A board resignation was accepted and a bid approved for a new maintenance building during a meeting on Tuesday night of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education.
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A board resignation was accepted and a bid approved for a new maintenance building during a meeting on Tuesday night of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education.
Citing what he called possible future conflicts of interest, Terry Blattner submitted his resignation from the board, effective on Tuesday. Blattner had been the subject of a discussion during the August board meeting concerning his decision to send his youngest son to school in Chillicothe while remaining as a member of the R-9 Board of Education. The discussion was the result of a question posed by board member Terry Spillman, who had indicated he had received several telephone calls about Blattner’s actions.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, Blattner said that a letter he and other board members had received from the Trenton Teachers Association played no part in his resignation, stating that his decision had already been made by the time the letter came into his possession.
“The TTA paper didn’t mean a thing to me,” Blattner said, telling board members that they should “not sit back and let the teachers run the school district.”
Blattner said he ran for the board “to help the kids,” adding that he had received several positive comments from members of the public. However, he said he felt the majority of the public does not have the same attitude.
“This community seems to dwell on the negative,” he said. “If we would spend more time on the positive, we might be able to accomplish something.”
Blattner also said the district “has administrators who will strong-arm you, using your kids. It happened to me and it will happen again. If it happens to anyone’s kids, it’s not right.”
While board president Denise Hamilton and vice president Cass Fuller thanked Blattner for serving on the board, member Steve Holt said the board should not take the resignation of Blattner lightly.
“I feel like that as a board we have failed to provide the right leadership to the district,” Holt said. “I’m concerned that Terry threw in the towel because of pressure his family was receiving.”
Holt went on to say he was disappointed the TTA letter was not signed, adding he felt there was a sense in the district by faculty, staff and even the public that they are unable to approach the administration and board without some sort of retribution. He suggested setting up a series of meetings between the board, administration and school personnel to “find out what is going on and work to be positive.”
“We need to be working toward student achievement,” he said.
Mrs. Hamilton noted there were efforts being made to open the lines of communication between the board, administration and staff, noting that board members were being included on committees to work with staff on a variety of issues. Fuller said that while he was in favor of finding out staff concerns so they can be addressed, he didn’t want to open the discussions up to hash out “every little problem in the buildings.” He said the board should not “step on the administrators’ toes” and allow them to handle their responsibilities without board interference.
The board accepted the resignation on a 6-0 vote, after which time Blattner left the meeting.
The board will be accepting letters of interest from patrons in the district who would like to fill Blattner’s position, which runs through next April. Letters will be accepted until Sept. 27 and will be reviewed by the board at a Sept. 28 meeting, at which time a decision will be made as to whom the board will interview for the position. Letters should include the interested person’s qualifications and their reasons for wishing to be on the board. The letters are to be sent to the Secretary of the Board, 1607 Normal St., Trenton, MO 64683.
Prior to Blattner’s departure, the board voted 6-1 to accept a bid from Wayne King Construction to construct the new district maintenance building, which will be located on land that currently houses the new district office. The bid of $88,689 is contingent upon King providing bond documentation. If that is not received, the board agreed to accept a bid from Trickel Construction for $101,840. The work will include construction of the building shell and taking the utilities to the building. The district’s maintenance employees will then complete the inside work, including the heating and cooling system. The building will be 50-foot by 100-foot with 14-foot sidewalls.
Holt, who cast the lone no vote, said he was concerned with the cost the district has incurred for the new district office, the new maintenance building and the land purchased for the structures. He said the district has spent over $240,000 for the project, which he claimed was considerably more than what the district had originally said the work would cost. He said he had voted for the plan based on the original estimates, but would not have done so if he had known what the final cost would be.
Fuller and member Tracy Utley both indicated they believed the district had done the right thing in constructing their own facilities rather than continuing to rent building and storage space from the city. Director of Supportive Services George Moore noted that one of the first things he was told when he assumed his job was to find a place for a new district office and maintenance facility as the city at the time thought it had sold the building and that there might be a 60- to 90-day window for the district to vacate it.
