December 9, 2019 at 7:00 PM - Okarche Regular Board Meeting

Discussion:  Events: 
Christmas program Thursday 6:30pm
Band concert Monday 6:30.  Both at old gym
AR Parties next week.  End of semester Christmas parties Dec 20th
Basketball- game away at Cimarron at 4:30pm.
Quiz bowl meet at elem last week.  First place was Banner.  We got second and third out of five teams.  
Game trailer at the school for fundraiser participants.  
Put band out last week in the new classrooms.  It's going well.  The sound proofing is working good.  Youth action council has been asked to speak in January at the city meeting.  Benchmark testing- 3rd round of star testing this week.  Finishing 2nd round of Dibels.
 

Discussion:  Basketball in full swing.  6-1 girls, 5-2 boys.  Garber tourn this weekend.  Brenna Crider was selected to All region band.  Saturday- band marched in the first Christmas parade.  First lego league made it to State- next Saturday.  FTC qualified for state Feb 21-22.  Several students FFA speech for state.  Jaycee Taylor placed 5th at the state comp.  Sporting Clays had 6 who made it to state.  This weekend on Sunday at 1:30pm is the Speech team Christmas program.  Monday we are doing performances for the school.  ID badges- they add safety for our Students.  Preparing students for college and workplace.  Everything is going to technology.  We are computerizing the library for it.  We use it for the cafeteria.  In the future you will be able to scan in and out from school.  Also Chromebooks checking in and out.  It will be in the handbook next year.  If they don't have their badge, it is one detention.  $1.50 cost per badge.  We can buy a machine with cards for about 2 years for $1,000.  Board would like to get the policy in place soon.  We will have the kids sign off that they know there are updates to the handbook.  Employees have the badges as well.  They are not required to wear them yet.  

Discussion:  The audit went good.  We talked to teachers about it.  Receipting in a timely manner.  Outside booster clubs that have parents in charge are a main part of this.  We have different people each year.  They do a great job, but we will meet with them about doing better.  When money comes in, the activity custodian will let Mr. Friesen know if someone turned something in late.  Consolidated monitoring with federal programs ended last week.  Spec Ed diff monitoring- we came in level 1 which is really good.  School report cards came out last week.  It will be on the next agenda.  It wasn't great.  Elem B, JH and HS C.  Overall we can look for some better things on the HS end of it.  Post secondary opportunity this year will be better for us.  $16,000 for Acellus program.  First Bank of Okarche on the bond sale saved us about $14,000.  That is a signifigant savings.  1099's- we will have our companies fill out W9's while on site.  

Discussion:  Cash Balance sheet shows about 2.5 million in the bank.  This time of year we start seeing the tax revenue come in.  Gross production was $129,000.  We do expect that to go down some.  We were fortunate that it stayed up so long.  We still have 4.6 revenue receivable to come in.  

Discussion:  Bus barn and garage are in the process of starting.  Concrete should start next week.  Buildings before Christmas.  Band room door over Christmas break.  We are working on internet in the band room.  Gym/fine arts electricians came this week and did some repairs.  Weights got here today.  The machines came last week.  

Discussion:  Called Rick Miller CPA to go over the audit and financial report.
Rick went over the financial report with the board.  
Audit comments:
1099's issued
Receipts and deposits in timely manner
Cash Count Sheet's be present for things like dinners.
Audit went well and things look good.

Discussion:  Vaping devices were previously classified as tobacco cessation devices, which were previously allowed.  We have removed that, and added vaping devices to not be allowed like any other tobacco.  

Discussion:  Peanut allergy- it talks about the responsibility of each person.  We cannot within reason tell a parent what they can or can't send to school with their kid.  We just have to make sure the kids with food allergies have a place to eat that is away from peanuts.