Apresentation from the Ellsworth High School Student Council sparked discussion during the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo USD 327 board of education meeting Monday night.

Representatives from Stu-Co asked permission to incentivize participation at school-sanctioned activities.

“We were hoping, with your approval, the winning class could get a day off of school,” Stu-Co member Isabelle Lindsley said.

The Class of the Year program would be a competition among each high school class.

“We would take a percent of the class that is there,” she said. “If five out of 60 are there, we only get that percent. All classes get the percent of the kids in their class for points.”

Stu-Co sponsor Kendra Ploutz said the group discussed prizes with other schools.

“When we were discussing the prizes as we talked with other schools, many utilized places like Worlds of Fun,” she said. “Between cost and distance, that’s not a motivating factor.”

Instead, the students requested a day off for the winning class.

“I will not support a day off,” board member Brian Rush said. “You cannot send truancy letters to those who take students out of school for family activities. You could have eight kids who earn a lot of points for the class, then the whole class gets the day off. I’m all for the idea, but not that kind of reward.”

Board member Ashley Bohl said increasing participation has been a goal for several years.

“This would be just for this year,” she said.

The board approved the motion, 5-1. Rush voted against the measure and board Vice President Gina McGowan was absent.

Another topic with extended discussion was advertising at sporting events.

“I had been approached by a community member about advertising at a football game,” Hilbig said. “I look at board policy, and any advertising for commercial purposes needs to be approved by you as a board.

“I feel like this is a situation we need to address and talk about publicly so the community is aware where the board stands. Otherwise, I could see a list of requests monthly.”

She said she consulted with the district’s attorneys, and if the board allows advertising, equal access issues could arise.

Earlier this summer, the board approved a grant from Southwest Dairy Farms for chocolate milk for the football team. Per the conditions of the grant, the school will allow the dairy to hang a banner during games.

“I asked about charging for a banner; (the attorneys) cautioned us that even though proceeds could be used for the benefit of the school, the business aspects are considered a use and could be considered not educational,” Hilbig said.

Bohl said she has seen advertising at other districts.

“We talk about community involvement,” she said. “I’m not saying ‘Let’s be bought,’ but we would not be the first district to ever start this. I cannot imagine we would be the first to start some sort of policy.”

Board member David Hand expressed interest in developing a plan for advertising.

“Do a little research, see what other people do,” he said. “I have no problem charging, but you don’t want to turn it loose.”

The board agreed informally to table the topic while more information is gathered.

In other action, the board:

• Reviewed the proposed budget for the 2023-24 academic year.

Board Clerk Dina Rankin said the current budget is currently 51.251 mills, which is 0.68 mills above the 2022-23 budget.

“We are at 32 percent of LOB instead of 33 percent,” Rankin said. “The state said you can’t expect to have more kids and educate them with the same dollars you had last year.

“If you have more kids, you need more money and have to raise the mills to get that money. He said don’t be afraid of seeing that go up.”

• Discussed enrollment for the upcoming academic year.

“We have seen an upward trend in our enrollment over the last couple of years,” Superintendent Deena Hilbig said.

Enrollment for the 202223 school year was 641, and she anticipates enrollment to exceed 660 students for the 2023-24 year.

• Announced the Title I parent meeting will take place at 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Aug. 15 during Ellsworth Elementary School’s back-to-school night.

• Discussed preparations for the start of the 202324 school year.

New teacher orientation is today.

The district office is closed tomorrow from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Teachers and staff report tomorrow for a staff inservice. It begins with a grab ’n’ go breakfast at 7:30 a.m. with welcome by Hilbig at 7:50 a.m. All-staff inservice including crisis training begins at 8:15 a.m. and the back-to-school barbecue is at 11:30 a.m.

• Accepted multiple grants: $9,711 from KSDE Safe and Secure School Grant, $1,055 from the George Place Youth Golf Memorial to the golf teams of EJSHS, $85,180 from the Kansas K-12 Stay Positive Test Negative initiative, $40 from an anonymous donor as needed for students, $200 from Scorched Stone Farms for football helmet decals and $1,100 from Kiwanis for K-3 homeroom teachers ($100 each) for approved purchases.

“I’m excited about that,” Hilbig said. “The amount of money we have brought in just this month is almost $100,000 through grants and donations.”

• Entered executive session for 20 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel.

The board approved the following hires: Amanda Miles, Title I aide; Bobby Choitz, maintenance and operations director; Trudy Berthelson, bus monitor/aide and Jenny Freeman, assistant wrestling coach.

The board approved the transfer of Diane Rojas from food service to Kanopolis Middle School instructional aide and the resignation of Christy Romero as KMS instructional aide.

The next board meeting will be Sept. 11 and begin with the revenue neutral hearing at 6:40 p.m., then budget hearing at 6:50 p.m. and meet in regular session at 7 p.m.