USD 480 School Board Agrees to Bond Resolution

The USD 480 Board of Education met Monday night at the Education Service Center. One of the things discussed was the current $61 million school bond issue that will be on the ballot April 7. The Board voted 6-0 with one member absent in favor of passing a resolution that states that if the bond passes and the state is not able to come up with the funds for the 37% they have agreed to pay that the board will not exceed the mill levy. What this means is they will either have to cut back the project or use money out of the capitol outlet according to Board President Dan Diepenbrock. This comes after much talk around the community concerning if the state will be able to come through with their share of the bond due to current cuts going on at the state level.

Other items that were voted on and discussed at the meeting included David Rine from Rine’s Karate speaking to the board and asking for permission to use West Middle School for one of his ‘Throwdown Showdown’ events. Rine said he was told that the building is available but would need to speak with the board first. Rine has had other events in USD 480 schools but was told by an unamed board member who is no longer on the board that he was no longer welcome in to Liberal schools to perform anymore events. The Board didn’t vote on the matter but none of them said anything in opposition to Rine putting on the event. President Diepenbrock told Rine to just come down to Central Office and fill out a building rental contract. Rine said he did not mind paying a buiding rental fee either and that he hires his own janitor to clean up after his events. Rine will not need to be put on the agenda for a vote, as that would be necessary only if he was asking for a waiver of the building rental fee. Diepenbrock also added that there will be no cage fighting allowed or anything that may appear to be to violent.

The Board also approved Al Shank as the insurance provider for the district for another year. The cost increased, but not by much.The total cost for the insurance for the year will be $252,076. The motion passed 6-0 with one board member absent. The Board also approved the AVID Contract for the 2009-10 school year. This also passed 6-0. Also the Board approved funding of $9,000 to ‘That Liberal Band’ for their upcoming trip to Washington D.C. This money will pay for the chartering of buses and fuel.

In other action the Board approved selling half of a batting cage to the Liberal Baseball Assocation for $1,700. It is also an agreement as the Liberal High School baseball team will own it during their season, and then it will belong to the Association during the summer.

The Board also announced a special board meeting that will take place on Tuesday, March 31, at 6 p.m. at Central Office.