Monticello — An increase in disciplinary problems on school buses has caused the

Monticello Independent Board of Education to consider installing cameras on

several of the buses in the school's fleet. Board members discussed the need

for cameras on buses during their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday,

February 23.

Deana Hart, transportation director for the school, told board members

that she has seen an increased need for cameras on the buses since the

number of disciplinary problems has continued to rise. She added that she

felt that equipping the buses with cameras would help reduce the number of

discipline problems.

Hart stated that she has been in the process of getting estimates from

different companies to determine the cost of having cameras installed in the

buses. She also noted that she plans to talk to officials with the Clinton

County School System, where cameras were recently installed on some of the

buses. Hart said she would like to get input from them about the cameras.

Superintendent Donnie Robison suggested that Hart ask representatives

with the businesses she has contacted for these services to come to

Monticello to look at the buses and determine how many cameras would be

needed for each bus. Then they could determine the cost of equipping the

buses with cameras and make a decision on whether or not to have them

installed.

During the meeting, board members also discussed the 2009-2010 school

calendar. Superintendent Robison noted that Monticello Independent students

had missed 16 days of school, as of last Tuesday. It was recommended that

three of those days be made up during Spring Break, which would put the last

day of school at June 2. The board did not amend the calendar at that time,

but decided to wait and see how many more days school would be out before

taking any action on the calendar.

In other action, the board also heard updates regarding the upcoming

senior trip and eighth grade trip.

The senior sponsors addressed the board about the senior trip, which is

scheduled for April 19-23. Board members originally approved the senior trip

to Washington, D.C. and New York, but that was going to be too costly for

the students. So the senior sponsors started to explore other options for

the senior trip and decided to take the seniors to Chicago, which will not

be as expensive as the Washington, D.C. and New York trip. The board

approved the senior trip to Chicago on April 19-23.

Gary Abbott attended the meeting and provided board members with an

update on the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. on May 11-15. He gave

each school board member a copy of the itinerary for the trip, which

includes visiting many places of historical interest. The trip includes

visits to Mt. Vernon, Marine Corps Museum, Arlington National Cemetery,

White House Visitor's Center, National Air and Space Museum, United States

Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Archives, Museum of Natural History and

Museum of American History.

In other news, the board:

€ recognized board members who had completed the KSBA Academy of

Studies. Paul Jones has completed Level V, Chris Dobbs has completed Level

II, and Shelia Stephenson has completed Level I. Each of these three board

members was presented with certificates.

€ voted to purchase uniforms for the volleyball team. The package that

will be purchased for the volleyball team will include a home jersey, away

jersey, two pairs of shorts, duffel bags, knee pads and matching socks. The

uniforms will be used by both the varsity and middle school volleyball

programs.

€ approved the FRYSC continuation grant application for the 2010-2011

school year.

€ voted to waive board policies on school council allocations from March

1 to May 11 for the 2010-2011 allocation.

€ approved the food service privacy agreement with KDE on free and

reduced price information.

€ approved two individuals as emergency substitute teachers and heard a

personnel report.

€ entered into an executive session, with no action being taken.

€ heard a report from Superintendent Robison, who noted that Principal

Johnny Chaplin had asked for additional support for the high school math

department. Robison noted that there was a need for a part-time math teacher

and part-time assistant principal position, and board members voted in favor

of this addition.