Published: July 07, 2008 10:43 pm            

K-C considers principal spots

Board approves new meal prices, textbook and student fees.

One of the first decisions Chris Himsel will have to make as Kokomo-Center School superintendent is how many principals to replace out of the three who resigned or retired at Monday’s school board meeting.

Himsel, who began work Monday, said he is reviewing the jobs left vacant at Bon Air Middle School, Wallace Elementary and McKinley Alternative School as well as the assistant superintendent’s job, and also considering the reorganization plan the board approved in late June.

Under the reorganization plan, which will be implemented over the next 10 years, the corporation will consolidate from 11 to six elementary schools and from four to two middle schools.

Himsel expects to make a recommendation at a special meeting, tentatively planned for July 21.

The board accepted a retirement request from McKinley Principal Duane Keisling and resignations by Bon Air Principal Chris Lagoni and Wallace Elementary Principal Maravene Beas. It also appointed Pat Quillen, Lafayette Park Elementary principal, as elementary/middle school summer school principal.

In other business, the board approved a 10-cent increase for school breakfast and a 15-cent increase for school lunch.

Business manager Eric Rody said when the board accepted food services bids, bread prices increased by about 20 percent, milk increased by 10 percent and grocery prices increased by 15 to 25 percent.

Elementary and middle school meal prices will now be $1.35 for breakfast and $2.05 for lunch. High school meals will be $1.70 for breakfast and $2.15 for lunch. Milk will increase by 5 cents, to 40 cents.

Rody said the new prices still fit within the average lunch prices in the county.

The board also approved textbook rental and student fees for the 2008-2009 school year

Rody said by state statute, the corporation cannot make money from textbook rental, but can charge to try to recoup its costs.

“The rental program operates on a break-even basis, although state regulations make it difficult for that to happen,” he said. “We only attempt to recover our supply and rental costs.”

Textbook rental can only be 25 percent of the actual cost of textbooks, and consumable workbooks may only be charged at the cost.

Rody said for the previous school year, about 3,600 students qualified for free textbook rental. The corporation receives state funding for those costs.

Board member Cristi Brewer-Allen asked if she had heard correctly that students who qualify for reduced cost lunch will receive free textbook rentals. Previously, only students who qualify for free lunch also qualified for free textbooks.

Rody said that is correct, and the corporation will submit those numbers for state reimbursement.

Board member Karen Sosbe asked if it was possible to replace some books with e-books to save money.

Dee Lohman, executive director of pre-K to 12 instructional services, said the textbook adoption committee considered that option, but those options are limited now.

She said there were also concerns that while textbook price might be reduced, there might be increased costs in computer hardware for students to access the books.

        

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