Superintendent Craig Noah gave a brief overview of the Annual Yearly Report, which showed the school district meeting two of three proficiency targets in communication arts and three of three mathematics targets last year. The AYP is also broken down by building level, with Trenton High School meeting 0 of two in communication arts and three of three in math, Trenton Middle School meeting three of three in communication arts and two of three in mathematics and Rissler Elementary meeting two of three in communication arts and three of three in mathematics. Test results are judged in several categories, including by ethnic group and by those who receive free and reduced lunches. There is also an area for “all students,” which is an overall ranking for each building as well as for the entire district.
Noah said that while the district continued to show improvements in most areas, there were areas of concern that will need to be addressed. The board plans to meet at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28 to review the information in more depth, with administrators and counselors being present to review supporting documentation.
The board approved an after-school tutoring program, which could start as early as Oct. 1. The program, presented by Trenton Middle School Principal Toni Cox, would provide tutoring help to those students at Rissler, TMS and the high school who were in need of assistance in keeping up with their work. Mrs. Cox said that the current plan would be to offer tutoring four days a week at Rissler and the middle school and two days a week at the high school. There would be at least three teachers available at Rissler and two at the middle school and high school, all of which would depend on the number of students interested in program participation. That number has yet to be determined, with Mrs. Cox noting information about the program still has to be distributed to parents. Under the plan approved by the board, teachers would be paid $15 per hour to provide tutoring, although that amount may be adjusted as Mrs. Cox noted that several teachers have expressed an interest in working at Rissler School, but the interest was less at the middle school and high school. The approximate cost of the program at this time is nearly $12,000.
Approval was given for the transfer of money to the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library from three funds for which the Trenton R-9 District services as custodian. The library will receive $445.50 from the Jewett Norris account, $4,716 from the Frank Drake Estate and $143.60 from the Rose Hoover Fund.
Dr. Steve Legaard of Newton Learning gave an overview of the recent summer school program, noting that nearly 300 students attended and that gains of 80 percent were made in both math and reading, which were the focal point of this year’s session. Testing is done at the beginning and the end of the session with students in grades three through eight. He noted that surveys indicated a high favorable rate from parents about the summer school program, while staff numbers continue to be lower than the Newton officials would like. However, Dr. Legaard said the favorability of the program rated higher among staff this year than last year.
He went on to say that the district generated $483,000 in state aid from summer school and that under the new funding formula, the district would continue to receive that much if they continue the program, attendance stays at or above the current level and Trenton continues to be considered a “hold-harmless” district by the state. He also presented information concerning an after-school program offered by Newton, however, there was no discussion by the board.
The board heard several reports from individuals, including food service, instructional effectiveness (district testing) and guidance/counseling. What is being done in those areas, along with goals and suggestions, were also presented.
Moore presented a report from the district’s insurance carrier, MUSIC, which addressed several safety concerns. He noted most of the concerns have already been addressed. He suggested the board consider establishment of a safety committee that would address safety issues districtwide.
Noah noted he has made contact with several companies regarding ways the district might be able to save money with various facility improvements. A performance audit would be conducted, telling what improvements would need to be made and if the cost savings from those improvements would be enough to help pay for the work. He expects to have more information for the board at the November meeting.
In other business, the board:
• approved the 2004-2005 school audit, performed by Kevin Hudson.
• approved bus routes for the 2005-2006 school year.
• asked Moore to compile more information before deciding whether or not to seek bids for a 10-passenger van that would be used to transport staff and students to various events rather than the district paying for other transportation services.
• agreed to continue membership with the Missouri School Boards Association at a cost of $1,710.
• approved an early graduation request from Kara Ivey and Nicole Kolodziejski, both of whom will be allowed to participate in ceremonies in May, and a request for part-time attendance from Chelsea Woodard, who is attending classes at NCMC.
• heard information about the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education “Teacher of the Year Program.” Fourth grade teacher Carolyn Schmidt was the R-9 nominee for the award and she received a certificate from Rissler Elementary Principal Kathy Nolke in recognition of her nomination.
An executive session was also held. The board hired three special education paraprofessionals. Cynthia Powell and Rebecca Taul will be at the high school while Pat Scott will be at Rissler Elementary. All are from Trenton. Phillip Griffith of Gilman City was hired as a maintenance worker.
Sponsorships were given to instructors Taya Moore, DECA; David Elliott, FBLA; and Michelle Gaines, sophomore class.