Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Scott Dill, a public educator of 20 years experience, half of which has been in administration was hired on Thursday, December 17, 2015 by the R-I Board of Education to lead Poplar Bluff Schools into its new facilities and beyond.

Since 2012, Dill has served as superintendent of Houston Schools, a rural district 120 miles northwest, where he began as middle school principal. He was employed for a decade prior as a library media specialist at Macks Creek Schools in Central Missouri.

“I am both honored and humbled to have been selected by the board to lead the Poplar Bluff R-I School District,” said Dill, who received a regional award from the Missouri Association of Administrators last year for his successful superintendency. “I eagerly anticipate the challenges and opportunities inherent to this position.”

Dill is in the final stages of his dissertation toward a doctorate in educational leadership from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, where he also received his master’s in educational administration along with a specialist degree. He earned his bachelor’s in teaching from Missouri State University in Springfield.

“Working together, in a collaborative partnership, I am confident we will continue the tradition of excellence, which is a hallmark of this storied school and community,” Dill continued, exclaiming: “Onward and upward!”

With assistance from the Missouri School Boards’ Association starting in September, a series of focus groups were held for the community and staff to determine the qualities desired in the next superintendent. A retired Missouri educator of over four decades, Dr. Jerry Waddle, who led the search that resulted in the hiring of Chris Hon in 2010, again served as the district’s MSBA consultant.

According to the results of a survey completed by over 400 patrons, more than three quarters of respondents were interested in an individual with effective experience running a district. In addition, more than half of those surveyed – mostly parents and teachers, favored a leader with familiarity navigating school construction. In 2013, Dill helped drive Houston’s first victorious bond issue in 14 years, resulting in a multi-million dollar campus renovation.
 
“With the new building projects, we are on our way to becoming a preeminent district,” stated John Scott, school board president. “I know that our new superintendent will build on our recent improvements and help guide us to the next level.”

Before an agreement was reached with Dill, the seven-member school board narrowed a field of a dozen applicants to the five strongest, and interviewed the finalists meticulously with help from a search committee. The top three were brought back in for a second round of screening.

“The combination of community and teacher participation I thought was dynamic in both diversity in background and experience,” reflected Jeff Shawan, a member of the 12-person search committee. “The board listened carefully to our comments and engaged us and invited us to participate beyond just simply filling out a scorecard. They should be lauded.”

Dill will assume the helm on July 1, two months before construction on the historic buildings plan is scheduled for completion. Hon, who announced his eventual retirement from public education one year ago, said over the next several months he is committed to involving Dill on any major decisions that will have a direct impact on the 2016/17 school year.

“Mr. Dill has the enthusiasm and vision to help our school and community achieve our most important goal: to provide our children the best education available,” Scott concluded. “I look forward to the next chapter at Poplar Bluff R-I.”

Submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator
Poplar Bluff R-I School District

Dexter, Missouri - Nearly 18,000 canned and non-perishable food items were collected at Dexter Schools during their 2015 Stuff A Bus Food drive.  They set a new record this year for the most items collected!

On Monday, high school students, directed by school counselor, Judy Patterson, delivered the goods to the Stoddard County Mission. Other recipients this year included the Dexter Elks and First Baptist Church for distribution to families in need this holiday season.

Central School turned in 6,042 cans, the largest contribution of the four Dexter campuses. T.S. Hill Middle School collected 4,851 and at the high school level, 3,600 items were turned in and at Southwest, 3,196.

OPAA Food Service delivered cookies to the winning school, and Williams Moving Company once again supplied the use of their truck to deliver the goods.

Pictured with Patterson are (front) Nick Renfoe, Storm Massey, Brandon Laird and Cody McFaddin. In the truck are Nate Weathers, Kyle Ward and Cale Williams from Williams Moving Company.

Thanks to everyone who participated and especially to those who donated the much needed food for the Mission.

Dexter, Missouri - Students at Central Elementary School in Dexter are having their annual coat drive.  There are only two days left to drop off your gently used or new coats.

The coats will be donated to the Stoddard County Gospel Mission at the holiday break. Many more coats are needed this holiday season, and local residents are reminded to look in their closets and consider donating any coats — from infant to adult sizes — to this cause.

Coats may be dropped off at Central School or taken directly to the mission. 

Shown with a few coats collected are third graders (seated) Brooklyn Mouton and Cale Whittington and standing, Hunter Farmer and Jaiden Colwell. Coats will be collected at the school through Friday, December 18th.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Several Poplar Bluff High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society during the fall ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 10, in the Administrative Building.

The new inductees included seniors Chase Burch, Zachary Cambron, Chang Chi, Steven Haley, Kailee Kanell, Zachery Lawrence and Mallory Pierce. They join their 22 classmates who made the pledge during the spring induction, each signing a PBHS register that goes back to 1941, 20 years after the national organization was founded.

Selection is based on GPA, service, leadership and character by majority vote of a five-member faculty council appointed annually by the high school principal, according to chapter adviser Paul Conover, social studies teacher.

(Standing, left to right) NHS vice president Christian Cmehil-Warn and president Jackson Rideout perform the candle ceremony for inductees Chang Chi, Zachary Cambron, Chase Burch, Zachery Lawrence, Kailee Kanell and Steven Haley, before Principal Mike Kiehne (seated) awards the certificates. Not present was student Mallory Pierce.

Submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator
Poplar Bluff R-I School District

Dexter, Missouri - Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, sponsored a pizza party for T. S. Hill middle school 6th grade history students for their assistance in placing the Christmas Wreaths at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery on December 12th.

Mindy Thurmon encourages the student to raise money each year for the Wreaths Across America event.  She is the 6th grade history teacher at T.S. Hill Middle School.

The students raised over $1,600 and have increased their goal to $2,000 for the 2016 event.

Cemetery Supervisor Ken Swearingen was on hand to personally thank those who participated.

Pizza was served to the students by the Administrative staff of the school.

Greg Mathis hopes that this will become an annual service project for the school and Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home looks forward to sponsoring the pizza party on a annual basis.