Action - Fort Osage Board of Education

The Fort Osage Board of Education meets the second Tuesday of each month. The board met Aug. 12, 2008, and took the following action (all actions were unanimous unless otherwise noted):

• Recognized Ryan Matt and Steve Mullally for their ongoing support of the district.
• Andre Montgomery, McCune School Coordinator, reported on programs and activities at the school. He said a recent survey showed favorable reviews of the school’s literacy and advisory programs.
• Evaluations were made on the At-Risk and Title IV programs, including the success of student support teams, which are individualized to student based on his or her needs.
• Assistant Superintendent Jeff White reviewed information regarding the district’s responsibilities as outlined by IDEA and No Child Left Behind.
• A brief report was given on the Annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators held August 3 to 5. The conference is sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and was attended by Larry Ewing along with assistant superintendents Jan Davis, John Ruddy and Jeff White. The highlights, according to Davis, included a parents as teachers presentation and career education program.
• A report was given on projects in phase one of Vision 2020. According to Ruddy, the crossing arm at the railroad crossing to Indian Trails Elementary on Bundschu Road has been installed, and 95 percent of the renovation work on the district’s four elementary schools is complete.
• Approved the following MCE board policies as read at the July 8 board meeting: bullying, fraud prevention, email records and electronically stored information record.
• Approved the following tuition rates for the 2008-09 school year: Kindergarten to 8 ($9,288.16) and 9 to 12 ($10,478.49). This is the cost of education per student.
• Recommended a special board meeting be scheduled for Aug. 25 at 7:30 a.m. for the annual tax rate hearing.
• Approved 2008-09 student handbooks containing the district student discipline plan for grades K to 12. Copies of the handbooks are available for inspection through the education services office.
• Adopted the Missouri Consultants for Education board policy manual for the 2008-09 school year.
• Approved agreement between the Fort Osage School District and the Missouri School Boards’ Association for school district administrative claiming services.
• Approved the transportation routes for the 2008-09 school year.
• Approved payment in the amount of $519,786.09 to Straub Construction for work at the Indian Trails Elementary School.
• Approved payment in the amount of $599,130.49 to J&M Contracting, Inc. for the work being done at the four current elementary schools and the Career Technology Center as outlined in phase one of Vision 2020.
• Approved bid in the amount of $3,572.25 to Alexander Open System for network switches for VOIP installation.
• Approved bid in the amount of $23,402 to Apple Computers for computers and servers.
• Approved bid in the amount of $6,264 to Atomic Learning for Atomic Learning online subscription.
• Approved bid in the amount of $16,170 to Boone Bros. Roofing for roofing materials for Buckner Elementary.
• Approved the hiring of Karol Kleine as counselor at Elm Grove Elementary, Lisa Long as music teacher at Fire Prairie Middle School and Joseph Lutes as elementary teacher at Indian Trails Elementary.

– Hugh Welsh