Gallatin R-5 school board minutes

Gallatin R-5 set the tax levy at $3.8021 following the Tax Rate Hearing on Aug. 16. The levy is the same as last year’s. Board of Education members received the final budget report from Superintendent James Ruse. The year ended with a $29,000 positive addition to the balance.

A bid from Herzog Construction for asphalt repair was approved during the regular meeting. The repair is for the south driveway only, from Olive Street to where the buses are parked. The existing two lane roadway will include an overlay added to preserve it, at a cost of $13,750.

The new bus is expected to arrive in early September.

The fence around the football field is complete at a cost of about $7,000, with $3,000 of that amount donated by the Gallatin Lions Club. Work on skylights at the elementary building was completed at a cost of $6,200. The skylights were redone in order to reduce the number of vents in the roof and thus prevent future leaks.

FCCLA was present to give a report on the national contest held at Anaheim, Calif.

The board discussed the possibility of offering a monetary award for perfect staff attendance.

A board policy regarding conflict of interest and financial disclosure was approved.

Mr. Ruse reported on SB319, a mandatory retention bill at the fourth grade level for students one grade level below reading. The bill changes the law established in 1999 and is part of the state and national comprehensive approach to reading. Students may be retained, with the exception of special education students and those subject to teacher recommendation. Parents will be notified of all tutorial services and other programs offered by the school before the decision to retain is implemented. The bill will not go into effect until details have been worked out at the state level and a more thorough plan is in place.

Bills in the amount of $153,499 were approved for payment. The ledger report was given with year to date expenditures from July 1.

Bus routes were approved and a contract offered to Karla Michener as bus driver.

Betty Gooding will be the school’s special education aid.

Mr. Ruse discussed Gov. Holden’s executive order regarding collective bargaining. Several state agencies are considering challenging that order, including Farm Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA), Missouri Association of School Administration (MASA), Missouri State Board of Administrators(MSBA), Missouri Municipal League, Associated Industries of Missouri, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Missouri Merchants and Manufacturers Association, Missouri Probation and Parole Officers Association and Missouri Associated Builders and Contractors.

The annual Secretary of the Board Report, an overall financial picture for the district, was approved and forwarded to the state.

All members were present at the August regular meeting.

During the regular board meeting held in July, Mr. Ruse went over a new contract for copy machines. The new lease on three copy machines for a three year period was less than the amount paid for the previous three years.

Policy handbooks were approved. Lunch prices were left the same as last year.

The board received a report on summer school.

Mr. Ruse attended a superintendent’s meeting Aug. 5-6-7