. Barney Fisher said during a recent address of the Nevada Rotary Club that he has "not heard that word (consolidation) in Jefferson City one time, " although he's been made aware of the rumors Huff referred to relating to consolidation.

Huff said that consolidation might not be mandated by law but districts may be forced into the situation out of necessity.