Nixon freeze impacts Bronaugh schools

Nevada Daily Mail

Governor Nixon's freeze of $1 billion will have a $34,000 impact on the Bronaugh school district, superintendent Lyle Best said at the Bronaugh Board of Education meeting Thursday.

"All the discussion that the foundation formula would be increased changed, and DESE says to expect similar funding as this year," Best said. "When we approved the budget, we were told to use 97 percent or 98 percent, now they say 93 percent."

Best added the decrease would have to be kept in mind and adjustments made accordingly.

In other business, Best discussed the procedure for distributing Chromebooks to the junior and senior class students. The Chromebooks were purchased with a donation by Lou Steele.

"The one-to-one initiative outlines the guidelines and expectations for use," he said. "We have the option for the students to take the computers home or not. You want them to be able to take them home, so they get the most out of it. Parents will have a $20 insurance fee for the first child, each additional child is $10. There is $50 deductible that will apply for damaged, lost or stolen Chromebooks. Lost or stolen laptops require parents to file a police report. If the student chooses not to pay the $20, the laptop stays at school."

Other polices adopted at the meeting included the policy of reporting student abuse, requiring sponsors and coaches to have a Missouri teaching certificate or meet the hardship requirements of MSHSAA, funding expectations for clubs, teaching standards and paying for unused vacation.

The board also approved updates to the staff handbook and mentoring handbook. Student handbook updates included excessive absences, dress codes and valedictorian requirements.

"The way the policy is written, we will likely not have a valedictorian or salutatorian from vo-tech," principal James Frank said. "That's because there's a requirement that the students take a certain amount of classes (in Bronaugh)."

The board members agreed to add Project Lead the Way courses, a three-year engineering program, and nursing program courses.

In other business, Best said the insurance review mainly recommended minor improvements to the school but did bring up the school's bleachers.

"They are requiring we put up some sort of rail for the bleachers," he said. "The solution they had is to not to go all the way up, just the first three or four rows. The rails don't need to be expensive."

In the facility report, Best said carpet had been replaced in the library, the gym floor had been refinished, work was being done on the wall in the special education room and the new computer labs were almost finished.

"We had a volunteer paint day," he said. "It really made a big difference, and we appreciate that. It looks pretty sharp. We did have some vandalism on July 4. We had some cans of paint that hadn't been put up and some kids made a mess on the sidewalk and on the building. They're not individuals we know, but a report was filed."

In other business, Frank recommended changing from MSHSAA membership to affiliation for junior high basketball.

"Our junior high numbers don't show there's enough to support a team," Best said. "An affiliate membership would allow you to bring a younger group in, sixth grade and up for boys basketball. Without that we may not have a team."

Frank said affiliation is not uncommon in Bronaugh-sized schools.

"If you become an affiliate member, you can remain an affiliate and nothing really changes," he said. "All other members and affiliates can still play you. As an affiliate you don't have to follow all the guidelines as a member. It makes sense in junior high, not high school, because you're not competing in state. We would only bring in the younger kids if we didn't have high enough numbers."

In his report, Best asked the board members to think of principles for the school's vision statement. He said he would also ask for input from students, teachers and parents.

"I thought it would make a more meaningful vision statement if different groups identify our school's core values," he said.

In other business, the board approved fuel, milk and pest control bids. They agreed to postpone a decision on propane after investigating propane tank ownership at the school.