But Superintendent Richard Erickson told board members Monday night that the new books, which include separate texts for spelling, writing, literature and grammar, are worth the price.

The district tries to budget about $130,000 a year for new textbooks, Erickson said. This year the cost was $172,000.

“Do I feel bad about that?” Erickson said. “No, I don’t ever feel bad about going overboard for kids.”

But, Erickson told board members that the district will watch the budget between now and the end of the school year. It’s possible, he said, a portion of the $42,000 can be made up by using funds from the food service budget.

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George Cain, a Leavenworth body shop owner, and Charlie Conrad, Tonganoxie fire chief, asked for the endorsement of the Tonganoxie school board and City Council on a planned car-detailing fund-raiser.

He said he planned to work with other schools and firefighters in the county to hold car-detailing fund-raisers to assist families of firefighters and police officers killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist acts at the World Trade Center in New York City.

The funds, Cain said, would be distributed directly to the victims’ families.

By general consensus, board members and council members agreed to give their endorsement.

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An audit of the district’s finances resulted in a “clean opinion,” said Jim Long, an auditor who presented his review of the Tonganoxie school district’s budget. Board members approved Long’s opinion.

In other matters, the board:

Voted to purchase a 1995 Aerostar van with 50,000 miles for $6,800 from a federal surplus source in Topeka.

Accepted a bid of $6,353 from J.F. Denney for a replacement heating and air-conditioning system for the music and science wing of the high school.

Appointed Bob DeHoff to serve as delegate at the Nov. 30-Dec. 2 meeting of the Kansas Association of School Boards in Topeka.

Following an executive session, approved hiring: Wanda Robbins, special education bus driver; Brandon Parker, freshman basketball coach; David St. Cyr as junior varsity girls basketball coach; and Darren Neas as golf coach.