JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES SALE OF BONDS

The Jackson School Board approved the sale Tuesday of $4.7 million in general obligation bonds to a Kansas City bond firm.

The company submitted a low interest bid of 5.420229 percent.

The bonds will be used to help the district build a $5 million middle school at the intersection of Broadridge and West Independence (Route D). In April, school district patrons overwhelmingly approved the bond issue.

The bid of G.K. Baum was the lowest of the four bids received. The other bidders were Lehman Brothers, United Bank of Missouri and Boatmen's Bank.

After the 7-0 vote to authorize the sale to the Kansas City bond company, board President Darrell Hanschen remarked, "OK, we're going to build a new middle school."

Business Manager Howard Alexander said the actual interest on the bonds will range from 3.60 percent in 1997 to 5.625 percent at maturity in 2013.

Commenting on the sale of the bonds, the district's financial adviser, Joy Howard, said the timing of the sale of the bonds was excellent. Howard noted Jackson was one of the first districts to get its bonds on the market. For that reason, she said the district received a better (lower) interest rate than school bonds that will be coming into the market later this month.

"The bidding prices worked very well for you. We're very pleased with the rate you received on your bonds," said Howard.

School Superintendent Wayne Maupin told the board advertising for bids for the site work for the middle school will go out next week. The bids are due June 22. "Everything is on schedule," said Maupin.

When completed, the middle school will relieve serious crowding at the R.O. Hawkins Junior High School and a growing problem of crowding at the nearby West Lane Elementary School.

On another item, the board rejected pleas from a large group of supporters for a girl's varsity soccer team and voted 5-1 against implementing a girl's varsity soccer program for the 1993-94 school year.

Board member Jack T. Know~lan Jr., who is active in the girl's soccer program and strongly supported it at the board meeting, abstained from voting. The only board member who voted for the issue was Marvin Adams.

The board listened for more than 90 minutes as parents and others voiced their support for the program. Following the vote, the board agreed to place the issue on its list of board goals.

After the meeting, Hanschen explained that no one on the board opposes the idea of a girl's varsity soccer team.

"Our problem is that they came at us during a two week period and wanted an answer right away. We couldn't do that. There are too many concerns that have to be addressed right now. I am sure that either in 1994-95, or the following school year, there will be a girl's soccer program in the Jackson High School, but not right now."

In other business, the board approved a depository agreement to continue to alternate local banks as clearing banks for the school district. This year, Boatmen's Bank is the depository. Next year, Capital Bank will be the local depository. The board asked the administration to determine whether Commerce Bank of Jackson, which opened this spring, can be included in the list of local banks as depositories.

In his report to the board, Maupin said the district should have a computer simulation by the end of the week on how passage of the school foundation formula bill will affect the district.

On future agenda items, the board said it wanted more information on the Gifted Student Program. The board approved the program for the 1993-94 school year. The Gifted Student Program serves 120-140 students in elementary and junior and high school levels in an after-school program. The district must have a state-certified staff of teachers to conduct the Gifted Program by 1995.

Board member Dr. T. Wayne Lewis asked for a full report on the cost implementing a Gifted Student program within the school day.

The board accepted the resignation of Raymond Peats as junior high school assistant track coach, effective at the end of the current school year.

Also approved was a budget amendment increase of $50,353 in the Special Revenue Fund to meet the anticipated certified personnel contracts and related costs for the current school year. The amendment was needed because of an error made in the budget and the addition of personnel.