Several area school boards held meetings Monday evening, with principal contracts renewed, resignations accepted and school calendars approved for the 2006-2007 school year. Boards meeting on Monday included Pleasant View R-6, Laredo R-7, Grundy R-5, Princeton R-5 and Newtown-Harris.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Several area school boards held meetings Monday evening, with principal contracts renewed, resignations accepted and school calendars approved for the 2006-2007 school year. Boards meeting on Monday included Pleasant View R-6, Laredo R-7, Grundy R-5, Princeton R-5 and Newtown-Harris.
Pleasant View R-6
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education learned of the retirement of a long-time employee, hired a paraprofessional and offered a three-year contract to the superintendent during its meeting.
According to information provided by Superintendent Brian Robinson, the board conducted an evaluation of Robinson before offering him a three-year contract with a salary of $52,800 for the first year.
In other personnel matters, the board learned that Bonnie McNabb has announced her retirement as school cook, effective at the end of the year. She has been employed in her position for the past 40 years. The board also agreed to hire Lacey Shilt of Chillicothe as a paraprofessional in the Early Childhood Special Education classroom. Also approved was an unpaid leave of absence for staff member Karen Ockenfels.
It was announced that only two candidates, Joe Brinser and Bill Wilson, filed for the two positions on the board by the deadline, meaning there is no need for an election in April.
Health screenings were approved for all staff, with the screenings to be performed by the Grundy County Health Department. Revisions to the Parent/ Family Involvement in Instruction and Other Programs Policy were approved. The revisions included adding six goals that will facilitate an environment in the district that encourages collaboration with parents, families and other members of the community in the child’s education.
The board approved participation in the Special Education Cooperative that will consist of Pleasant View R-6 (serving as the fiscal agent), Laredo R-7, Livingston County R-3 at Chula and Spickard R-2. A grant in the amount of $150,000 has been approved from the Missouri Department of Education for funding of the cooperative for three years. The cooperative will provide assistance in meeting compliance issues during state monitoring, improved access to specialized programming for children with low incidence disabilities, expanded support for staff professional development and the opportunity to maximize state and federal dollars available for special education services in the four districts.
In other business, the board accepted a bid for the district’s surplus bus from Mike Johnson of Trenton in the amount of $500 and approved an expenditure of $4,000 for the purchase of new computers for the district. It was announced that 15 applications for preschool for the 2006-2007 school year have been received with a maximum of 20 preschoolers to be accepted. The board was informed that all teachers in the district have reached the status of “Highly Qualified Teacher” according to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Board members also received a report on upcoming events. Among those included in the list were no school on Monday, Feb. 20 and an early out on March 10 at the end of the third quarter.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. March 14.
Laredo R-7
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education completed the administrator’s evaluation, gave final approval to a grant agreement and discussed the recent Missouri School Improvement Program preliminary report.
According to information provided by School Administrator Jean Dustman, the board completed her evaluation and will determine her salary for the 2006-2007 school year at a later date.
The board learned that the preliminary MSIP report has been received from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The report indicated that the district needed 71 points for accreditation and received a total of 92 points.
Board members gave their approval to a grant agreement for the North Central Missouri Special Education Cooperative, which includes Pleasant View R-6, Spickard, Chula and Laredo schools. The districts were awarded a $30,000 grant for this year to develop the co-op and $60,000 for the next two years to implement it.
The board voted to pay the $20 fee per staff member for a health fair, which will be conducted by the Grundy County Health Department and voted to purchase an additional umbrella policy through MUSIC insurance. The group also voted to adopt a policy update on “Parent/ Family Involvement in Instructional and Other Programs” and received MSBA policy updates for review.
In other business, the board was honored for their service to the district and agreed to hold a special meeting to review and update the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 13.
Grundy R-5
Two administrators had their contracts renewed and two persons had their resignations accepted during the Grundy R-5 board meeting.
