WESTPHALIA — Fatima Superintendent John Kitchens raised concerns about the high cost of diesel fuel and the impact it could have on the district at the Sept. 16 school board meeting.

“The reality is there is a breaking point,” said Kitchens, noting that last year diesel prices averaged $4.03 per gallon. This year, diesel costs are already at $6 per gallon with predictions that the cost will go higher. Kitchens told the board that Rudroff Bus Company owner Joe Neuner has spoken with elected officials about finding ways to combat the high cost of diesel fuel. “There is a limit, and we may have to look at other options,” Kitchens said.

The superintendent added that options for saving money include allowing parents to transport athletes to and from events and running snow routes only through part of the school year.

“Winter (diesel) prices may go up, and we may be in a situation in a couple of months where we need to make tough decisions,” Kitchens said.

In other business, board members discussed adding girls’ golf as a new sport.

“I know we have a five-year wait on things so that they can show sustainability and all that stuff, but I want to congratulate Mr. (Eric) Saak for running a successful program.”

Saak is currently the sponsor for the Fatima Girls’ Golf Club, which has 14 girls participating. “That outnumbers some of our more well-known programs,” Kitchens continued. “What would our criteria be to bypass the five-year waiting period?”

School Board President Suzanne Massman noted that the district has had girls participating in the boys’ golf team in past years.

“That was true when the (boys) team was smaller,” Saak replied. “Now we have 15 boys on the team, so if they did join, they wouldn’t play.”

Saak has run the golf club for three years and grown the club from four or five girls in the first year to 12 girls consistently playing by the third. The girls play golf at the Oak Hills Golf Course at no cost.

Saak was asked if there were concerns about violating the Federal Title IX rule, which requires equal opportunities, funding and treatment for male and female athletes.

“You can’t have more boys’ programs than girls’ programs,” Saak said. “Title IX is there to protect girls and minorities.”

The issue was tabled until a later date.

• Kitchens explained that amid concerns with the baseball program, the district is looking for a new coach to take the program in a different direction.

• Board members approved the following new hires, including Junior High Wrestling Coach Logan Laux, kitchen substitute Roger Morfeld, substitute teachers Kaylee Stanhouse and Dana Peters, and Title 1 teacher Megan Markway.

The board also approved resignations from Head Cook Shelley Trube and preschool substitute Anna Rakestraw.

• Board members were asked to review 11 mandatory policy updates that will need to be approved at the October meeting.

• The board approved outstanding bills totaling $473,653.12 for September.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Kitchens reported that the first district Continuous School Improvement Program (CSIP) was a big success, which led to a spirited discussion. “The group was very talkative, and it went well,” Kitchens said. “They are on the same page as the board, wanting more real-world experiences and hands-on activities.”

Kitchens added that a parent suggested the district work to highlight academics on its social media accounts instead of focusing heavily on sports.

The next CSIP meeting is scheduled for Oct. 7.

• The district will change the requirement to five hours of work per hour when the students are off school for the flex program moving forward. The previous minimum was eight hours of work when the students were out of school, and, in the winter, it is too hard for students working in construction to complete that many hours of work.

• Fatima is waiting on a bid for tuck-pointing and to have some areas of damaged bricks replaced.

• The school will host a Trunk-or-Treat and a middle school dance on Oct. 16. The Trunk-or-Treat will be in the gravel parking lot of the school, and parents can drop off middle-schoolers, including parochial students, in front of the multi-purpose building.

Board members will participate in the Trunk-or-Treat, which the district anticipates will draw approximately 400 kids.

• Kitchens said he looks forward to reading “The Grumpy Monkey” to the elementary students.

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

The high school has 197 students with an average daily attendance of 97.59%. There is a discussion about having a sponsorship program created so that students can access funds for testing fees and college applications.

• Yearbooks were delivered for school board members, and everyone was encouraged to go online to submit positive comments to the district when possible.

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Anyone who wants to participate in the Trunk-or-treat on Oct. 16 is asked to sign up online.

• Grandparents’ Day is scheduled for October 19 from 5 pm to 7 pm.

• The PTO carnival was held on Sept. 25.

• The elementary school has 235 students with an average daily attendance of 96.92%.

SPECIAL EDUCATION REPORT

Special Education Coordinator Janah Massman reported that Title 1 testing is being completed in parochial schools and at Fatima.

“We are close to being finished, and we will determine who is most in need,” Massman said.

She reminded the board that Fatima does not have a school-wide Title 1 program but is a targeted instruction program, so certain criteria are used to determine which students are the most in need.

“We will start to see kids really soon,” Massman said.

• Massman is excited that Parents as Teachers Representative Emily Reinkemeyer has finished training and will start seeing children soon.

“We are excited to get her going because the position has been vacant for about three years,” Massman said.

• Massman reported that she has met with teachers to discuss curriculum assessment, testing standards, and summaries from last year. She noted that the teachers will continue to focus on “bubble kids,” described as those who are really close at base or proficiency levels.

“If we can focus some interventions on those kids, we can bump them up a level,” Massman explained.

She added that the district will evaluate training soon, which will allow the teachers to track standards and focus on improvements.

• Massman said that the elementary teachers are happy with the Super Kids Program.

“We use this program in both the regular program and in special education, and the kids have really enjoyed the characters and songs,” Massman explained. “It is an exciting thing to see.”

Teachers are also seeing results in elementary students as they institute several phonics programs.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Athletic Director Matt Baker reported that softball districts will be held at South Callaway, Fatima is hosting boys’ soccer districts, volleyball districts will be played at Hermann, and cross country runners will compete at Owensville.

Overall, there are 85 participants in the fall sports this year, and the numbers for basketball for the upcoming season look good.

• Baker reported that the Lions Club baseball and softball fields have been laser-leveled.

• Complaints about digital ticketing have slowed down, and the school has sold a record number of family passes for the year. “As much as everyone is complaining, they are still using the system,” Baker said.

• Baker reported that transportation is proving difficult and the situation will get worse as he starts coaching and is unable to serve as a driver for other sports.

“Joe (Neuner) has been awesome and has covered multiple trips for us,” Baker said. “Diesel fuel prices are really hurting our budgets right now.”