Crane board to consider PreK-6 configurations

All Crane schools may be changing their grade configurations from K-6 to PreK-6, if the action is approved by the governing board Tuesday.

The meeting starts at 5 p.m. at the Crane District Services Center, 930 Avenue C. (in front of Salida del Sol and Great Beginnings Preschool).

Salvador Rodriguez, the district’s director of essential student services, prepared the staff request to the board. As one of its goals, the district is seeking to provide a continuum of services for all its students, including those with and without challenges.

The board will also continue to deal with the ramifications from the passage of Prop 206. Minimum wage increased for the second year in a row to $10.50 an hour. The board is slated to be presented a revised Classified and Management salary schedule to bring it into compliance with the increase. The increased cost to the district budget for a full year is approximately $29,456, according to items included in the agenda packet.

The board will also hear a presentation and discussion on restorative justice Tuesday evening to be given by Helen Coffeen, principal of Centennial Middle School. Later in the course of the meeting, as part of its consent agenda, the board may elect to act on the advice of the district’s hearing officers to place seven students in Crane’s alternative placement program.

Also on the consent agenda are reports of purchase orders, payroll, vouchers, and other financial minutia. Purchases include $24,200 to Republic for 2017-2018 school year waste services; $22,000 to Learn-It Systems LLC for 2017-2018 Desert Choice Schools Tuition for two students; $52,156.91 to Kansas State Bank of Manhattan for 13 Canon copy machines (the board will also consider a multi-year lease/purchase agreement for the copiers; as well as pay $59,580 for annual maintenance); $117,068 to IXL Learning Inc. for annual licenses for Valley Horizon, Gary Knox, Centennial, Pueblo, Salida Del Sol, and H.L. Suverkrup.

The board will also be asked to schedule an executive session at 4 p.m. March 13 for “discussion or consultation for legal advice with the attorney or attorneys of the public body” regarding the capital funding lawsuit, where the district serves as a member plaintiff. The board’s regular meeting would start at 5 p.m. that day.

The board will also be asked to eliminate two support positions, a federal programs coordinator, and one assessment clerk. The positions would terminate effective June 30, 2018. The board may also approve a new position for a Literacy and Assessment Tech.

All meetings of the school board are open to the public, unless they are executive sessions, which are closed to the public.

A copy of the agenda background material provided to board members (with the exception of material relating to possible executive sessions) is available for public inspection at the District Office, 4250 W. 16th St. The board packet is available for inspection at the desk of the governing board secretary during business hours 24 hours prior to the day of the meeting.

Persons with a disability or those needing an interpreter may request reasonable accommodations by contacting (928) 373-3403. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the appropriate accommodations.