ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The USD 480 school board will look to have an easy evening for its next meeting Monday evening starting at 6:30. Monday’s meeting will be in Room B110 at Seymour Rogers Middle School at 721 Griffith Ave.
Up first on the agenda will be discussion of Resolution M concerning the adoption of the district's organizational chart for the 2024-2025 school year, which staff is recommending the board approve.
Up next on the agenda will be discussion of the renewal of the cafeteria software.
"USD 480 utilizes Linq for the Food Services Point of Sale system, application processing, inventory, production records, menu planning, etc.," the agenda information noted. "This year’s price is a 6 percent increase over last year's renewal of $19,380, and staff is recommending the board approve the invoice from Linq in the amount of $20,633.75."
Up next on the agenda will be discussion of pest control services.
"USD 480 solicited bids for pest control services for the 2024-25 school year, and the following bids were received: Davis Pest Control of Liberal in the amount of $19,495, and Rine Exterminating of Liberal in the amount of $18,985," the agenda information noted. "Staff is recommending the board approve the bid from Rine Exterminating in the amount of $18,985."
Up next for the board will be discussion of the sign language interpreter contract. This had been brought before the board at its June 10 meeting.
"With the recent enrollment of a hearing-impaired student in our district during 2023-2024, it is imperative we establish a dedicated sign language interpreter position to be available beginning the 2024-2025 school year," Director of Special Education Dane Parcel noted at the June 10 meeting. "This role will ensure effective communication between the student, teachers, and peers, facilitating their full participation in classroom activities, extracurricular activities, and school events."
"Sign language interpreting is a necessity to support a student at USD 480 needing interpreting services within the Individualized Education Program (IEP). Mr. Robert Loredo is a certified sign language interpreter from Satanta and is willing to provide interpreting services on a daily basis," the agenda information noted. "The development of the contract has been supported and reviewed by the legal department for USD 480, and staff is recommending the board approve the sign language contract with Robert Loredo for the 2024-25 school year."
Up next for the board will be discussion of vape detectors throughout the USD 480 school buildings as an information-only item.
"There are currently 64 vape detectors in use at Eisenhower Middle School, Seymour Rogers Middle School, and Liberal High School,” the agenda information noted. “The district purchased 12 detectors in October 2024, another 12 detectors in November 2024 and another 45 detectors Feb. 20, for a total of 69 detectors, at a cost of $56,617 with a five-year subscription contract.”
Concluding the meeting's new business will be discussion of the purchase of iPads for Bright Start Early Learning Center.
"The iPads at Bright Start Early Learning Center were purchased in 2015 and no longer run the applications needed by staff. The iPads are used to administer the MyIGDIs assessments," the agenda information noted. "The testing administrator and the student being assessed each need one, and the staff has asked for four iPads per class to speed up the process. Staff is recommending the board approve the purchase of 40 iPads from Apple in the amount of $14,320."
