Area boards of education met this week, giving the oath of office to new board members, electing officers and handling personnel items.
Pleasant View R-6
Superintendent Tiffany Otto said two board members who were re-elected in the April 7 election, Jeff Berti and Amy Harris, were given the oath of office and officers were elected, including Danny Westcott, president; Tim Allen vice president; Jill Reeter, secretary; and Berti, treasurer.
The board approved a field trip to Gladys Grimes Park for students in grades first through fourth on the last day of school. To comply with federal program requirements, the board adopted the Missouri Learning Standards, which are already being implemented throughout the district.
Several items were tabled, including insurance and the certified and non-certified salary schedules. Both items will be considered during a special meeting to be held at the end of April.
Mrs. Otto said a recent bus inspection resulted in 100 percent approval for the 2014-2015 school year by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. A lengthy calendar of events was shared with the board and patrons are reminded that an updated calendar is maintained on the district website for parent, student and staff use. A donation of $300 was accepted from the Church Women United. Added to a recent $250 memorial donation from the family of Helen Meservey, the funds will be used to help construct a sign in front of the school.
Following an executive session, the board hired Christina Rullo as a paraprofessional in the preschool classroom. Non-certified evaluations were discussed and information regarding hiring of non-certified staff will be released within 72 hours of the meeting. Kindergarten applications were also reviewed and were tabled until the May meeting, which is scheduled for May 12.
Princeton R-5
According to information provided by Dr. Robert Newhart about a meeting held Monday evening, the Princeton R-5 board unanimously approved increasing graduation requirements from 26.5 to 30 credits. The new requirements will be implemented over the next three years, with the class of 2016 being grandfathered in at 26.5 credits. The class of 2017 would need 28 credits to graduate and the class of 2018 would be required to have 30 credits.
The board voted to complete the purchase of property located adjacent to district property on the northwest corner of the school property. The property was purchased from Chere Farr in the amount of $6,033.26, including payment of back taxes of $1,433.26 and $4,600. The district has now purchased two properties in the last three months to gain access to the entire northwest corner of South Ballew and Coleman streets. The district plans to move forward and begin the process of tearing down the houses located on the property.
Dr. Newhart said the district, in conjunction with the Princeton Educational Foundation, submitted a track grant as written by Patty Stark and Dr. Newhart for $75,000. Awards will be announced in the fall.
Board members verified the results of the April 7 election, which included the passage of the Proposition C rollback waiver with 71.2 percent approval. Board members elected included Chad Smith and Blake Boxley. Both were given the oath of office after outgoing members Aaron Franklin and Phillip Rhoades were recognized for their service to the board. Officers were elected and include Rick Ellsworth, president, and Larry Pollard, vice president. Ron Parsons and Dirk Schwarzkopf will continue their positions as board secretary and treasurer respectively.
Several personnel items were discussed during the evening. In open session, the board accepted the resignation of Wade Hall, who has served as seventh and eighth grade social studies instructor and head girls basketball coach. He has accepted a job as K-12 principal at Ridgeway for the 2015-2016 school year.
Base salary and extra duty stipends were discussed and an extra duty group list was approved for positions that have no changes from the prior year.
In executive session, the board approved the offering of contracts for Lisa Wallace, elementary communication arts, and Kristen Frevert, high school counselor. Meridith Ussery, a current elementary teacher, was approved to move to the new position of high school tech/dual credit and Phoebe Duff, currently in the elementary tech position, was approved to move to third grade. The elementary tech position will be absorbed into the fourth through sixth grade communication arts position. Overall, the district will save one full-time teacher equivalency.
Extra-duty positions that are to be voted on in executive session pending individual contract signatures include ninth grade class sponsor, Peer Helpers, varsity assistant girl BB coach, junior high football and basketball cheerleading, School Improvement Team position, girls and boys junior high basketball and dance decorator stipend.
In a financial report, Dr. Newhart said the fund balance is at $2,247,965. The reported average daily attendance for this year was 362, up from 338 one year ago. Dr. Newhart said the increased ADA will affect the Small School Grant for the 2015-2016 school year as the cut-off for the grant is 350 ADA or lower from the prior year. That would mean a loss of the grant, which is approximately $160,000, however it is hoped that the increase in ADA, if it holds, would offset the loss of the grant to some degree.
