As summer winds down with school starting today (Thursday), the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo USD 327 board met Monday at the district office with a light agenda.

The biggest discussion involved the AptaFund Banking program which the district switched to earlier this year. The district has historically switched checking and savings accounts between the two major banks in Ellsworth every three years, with the payroll and direct deposit account staying at Citizens State Bank & Trust Co. and the general fund and state payments staying at First Bank Kansas.

Superintendent Dale Brungardt stressed both banks do a good job for the district which leaves a hard decision. Should the district continue to flip accounts between the two banks?

According to Brungardt and board clerk Dina Rankin, it is difficult working with two banks in the new system — settings in the program have to be changed daily depending on which account/bank Rankin is working with. Even accounts that are currently dormant still have to be accessed and settings changed because an entry such as 59 cents interest needs entered. The likelihood of an error occurring when moving money back and forth between banks and accessing and changing settings in the program is a worry.

In checking with other districts, Rankin found 75-85 percent use only one bank, even if there is more than one available in the community. Some districts have the banks bid for its business.

After discussion from the board, it was decided not to flip the accounts this year and have Brungardt and Rankin decide going forward what is best for the district and the community. If they need more guidance, they will go back to the board.

In other business:

• The Title I Meeting was at 5 p.m. Monday. The meeting is necessary to make sure the district meets requirements for federal Title I funding.

• The construction at the Ellsworth Elementary School is almost complete. The state fire marshal was to inspect the new construction Wednesday. Small details such as paint touch up, caulking and fixing a small bubble under the floor in the gym still need to be completed. The steam table for use in the cafeteria has not arrived. Until the table has been received, meals will be served in the kitchen and the kids will walk to the cafeteria to eat.

A open house for the community to see the new construction will be scheduled in the near future. The construction was funded with a $1.05 million lease purchase agreement through CSB with $400,000 paid by the district out of capital outlay. The project is under budget and did not involve having to float a bond issue.

• Brungardt touched on the enrollment projection number of 632 students but noted the numbers are still fluid. Ellsworth Elementary School has 248 students, down five or six from last year with the Kindergarten class at 36, which is a few lower than expected. Ellsworth Junior-Senior High School has enrollment of 283 students, which includes three foreign exchange students, up eight or nine from last year. The senior class is small; however, the 7th and 8th grade classes are larger. Kanopolis Middle School sits at 95 with six new students.

• Brungardt requested the board approve membership in the USA Professional Learning Network, which is similar to the Kansas School Board Association. The network provides leadership training at a cost of $1,250 per year. This fee allows administration and staff to attend workshops for free, including one free admittance to the summer conference; this year three attended. Brungardt would like to observe this year and see how it works and then decide after the year is up if it is beneficial to continue. The board approved the request.

• Old text and workbooks from 1992 and 1984 have been found that have no monetary value and need to be considered surplus property so they can be recycled or tossed. There are also three vehicles — a Dodge all-window van, an old lunch wagon and a 72 passenger 2000 bus — that need moved to surplus property.