The Sweet Springs Board of Education met Monday, Dec. 10, to approve contracts with MUSIC, Interstate Studio and Walsworth publishing.

Sweet Springs school district's property insurance rates are due on Dec. 31 each year and cover a full calendar year.

Missouri United School Insurance Council (MUSIC) insures well over 80 percent of Missouri schools, said Superintendent Boyd Jones.

Sweet Springs' premium last year was $50,574. This year the premium is $54,597, but after a credit from the company it will be $49,956.

The district was one of the first members of MUSIC when is was conceived and started serving schools in Missouri.

The board decided to remain with MUSIC as the best property insurance provider at this time.

"I believe that it is not in our best interest to drop out of MUSIC or even in the near future," Jones said.

Paula Staples, yearbook advisor, requested that the board agree to sign a three-year contract with Walsworth publishing to print the school's yearbook in 2009 to 2011.

"I am not aware of any problems with Walsworth," Jones said. "They will give us a digital camera. This is not an overly valuable gift but we are satisfied with their services to this point."

The board agreed to stay with Walsworth publishing for yearbook printing.

Jones told the board that it is time to commit for next year's picture contract.

For the last two years, Interstate Studio has done all of Sweet Springs' picture taking and have been very cooperative.

"They are local and very willing to work with us," Jones said. "They have really bent over backwards to help us."

The board approved to re-sign the contract.

The board also discussed health insurance providers at the meeting.

"We always have a health insurance issue," Jones said.

The Bukaty agency in Kansas City has been attempting for more then a year to combine a large group of Missouri schools in a group health insurance program similar to what MUSIC does for property insurance, Jones said.

"This plan has real possibilities," he said. "I do not know whether the Bukaty group will be successful or not."

Jones plans to sit back and see what other schools do. Both Bukaty and Sweet Springs' current provider, Forrest T. Jones, sell Anthem Insurance.

"From a teacher's perspective, it is the same product," Jones said. "They only difference is who we are paying the money to."

The board gave Jones the authority to make switch, if necessary.

The Community Teachers Association (CTA) approached Jones last spring about an "early out" before the holiday.

"Traditionally, Sweet Springs has not dismissed school early on the day before holidays other than the last day of school," Jones said. "There would be several advantages to this, not the least of which would be to allow families who are traveling to get an early start."

The board agreed that an early dismissal for Christmas vacation was appropriate and approved the request from CTA.

In other business, the board revisited the filing dates for the April 2008 board election.

Last month they voted and set the dates; however, an incorrect first legal date for filing had passed. The actual date for filing begins on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

The board also approved a proposed itinerary for the seniors to go to Tampa, Fla. for their senior trip.

The next board meeting will be Monday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m.

Contact Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net