The Princeton R-5 and Newtown-Harris boards of education held meetings Monday evening, with the Princeton board setting election filing dates and the Newtown-Harris board approving a teaching contract.
Princeton R-5
According to information provided by Superintendent Terry Mayfield, the board set the filing dates for the April 8 General Election as Dec. 17 through Jan. 21, 2014. The terms of Stan Johnson, Gene Anderson and Larry Letner will expire.
The date for the 2014 graduation was set as Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m. Also approved was the audit report as presented by Mark Higgins of Lockridge, Constant and Conrad, as well as the Fine Arts program review. A discipline policy for the preschool program was also approved and the resignation of Rene Millburn as a special education paraprofessional was accepted.
In her report, Elementary Principal Angie Ormsby said enrollment in grades preschool through six is 227, with 37 in preschool and 190 in grades kindergarten through six. The average daily attendance is 97 percent.
Elementary students of the month for September are Sierra Flowers, kindergarten; Kelsey Goodin, first grade; Lauren Girdner, second grade; Ethan Mathews, third grade; Luke Kelly, fourth grade; Jasmine Allen, fifth grade; and Breanna Cook, sixth grade.
Mrs. Ormsby reported on the Recognizing Our Awesome Readers (R.O.A.R.) program at the elementary building and gave an update on the Parents As Teachers program and the preschool program. She also gave an update on the food service program, noting that efforts continue to be made to have parents fill out the application for free and reduced lunches. Currently, 30 percent of students are on free lunch, with 10 percent on reduced lunch.
In her report, High School Principal Dana Seymour said enrollment in grades seven through 12 is at 199. She congratulated the varsity softball team on its district championship and said the junior high football team finished its season 4-2 and the junior high softball team finished its season 3-9. Junior high basketball begins Oct. 29, with a home game against Mercer at 6 p.m. Senior recognition nights have been held for varsity softball and football, with flowers provided by the booster club.
She reported that the Principal’s Advisory Committee will be comprised of Merideth Ussery, Maureen Funk, Jane Schroder and Jackie Price. She recognized the students of the week and said the program advisory committees for FACS/FCCLA, health/wellness, A-Plus, guidance and accelerated learning will be held today.
Ms. Seymour discussed the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals meeting held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Columbia and reported that Merideth Ussery is providing training on the math common core state standards. Fire and tornado drills have been held, with intruder and earthquake drills to be held this week. She noted that the first quarter ends on Oct. 18, with parent-teacher conferences scheduled for Oct. 25 from 1:15 to 8 p.m.
Ms. Seymour noted that the marching band will perform at the Missouri Day Festival on Saturday and recently competed in the Missouri Western State University homecoming parade on Oct. 12.
Mayfield gave a legislative report, as well as a budget update, noting that state revenues through the first quarter of the fiscal year are 2.7 percent higher than last year. He said September collections alone were 8.3 percent higher than last year, however revenue from gaming is behind 2.77 percent. He discussed the possibility of a challenge to school districts if the federal government does not reach an agreement related to the debt ceiling by Oct. 17.
Mayfield told the board that the district’s property and liability insurance broker, CPSK, will have information ready for the November meeting on the insurance renewal for 2014. Mayfield said that after reviewing the policy, he has asked for an increase in the value of the elementary building from $3.8 million to $4.7 million based on replacement/construction costs.
Mayfield told the board that the two-year extension of the junior high and high school cooperative agreement for football with the North Mercer district will need to be discussed at the next meeting as it must be submitted to MSHSAA by Dec. 1.
The board held an executive session to discuss personnel, with no action taken. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 11.
Newtown-Harris
According to information provided by Dr. Bryan Copple, the board approved the contract of Tashyana Dowell as high school social studies instructor for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year.
Board members approved the 2012-2013 school audit, conducted by Lockridge, Constant and Conrad, as well as the 2013-2014 A-Plus Program handbook. Policies involving student welfare-reporting abuse and absence, leave, vacation and family/medical leave were also approved.
The first quarter ends on Oct. 18 and parent/teacher conferences will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, with light refreshments to be served to those in attendance. Classes will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. that day and will not be in session on Friday, Oct. 25.
Dr. Copple said the annual PTO carnival/soup supper will be held Saturday, with the soup supper to be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and carnival games to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Royalty will be crowned at 8 p.m., with a raffle drawing to follow.
Dr. Copple said the PLC teams have started their year two meetings and reported on House Bill 253, which, as school officials had hoped, did not pass.
Upcoming events include Oct. 16, first home junior high basketball game; Oct. 24, picture retake day; Oct. 18, FFA Barnwarming, 8 to 11 p.m.; and Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day Assembly, 10 a.m.
The next regular board meeting is schedule for Monday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m.
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