ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The USD 480 school board will have a full agenda for its next meeting Monday evening beginning at 6:30. Monday’s meeting will be in Room C107 of the Liberal High School East Campus.
After electing the board’s president and vice president, the meeting will start with the administrator reports, beginning with Director of Operations Chad Mease.
“With the LHS Library renovations, progress is continuing nicely, and we are looking at late February as far as completion,” the agenda information noted. “With the LHS rain screen project, we’re looking at a late February completion. The vapor barrier is complete, and insulation is in progress, as is framing. In some really good news, Connie Vogts was requested to attend the State of the State Address by Go. Kelly Jan. 15. Connie is the president of the School Nutrition Association of Kansas, and the governor has introduced legislation/funding to eliminate the reduced category of the free and reduced meal program and move those students that were reduced to the free category. There were also roof repairs done at Cottonwood Elementary School, and there are photos attached for the board to review of that project.”
Up first on the agenda’s new business will be discussion of the 2023-2024 audit, and then discussion of more payment on the LHS Auditorium rain screen project.
“Attached is Payment Application No. 4 for the LHS Auditorium rain screen project in the amount of $376,337.99,” the agenda information noted. “Payment is to be made with Lease Purchase funds, and staff is recommending the board approve payment of payment application No. 4 to Osborne Construction in the amount of $376,337.99.”
Also up for discussion will be dual credit, and then the addition of two new courses.
“We are requesting the approval of two new courses. The first in Spanish Language Arts at Seymour Rogers Middle School, and the second is Spanish III at LHS,” the agenda information noted. “These courses were reviewed at approved by the Curriculum Council Committee Dec. 17, 2024, and staff is recommending the board approve these two new courses.”
The board will also hear some information regarding the purchase of land.
“We have received a request to purchase land adjacent to Seymour Rogers Middle School along U.S. Hwy 54,” the agenda information noted. “The interested party has offered $25,000 for approximately 0.62 acres, or $0.93 per square foot.”
Concluding the agenda’s new business will be discussion of the interim teacher salary scale.
