Bronaugh School Board to auction sports banners

Special to the Daily Mail

Thursday's meeting of the Bronaugh School Board gave unanimous consent to putting a piece Bronaugh's sports history -- actually 36 pieces -- up for auction.

Recently, the school installed new banners in its gymnasium marking each successful sport and season. A silent auction of the old banners will close on Friday, March 11, at the alumni basketball game. Included will be a banner marking the conference basketball championship in 2000.

Pictures, descriptions of banners, and auction rules will soon be posted at the booster club's site on Facebook.

Along with Principal Jordan Dickey and Superintendent David Copeland, six board members heard from sixth grade teacher Deanna Gossett, representing the local teachers' association. She thanked the board and administration for its support of the faculty and "for the way things are running so smoothly this year."

Each month the board hears a multipart program evaluation on a different area of the school; this month it was provided by science teacher Susan Ricketts. Ricketts reviewed the science classes from grades 8-12, including physical science, biology I and II, chemistry, and a biology class that earns college credit. She highlighted the new lab tables and equipment purchased through a "generous" donation by a patron, as well as by a grant from Monsanto.

"Kids used to complain that we hardly ever had a lab but the other day I told the eighth-grade class what we were doing (that day) and a student said, 'Another lab?'

"Now we have the equipment and all this will really pay off. We even had a student make the science nationals in FFA."

January's board meeting included a presentation by 360 Energy and an offer to perform an energy audit of the school. The superintendent noted that in "Phase II they would give us a proposal." Board member Chris Baker asked about cost and commitment and when told it would be a free proposal he said, "Let's go ahead and get some numbers." This was approved.

Next was a review of bids for conducting the school's financial audit. "I sent out a request for proposals to seven companies, from Springfield to Butler, but only two sent bids," Copeland said.

KPM of Springfield and DSWA of Nevada, the school's current auditor, submitted bids for one and for three years. The bids were passed around and all could see what Copeland called "a $3,000 difference for just one-year (KPM-$9,500, DSWA-$6,500) and over three years (KPM-$30,000, DSWA-$19,000). Board member Saundra Bogart asked, "Do these bids include if we ask them questions? Last year, that added to our cost."

"If they come back or we do it by phone, there's going to be an additional charge," said Copeland. The board voted to accept the three-year bid by DSWA of Nevada.

A written policy that restricts the use of tobacco and imitation products by students and employees was distributed. Board president Ryan Linn asked, "Do we have the procedures in place for discipline, if students or employees violate this?" "Yes," responded Dickey, "this will fit nicely with our existing handbook."

The superintendent asked if implementation could be set for the next school year. "This will allow us time to put up signs and get the word out." The policy and timing was approved.

Following the principal's report that mentioned April testing and the superintendent's report that included upcoming work on the parking areas, the board went into executive session. Following a positive performance review, the board voted to offer a two-year contract to Principal Jordan Dickey.