Freedom Schools lose both administrators

This school year, the Freedom Public Schools have been operating with a part-time superintendent and a full-time principal. A couple meetings ago, Superintendent Freida Burgess told the board she was experiencing some health issues and would resign at the end of the fiscal year. Monday night, Principal Michael Long's resignation was accepted by the board. That means the district will face a new year with totally new administrators.

Long told the Newsgram that he was facing serious shoulder surgery in May that would require him to be bed-ridden for two and one-half weeks. He presented a doctor's note confirming that. Also, he said this was a good time to retire because his Kansas educational and military retirements were recently approved.

An executive session was on the agenda where all certified teachers were up for discussion, as well as superintendent candidates. After the lengthy executive session, a motion was passed to re-hire all certified personnel. Later in "new business," Superintendent Burgess said basketball coach and instructor Chad Warford had turned in his resignation. The board also accepted the resignation of Heidi Cook, support staff.

Those certified people rehired: Lauren Blubaugh, Penny Brewer, Darci Collins, Brandon Cook, Donna Fearing, Michalia McDonald, Katrina "Katie" Strehl, Grace Tepe, Dawn Watson, Bryant Weber, Margaret "Marlo" Woodard-Smith and Bretta Woodard. Later, Principal Michael Long mentioned that Lauren Blubaugh was taking a job at a private school in Wichita.

Also rehired was Becky-Castor, speech-language pathologist, as part of the Therapy Service Contract.

Telephone Audit Report

The board engaged in a conference telephone call with auditor Chas. W. Carroll, P. A. When they dialed the number, Carroll immediately answered and said he was driving and would pull off to the side of the road to review the audit.

The district began the year with a general fund amount of $932,000. At the end of the year, because of state funding cuts, the amount was down $44,900 to $887,000. Carroll said Freedom was fortunate because most districts he was familiar with lost greater than $200,000.

He mentioned there was no sinking fund (bond issue) expenditures and there was $1,900 in that account. He said the board could leave it in place in case they anticipated a bond issue or move it to the general fund. The board agreed to leave it in place.

There were a couple of issues of mis-coding that caused a couple of funds to be placed in the general fund account. He said the superintendent needed to write a letter to the state saying the error has been corrected and he will submit the letter.

One law violation that was pointed out also last year is a significant finding that the title of a vehicle has been written in the Freedom School District's name. This was not proper because the vehicle is still owned by the financing company and cannot be listed in the district's name until it is paid off and the title transferred to them. Buddy Carroll said he has notified the state to head off problems.

"Overall," he said, "the Freedom District did a really good job. The activity fund (which is not district money, but student organization money) was really well maintained, and there are fewer problems than in past years."

Superintendent Burgess said there are 23 days of school left. About the only sport still going is golf. She said the district is entering the banquet and graduation cycle.

The board only received one bid for the goose-neck stock trailer they had advertised. That bid came in at $3,000 from Dakota Province and FFA instructor Bryant Weber believes the trailer is worth much more than that, so the board voted to reject the bid.

One board member was absent, Robert Babcock. Other members attending included Shane Morris, Shan Wilson, Russell Reed and Donald Simmons.