Board of Education Hears Security Recommendations

Dave Tangeman of FileSafe, Records Management & Security Systems, representative from Salina presented security recommendations for the Beloit Jr./Sr. High School Building and the Beloit Elementary School at the Beloit USD 273 Board of Education meeting Monday night.

The FileSafe Company comes well recommended in the City of Beloit as they have installed their security system at the First National Bank, the Mitchell County Jail, the Special Education Building, and the Mitchell County Courthouse. They have also just finished a system for Sunflower Manufacturing Co.

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joseph Harrison, introduced Tangeman and said the two have met, worked, talked and revamped the plan and recommendations many times over the last few months. Tangeman also met with BJSHS Principal Daryl Moore and BES Principal Byron Marshall and went through the two buildings and discussed how to best provide safety for the children attending there.

Tangeman also answered questions the board had and listened to the suggestions they made. There are many options that can be added if the need arises to do so. The main thing is access control, which involves automated doors, key cards for staff and other approved personnel to allow entrance to the buildings.
Automated front doors would allow schools to be open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:05 and then remain secured by lock down measures during the hours the schools are in session.

A video intercom and push button system would be installed at the south and west doors of the High School. While the grade school has better vision from the front entrance that entrance and side door would both be controlled. A motion detection sensor would alert someone approaching from the main door and set off a bell. Panic bars would be installed in case emergency exits were needed.

Camera surveillance at the high school was discussed with a video screen in the principal's office as a deterrent or disciplinary measure to keep students from abusing this rule. Sixteen to 32 camera points were discussed. One of the cameras would be focused on the south parking lot. This would give the school pretty good night illumination. Tangeman discussed the prices of the various systems and options for the board to consider.

Several present talked about the passing of Anita Woerner, who has been a Para at the Junior/Senior High School, in Mrs. McQueen's room. They all mentioned the terrific job she did as a teacher and how much she will be missed. Anita was the wife of Kent Woerner, the technology director in the school system. Her funeral will be Wednesday at 10:30 at the Lutheran Church in Linn, Kansas. Around 20 from the school system will be attending the funeral.

During his Superintendent's report, Dr. Harrison, gave the board a Legislative update. The Kansas Legislature finished their session last Friday and will be back on Wednesday, May 8 for a veto session. The Governor and the Legislators still do not have a budget or a tax plan. He did not discuss specific bills since he said they will be changing and dumping various parts of bills together during the veto session.

Dr. Harrison referenced an article in last Friday's Salina Journal that listed Beloit as having one of the highest per pupil expenses and said he wanted to put this into the proper context. "Every school system in the State of Kansas is unique but the Legislators like to lump us all together for a comparison. Since Beloit is an area Special Education Coop, we run the finances of 5 school districts through our budget. These are all run through the General Fund. These include Waconda, Rock Hills, Sylvan and Lincoln Schools that are all part of this co-op. When these amounts are taken out of the Beloit School system budget, this puts us down to around $12,817 a student; which is right in the middle of the other schools in the State," he told the board.

Dr. Harrison said, the summer school sessions would start the Tuesday after Memorial Day and run for five weeks. There will be a new members workshop on April 18, and he suggested newly elected board member, Monty Wessling, who was present at the meeting, might want to attend, as it is good information.

Hunter Post, Student Council President, reported the council had a You Drive It event with Beloit Truck and Auto Plaza and St. John's High. He said it is an easy fundraiser and he thanked Truck and Auto Plaza and St. John's for their part in allowing them to do it. Student elections are underway. April 24 will be the primary with the general election the first hour on the 25th. Beloit relays are April 26, and Stuco is planning a breakfast for all the teachers that morning.

The Prom Banquet will be held at the Beloit Country Club this year. Hunter was chosen as one out of 16 to represent Beloit High as a Councilor at Student Council Camp this summer. Principal Moore stood to commend Post as heading the most active Student Council he has seen in the last four or five years he has been here. Post attended every board meeting except one during that time, he said.

During Administrators reports Principal Moore said they have completed their State Assessment Tests in Writing, Reading and Math tests and the students have done really well this year. Spring Sports season is in full swing. There are 40 boys and 27 girls out for track, 18 out for golf, 23 girls out for softball and 27 boys out for the baseball team.

Principal Moore especially thanked Charlie Lawrence and ALCO for donating about $20,000 worth of hardware to the school. AlCO changed their vender and had to dispose of their old merchandise. This was everything from paint, tools, light bulbs, nails and screws. The shop and maintenance people really appreciate it too, he said.

Principal Byron Marshall reported on events at his building. State Assessments in Math are almost complete. Science tests will be given in a few weeks for 4th grade so testing should be finished by May 1. Body Venture was a big project and a big success. He thanked all the volunteers, parents, and school organizations that helped with it. The field trip frenzy will be starting soon. They will have three teachers helping with summer school. He explained how that process will work.

Mr. Marshall handed out Brennan Eilert's PTO report as she couldn't attend.
PTO officers for next year are President: Brennan Eilert; Vice President: Heather File; Secretary: Jennifer Adolph and Treasurer: Tammy Emmot. Their last Pizza Hut Fundraiser is Monday April 15. The last box top competition ends May 3. Staff Appreciation Week is May 6 through the 10th.

Karen Niemczyk, Special Education Coop Director is recovering from surgery.

In other business: The hearing and Vision Impaired Contract was approved. The contract with the Kansas Association of School Boards was approved. A new job description for a Director of Buildings and Grounds was approved. Math Textbooks Adoption Updates were given and Capital Outlay Expenditures for the 2013-2014 school year were discussed. Two executive sessions were held to discuss personnel matters and the meeting adjourned.