In other business, the board approved a letter of intent to work with CTS as the project performance management company on upcoming facility projects and master plan and in good faith work on contract negotiations between both parties. Prior to the regular meeting the board held a working session regarding health insurance options, with information presented by Thomas McGee, who serves as the health insurance broker.
Elementary Principal Dana Seymour said the March average daily attendance in grades preschool through six was 93.71, with a year-to-date ADA of 95.57 percent of the 233 students enrolled. She reported on MAP testing and said the third quarter parent-teacher conference attendance was 85 percent. The Students of the Month for March were Mariana Almendarez, kindergarten; Celia Stiles, first grade; Noel Schreffler, second grade; Lauren Girdner, third grade; Hunter Foster, fourth grade; Carson Allnutt, fifth grade; and Riley Rhoades, sixth grade. She reported on the Muffins with Moms and Donuts with Dads programs and said Tiger Cubs basketball for grades pre-school through four will be held Friday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the gym.
Secondary Principal Tamie Miller reported that enrollment in grades seven through 12 is 187, with March attendance at 92.2 percent and the year-to-date attendance at 93.9 percent. She reported on Scholar Bowl, FCCLA, FFA and the Regional History Day Competition at Northwest Missouri State University, where Brayden Clapham received first place on his website on Gen. John J. Pershing. He was selected to participate at the state level in Columbia on April 25. She also noted that the band and choir students competed in the district contest with Joshua Schoonover earning a I on his multiple percussion solo and qualifying for state. She said testing in the secondary building begins April 23 and all juniors throughout Missouri will take the ACT test on April 28. Prom is scheduled for May 2 and the awards assembly is set for May 14, with graduation at 7 p.m. on May 15.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, May 11.
Newtown-Harris
Newtown-Harris board members voted to rehire the school principal during its meeting held Monday evening.
According to information provided by Dr. Bryan Copple, the board voted to offer a contract to Misty Foster as principal for the 2015-2016 school year. The vote was 5-2, with Julie Veach, Sharmyn Garcia, Joni Oaks, Chris Gibson and Jack Wells voting “yes” and Matt Miller and Mike Otto voting “no.”
A motion to offer a contract to Mrs. Foster at an earlier meeting had failed to get a majority vote. Several staff and community members had spoken in favor of offering a contract to Mrs. Foster during the public comment portion of the meeting. The action took place in an executive session after part-time contracts were offered to Chris Yunick and Patty Stark.
Outgoing board members Marty Altiser was presented with a plaque for his service to the board. Matt Miller and Julie Veach were given the oath of office having been elected in the April 7 election. Board officers were elected and included Sharmyn Garcia, president; Mike Otto, vice-president; and Joni Oaks, secretary.
Stormie Corwin and Jaci Rhoades gave teacher reports and Mrs. Foster said parent-teacher conferences had an attendance rate of 76 percent at the elementary level, up from 56 percent last year, and 68 percent at the secondary level, compared to 61 percent last year.
Board members approved a school audit contract with Lockridge, Constant and Conrad through 2016 and approved having a summer school co-op with North Mercer. Summer school will run from 7:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. May 26 through June 10. The board has indicated that the MPR Insurance Company will continue to be the health insurance carrier for the 2015-2016 school year. In addition to the current Choice Fund 2000-1, Choice Fund 2500 will be an option for employees. A new bell system for the 2015-2016 school year was approved as well.
Five students were approved to attend vo-tech in the 2015-2016 school year, including Ismael Garcia, Tanner Rhoades, Abby Ortega, Robert Allen and Blake Foster. Cathy Renner was approved to be the Newtown-Harris Parents as Teachers representative.
Upcoming events announced included GAL testing, April 16; juniors taking the ACT, April 28; Prom, April 24; senior trip, May 11-14; and graduation, May 15.
The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, May 4, which is a change in the regular meeting date due to the senior trip.
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