Princeton, Newtown-Harris Boards Hold July Meetings

The Princeton R-5 and Newtown-Harris boards of education met in regular session on Monday night at their respective schools.
Princeton R-5
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education heard an update on the district’s construction project, agreed to seek bids for several items, set the tax levy hearing and handled personnel items during a meeting held Monday evening.
According to information provided by the district, the board received an update from Ellison Auxier Architects on the construction project currently under way. The excavation work is on schedule, with great progress being made. The board plans to approve a general contractor bid at its Aug. 21 meeting. In other old business, the board approved the 2017-2018 staff and student handbooks.
Under new business, the board agreed to accept bids for bread, milk and diesel fuel, with all of them due Aug. 4, and approved an authorization resolution to update board members’ information with Great Western Bank.
An increase in substitute pay was approved for the 2017-2018 school year. The previous daily rate was $75, with that amount to be increased to $80. Long-term substitute pay (longer than 10 consecutive days) wil be $90 per day. Any substitute filling in for a position other than bus driver will receive the same daily pay rate. Substitute bus drivers will be compensated based on the regular route pay.
Following a closed session, the board accepted the resignation of head cook Meri Power, who will remain on staff as a cook. Lindsay Glenn was hired to serve as the head cook. Also hired were Velma Allen and Eric Hanson, who will serve as paraprofessionals for the 2017-2018 school year. In addition, the board approved the legal contract for the lease purchase of the school bus fleet.
Board members set a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 21 at which time they will consider general contractor bids. The annual tax levy hearing will precede the meeting at 5:15 p.m.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 14.
Newtown-Harris
The Newtown-Harris Board of Education also met Monday night, approving a new random drug-testing policy, the implementation of an Early Childhood Special Education program and several persons for positions.
According to information provided by Superintendent Dr. Kim Johnson, Patty Stark and Cathy Renner presented a plan to the board to implement the program, which would provide extra funding to the district. The plan was approved and will be implemented in the 2017-2018 school year.
In other business, the board appointed Staci Freeman as the Drug-Testing Coordinator for the 2017-2018 school year and approved a new random drug testing policy for all ninth through 12th grade students who are involved in extracurricular activities.
In personnel matters, Colleena Johnson was approved as the seventh through 12th grade math instructor and Beth Williams was approved for a fifth/sixth grade position. Dr. Johnson was named the Title IX PL-93-142 Compliance Coordinator. Board members also approved the 2017-2018 membership for Missouri Association of Rural Education as well as the Special Education Core Assurance/504 Plan. Anderson-Erickson Dairy was awarded the milk bid for the 2017-2018 school year.
In his report, Principal Dustin Freeman told the board that the Northeast Regional Professional Development Consortium has met with the Newtown-Harris Professional Learning Communities Committee to plan for curriculum revisions for the 2017-2018 school year. The N-H PLC team was also asked by the NERPDC to present a staff training for the Adair County R-1 School District reflective of the district’s embedded daily intervention schedule.
Stephanie Oaks, who serves as the seventh through 12th grade agriculture instructor and FFA advisor, was congratulated for being nominated as the Regional Teacher of the Year. She was one of seven finalists and this was her second year to be nominated. It was reported that Mrs. Oaks and five students attended the Washington Leadership Conference in Washington D.C.
Freeman reported that Band Director Ethan Stewart will be holding band camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 3-8 and said staff members will be attending a district CPR training from 8 a.m to 3 pm. on Wednesday, Aug. 2.
Dr. Johnson reported that summer maintenance work is ahead of schedule and moving along very nicely. She commended Ron and Judy Hall and their summer crew for their work. She noted that assessed valuations are in and the tax rate hearing was set for 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 14. She also said the new buses will be in the district during the first week of August and the recently-purchased spare bus has been delivered.
The next regular meeting will be held in conjunction with the tax levy hearing on Monday, Aug. 14.