The Mid-Prairie Board of education Monday accepted the low bid from School Bus Sales, Waterloo, of $56,286 for a new bus. Other bidder was Thomas Bus Sales of Iowa, Des Moines with a total bid of $58,050.

The board also reviewed the regular 1998-99 audit, prepared by Hunt Kain and Associates and unanimously accepted the report. Copies are available at the Central Office.

Board members spent some time reviewing the 1999-2000 budget, specifically with an eye to having a line item budget.

Tracy Anderson moved to accept a line item budget (seconded by James Hussey), but the motion was defeated 5-2. Voting yes were Anderson and Board President Jack Dillon.

Board member Perry Hess moved that the line item budget for 1999-2000 be accepted with a requirement that the board receive a quarterly line item budget reported. Motion seconded by Elizabeth Curl passed unanimously.

The board also unanimously approved the application to the School Budget Review Committee for SBRC on-Time Funding in the amount of $20,438 and Modified Allowable Growth in the amount of $80,252, due to increased enrollment between September, 1998 and September, 1999.

In other business, the board:

•approved a contract for Shirley Kos as a special education associate at Kalona Elementary School, and accepted the resignations of Jody Evan, teacher associate at Kalona Elementary, Karissa Sebock, special education teacher associate at the middle school, and Jeanne Kelley as the Before and After School director at Wellman Elementary.

•presented former board member Ray Marner with a plaque in appreciation of his four years of service on the school board.

•held a closed session regarding an employee.

•hired Betty Stockstell as high school cheerleading coach for .66 of the academic year.

•accepted the resignation of Jayne Bausch as special education teacher at Kalona Elementary School, effective immediately.

•hired Robin Kent as a cook’s helper at the high school and accepted the resignation of Joanie Baker as lead cook at the middle school.

•received a report about money handling regulations that have been implemented in the district that specify exactly how funds, other than district money, will be collected and deposited.

•learned that Superintendent Gordon Cook and Jim Adams will check all buildings January 1 to see if any Y2K problems occur.

•appointed Anderson as the representative to the Washington County Conference Board and Julie Miller to the Johnson County Conference Board.