Board to See Preliminary Capital Outlay Needs

Jan. 3, 2012 ~ During their regular meeting on Jan. 5, members of the Olathe Board of Education will see a prioritized list of capital outlay needs for the remainder of this fiscal year. Funds for the $13 million in projects will be reallocated from the district's approved 2011-12 budget.

The recommended projects range from roofs and heating/ventilation systems to curbs, tracks and carpeting. Technology and furniture are also large parts of the overall list of proposed projects.

In another presentation, Chief Financial Officer John Hutchison will recommend moving forward with plans to upgrade the district's financial/payroll/human resource software. The existing systems have been in place since the mid-1990s and were actually developed in the 1980s. Hutchison will seek the board's approval to negotiate with a software vendor and hopefully begin installing the new software this spring and summer.

The board will hear a presentation on the Phoenix School at Claire Learning Center. The program focuses on students who have not had success with other treatments and who have often been placed in more than a dozen programs before coming to Phoenix. Their backgrounds often include abuse and neglect, negative experiences in school, and difficulty trusting others or building relationships. Their education has often suffered because of gaps in attending school.

The agenda includes awards and recognitions including the 2012 and past Kansas Teacher of the Year recipients from Olathe Public Schools, a state champion in gymnastics, and the 6A state champion Olathe South High School football team.

Consent agenda items, bids and contracts, agreement for the potential sale of Millcreek Center, and process for student hearings are also on the agenda. Written reports include the staff climate survey and the Head Start director's monthly report.

The board plans an executive session to discuss personnel matters.

The complete agenda and supporting documents can be found online at http://www.boarddocs.com/ks/olathe/Board.nsf/Public.