Students at Northland Career Center will have new Chromebooks after a bid was approved at the Platte County R-3 Board of Education meeting last week.
The board approved a bid from Firefly Computers to purchase 63 computers and two Chromebook carts to replace on NCC’s most outdated devices: agricultural science, diesel technology and teaching professions.
The vote passed 5-0 with Sharon Sherwood, Buffy Smith, Doug Doll, Amy MacCuish and Alisha Elliott approving the motion.
Firefly, from Saint Paul, Minn., had the lowest bid at $23,377 for Lenovo 500e Chromebook.
CDW-G bid $24,675.50, while Staples bid $27,201 and Trinity3 Technology bid $26,615.
YMCA contract
The district and the YMCA approved a renewal of the lease for school-based child care program Y Club to use areas of the school between 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on days when school is open.
The rent amount will be based on the number of students in the before and after classes with the Y Club.
Last year, there were 175 students in the before school Y Club class and 225 after school. That total is the most over the past four years. The 175 is the second most in the four-year span, behind the 205 in the 2016-2017 school year.
Over the past three years, more than $60,000 in scholarships have been granted to help families who need assistance.
PAY INCREASES
The board of education approved salary increases to various staff members.
In addition, the most tenured staff members will split a $75,000 payment to those with the most years in-district and restore the frozen salary schedule year. The amount provides an additional 1.5 percent increase to a limited number of certified and classified staff who didn’t move in step placement during the 2013-2014 school year. An email from the district stated the goal is to repeat the process, depending on funds, until all staff members employed during the frozen years have been compensated.
The average increase are: teachers/administration, 1.97 percent; administrative assistants, custodians, paraprofessionals, etc., 1.98; nurses, social worker, etc., 1.78; transportation staff, 1.5 percent.
The average teacher salary in Platte County in 2017-18 was $53,854, the eighth highest among area schools and about $4,000 over the state average. Lee’s Summit had the highest average salary at $59,620.
The average years of experience are 13.6 years, the fourth highest of in the area, behind only Kearney (16.4), Lee’s Summit (15.7) and Liberty (13.9).
RESIGNATIONS/HIRINGS
During closed session, a number of personnel moves were made.
Resigning were Stan Gidley (trip driver), Vincent Crowley (production technology instructor) and Gavin Fench (help desk technician).
Randy Sneed was hired as help desk tech. James Hanway was hired as the production technology instructor, while Ingrid Bell, Tracey Hazzard, Cassandra Helming, Catherine Millan, Sandra Rhoades and Ryan White were hired as substitute teachers.
NEWS AND NOTES
Registration for the Y Club for students in kindergarten through fifth grade for before and after school programs is due by Wednesday, July 31. The Y Club is available at each of the elementary schools, running from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
New MSHSAA bylaws mean student-athletes, between 7th and 12th grade, pre-participation physicals are valid for 730 days, instead of 365. For those who took one last year, a new one isn’t needed until 2020.
The YMCA Kids Night Out is Aug. 10 for children age 3 months to 11 years. Registration is due by Aug. 8 for early bird discount.
Additional stipends were approved for an assistant boys/girls golf coach, assistant softball coach, assistant girls wrestling coach, assistant track and field coach. An increase in stipends was approved for head and assistant dance coach due to poor market comparisons.
Duties added include high school archery head coach, head coach and assistant for middle school swim team; high school bass fishing head coach, band director at Barry School and ACT improvement.