FLU DOESN'T CURTAIL JACKSON SCHOOL BUSINESS

JACKSON -- The flu bug struck the Jackson school board this week, but that didn't keep the healthy members from getting some work done at Tuesday's meeting.

Board members Marvin Adams and Jeanette Bollinger were ill with the virus, while board member Larry Koenig was at home with sick children. However, the remaining board members, including President Darrell Hanschen, and Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, Jack Knowlan, Jr., and Vicki Abernathy, provided the necessary quorum to conduct the meeting.

The board approved a revision in the high school curriculum; authorized the purchase of six new school buses; and heard updates on the district's foreign language classes and the upcoming school board retreat Saturday.

Currently, World History is a full-year course and is required for graduation. Sophomore students must past both semesters to meet the requirement. The high school social studies department recommended, and the board approved, a change from a full year of World History to three, one-semester courses. Students must take two of the three courses that will be offered, starting this fall. The courses include:

-- Ancient World History, covering prehistoric era through 1500 A.D.

-- Medieval World History, covering the period 1500 to 1800.

-- Modern World History, covering the period from 1800 to the present.

Superintendent Wayne Maupin cited several reasons for the change. Students, he said, would have more of a choice in the area of World History. In addition, it would allow teachers more time to cover a smaller volume of material and give students opportunity to better understand the material being presented.

He said students who failed one section of World History could take the other two sections and would not have to repeat the failed section. "There will be no increase in staff necessary, and we will continue to use the same texts," he added.

The board approved the low bid of $177,923 from C&H Sales of Raytown for six new school buses. Maupin explained six buses were purchased this year because none were replaced last year due to a tight budget. The buses include four, 66-passenger buses, and one, 78-passenger bus.

All of the buses are diesel-powered and continue a board policy to replace all of the gasoline-powered school buses in the fleet with diesel-powered buses for fuel economy and safety reasons.

The superintendent said with the purchase of the new buses, 17 of the 44 buses in the fleet are now diesel powered.

Maupin also noted the diesel-powered buses are held in the fleet for ten years, compared to seven years for the gasoline-powered buses. Five older buses now in the fleet will be sold when the new buses arrive.

Maupin reported a tentative agenda for the school board retreat that will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the school board office.

Two members of the Missouri School Boards Association from Jefferson City will conduct the retreat. "I see this (retreat) as a springboard to another retreat later on. There are a lot of critical issues to deal with in next few years," said Maupin.

The board got an update on foreign language courses and enrollment in the junior and senior high school. Department head Darlene Houchins said there has been a significant increase in French and Spanish students because of the recent institution of a college prep certificate in the high school, and because more colleges and universities now require a foreign language as a prerequisite for enrollment.

Houchins said there is an urgent need to expand the Spanish program to accommodate the increased student demand for that language. She also reported the department is getting new textbooks that will have computer software.

Houchins said the addition of the middle school will provide additional opportunities to expand foreign languages below the junior high school level.

The superintendent presented a list of proposed capital projects that will be discussed -- with cost estimates -- at the board's Feb. 8 meeting.

Several of the projects will involve bidding and action is needed before spring to be ready to move on these projects, said Maupin.

Among the capital projects listed: replacement of the roof over the office, cafeteria, stage, gym, and new building section areas at the R.A. Hawkins Junior High school, and air conditioning of 16 classrooms at the junior high school, which will make most of the building air conditioned.

Projects at the high school include tuckpointing and sealing Building A, and air conditioning the computer room.

Other projects include air conditioning four classrooms at the Millersville Elementary School.

In his superintendent's report, Maupin said the contractor for the new middle school was given notice to proceed with the project on Jan. 6. He said the contractor, Penzel Construction, Co., is beginning to stockpile materials and supplies at the school site, but actual construction will not begin until sometime in March.