BonnerSprings.com

The Bonner Springs-Edwardsville School District Board of Education at its Monday meeting approved the adoption of a new mission and vision statement. The new statement is meant to reflect the Expeditionary Learning philosophy as well as the need for students to learn 21st century skills.

Changes from the old statement include the additions saying the schools will: "actively teach self discipline, problem solving and thinking strategies" and "use and understand the core principals of Expeditionary Learning and best practice," and that students will "understand the importance of stretching themselves personally and academically so that the can become positive contributors to their families, communities and society as a whole."

The changes, said Superintendent Robert Van Maren, are meant to reflect the Expeditionary Learning philosophy that students should be considered "crew, not passengers" in their education.

In other actions the board:

¢ Approved payment of warrants totaling $425,192.

¢ Met the new director of the YMCA, Lori Spencer.

¢ Approved the recommendations of the district's Wellness Committee to fund stroke tests for staff, which had been quoted by one company at $45 per test. Van Maren said the committee would research to see whether a lower cost could be found.

¢ Approved updates to the district's new nursing policies.

¢ Heard an update on the bond issue from Van Maren, who said work on the Central Office's remodeling was nearly complete after the contractor replaced gutters, windows and carpet after recent storms.

¢ Heard a superintendent's update from Van Maren. He told the board he was hoping to get all five of the district's schools an Energy Star rating from the EPA for their efforts in conserving energy usage. Van Maren said he'd also attended an informational meeting last week on the utilization of wind, biomass and solar energy and that he hopes to eventually have erected two wind-power generators at Bonner Springs High School and one at Delaware Ridge Elementary.

Also, Van Maren said, Bonner Springs Elementary had received a grant of $17,224, its third since 2005, from the Kansas State Department of Education for its afterschool tutoring program. The money will pay for tutors, supplies and two team-and-leadership-focused field trips, one to Tall Oaks Conference Center in Linwood and another to Moon Marble.

¢ Met in executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters.

Comments

1. 

   travelinman (anonymous) says…

   I'm amazed. This district spends so much time and effort primping that it fails it's students. A new logo on the wall, a new vision statement, new tracks, new press box, but then to be one of 31 districts to not meet state standards. Shame on 204 for not focusing on students but instead how it all looks. Priorities please !!! For the sake of our children.

   September 25, 2008 at 9:19 p.m.

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