According to information provided by Superintendent Rob Deaver, the board voted to offer contracts to elementary principal Lisa Fairley and secondary principal Randy Huffman for the 2006-2007 school year, with salaries to be determined at a later date. In another personnel matter, the board accepted the resignation of Board Treasurer Marilyn Shipley, who is retiring, and Camilla Dollins, who has served as vocal and instrumental music instructor for grades kindergarten through 12.
Program evaluations were given by Elaine Williams, third grade instructor; Patsy Bailey, librarian; Amy Botts, elementary special education instructor; Kim Foster, 504 Plan and high school special education instructor; and Mrs. Fairley on the Title IIA and Title IID program evaluations.
In her principal’s report, Mrs. Fairley updated the board on the Grundy County Spelling Bee,as well as professional development activities and elementary basketball. She noted that 42 students had perfect attendance for January and said spring pictures will be taken on Feb. 23. She said classes will be dismissed early on Friday and no classes will be held on Monday, Feb. 20 in observance of President’s Day.
Huffman recognized the January Students of the Month and shared a tentative schedule for the 2006-2007 school year. He recognized the boy’s varsity basketball team for their second-place finish in the HDC Tournament and discussed plans for Homecoming, which will be held Feb. 24. He also gave an update on the Smokebusters Program as well as the CHOICES program, which will be presented to seventh and eighth grade students and is sponsored by the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce.
The board approved policy updates in the areas of behavioral expectations, parent/family involvement in education, student dress, financial management, salary deductions and students with disabilities instruction.
In other business, the board reviewed and approved the 2006-2007 school calendar, which shows Thursday, Aug. 16, 2006 as the first day of class and Tuesday, May 15, 2007 as the last day. The board voted to approve health screenings in conjunction with the Grundy County Health Department and heard a report on a proposal by the Chillicothe R-2 District to start an alternative school next year for At-Risk students in grades nine through 12 if there is enough interest from area schools. The school would be run by the Chillicothe School District.
Board members voted to seek bids for the 2005-2006 school audit and were given an update on equipment maintenance at the elementary building in Humphreys and the high school building in Galt. Tuition rates were also discussed and the board agreed to leave them as they currently are, which is $3,700 for students in grades kindergarten through six and $4,900 for students in grades seven through 12. The board denied a request from a faculty member to provide an annuity to those members who opt to not take in the district-provided health insurance and was also informed that the district received two grants from the Grundy Electric Community Foundation. One grant, in the amount of $749, will be used to purchase a cabinet and supplies for the health room, while the other grant, in the amount of $750, will be used to upgrade the yearbook computers to be compatible with the required software.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 23. This is a change in the regular meeting date.
Princeton R-5
The Princeton Board of Education voted to rehire its principals during its meeting.
According to information provided by Superintendent Alan Hamilton, the board voted to extend contract offers to elementary principal Dulcie Price and secondary principal George Scurlock for the 2006-2007 school year. Both will be given salary increases of 4.25 percent.
In other business, the board approved Feb. 17 as a snow makeup day, approved reviews of the professional development and guidance programs and set tuition rates for the 2006-2007 school year at $5,900. Various salary schedule options for the 2006-2007 school year were also reviewed.
Newtown-Harris
The Newtown-Harris Board extended a contract to the high school principal, approved the school calendar and gave their approval to the senior trip during its meeting.
Superintendent Andy Anderson said the board offered a contract to High School Principal Misty Foster for the 2006-2007 school year and approved the 2006-2007 school calendar, which shows Aug. 23 as the first day of class and May 18, 2007 as the last day.
The board approved the senior trip, which will be held May 8-12 at Osage Beach. The board also approved May 18 as a makeup day due to inclement weather and gave approval to the Technology Plan for the 2006-2007 school year.
In other business, the board heard a teacher report from Beth Foster and recognized second grader Brady Huffman as elementary student of the month and the high school basketball teams for the boy’s first-place finish and the girls’ fourth-place finish in the HDC Tournament. It was announced that since only two candidates, Doug Fairley and John Mino, have filed for the two vacancies on the board, no election will have to be held. It was also announced that the Wellness Committee is working and will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday in the superintendent’s office.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 15.