Augusta USD 402 Board of Education members hired a new Augusta High School football coach Monday night with approval of the consent agenda. The Board approved the hiring of Roger Robben as head football coach. Robben, most recently employed at Goddard High School, will be succeeding the resigned Coach Steve Pazzie.
In new business, the annual district audit report was approved with no significant problems found.
The 2010-2011 district calendar was also approved. Deputy Superintendent John Black pointed out that the 2010-2011 school year will start a week later, with the first day on Tuesday, Aug. 17. The only other significant change will be combining the fall middle school and high school parent-teacher conferences in the same week.
An increase in Driver Education fees for this summer was approved.
“In order for the driver education program to continue it must be self funded and can’t depend on any transfers from the General Fund,” Black advised, “Some districts have cut this program and some have seen drastic increases in fees. We don’t want to drop this, but it must stay self-funded. We want to maintain at least a year’s worth of unencumbered funds.”
And without knowing if state aid will be cut, reduced or paid until the summer is over, the board members approved the increase from last year’s $170 per student to $200 per student.
“Our intent is to hold the line. We won’t make money, but we won’t lose money,” Black said.
Black reminded board members that the district has been fortunate that Winfield Motors continues to donate the cars used for driver’s education. Without the donation the expenditures would be increased drastically.
The local driver’s education program is open to all 9th graders and if any openings remain, older 8th graders are eligible to enroll.
Augusta, Kan. —
