Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Elks Lodge held their annual Students of the Year Banquet on April 19, 2016. Roger Tripplett, Exalted Rule welcomed the 14 students who had already been honored as a Student of the Month at their respective high schools. Larry White introduced each student and thanked everyone for attending. This was his 11th year of hosting the Students of the Year banquet.
Representing Bell City are Rebecca Heuring and Peyton Maddox, from Bloomfield are Adrianna Gensler and Tyler Battles, from Dexter are Erin Lauters and Garrett Kyle, from Bernie are Cybil Voss and Brock Beacham, from Richland are Makala Pinkley and Matthew Miller, from Puxico are McKenna Hawthorne and Nathan Dare, and representing Advance are Jennifer Beal and Creighton Miles.
Bill Hampton, Director of Three River College Center at Dexter, was the guest speaker. "You are the best of the best," Hampton said of the students in the audience. "The Elks are extremely active in the community with Youth Basketball Shootout, Drug Awareness, Three Rivers Patrons of the Arts, Goodwill Games, and Youth Wrestling. When you finish college remember to give back to your community by joining an organization such as the Elks."
"If it is to be it is up to me!" Larry White said those are the top ten words to live by. "When you leave the nest, get involved in the community, join a civic organization, become a youth coach or run for city council, just get involved in your community."
Students who earned top honors as Elks Students of the Year are Jennifer Beal and Tyler Battles.
Beal is the daughter of Jesse and Jonna Beal. She will attend School of the Ozarks in the fall and major in Music Education.
Battles is the son of Kristie Battles and Michael Battles. He is yet undecided as to where he will attend college, but he plans to major in Biology.
Shown in the photo are Elks Student Awards coordinator, Larry White, with Students of the Year Jennifer Beal from Advance and Tyler Battles from Bloomfield. Along with their plaques, the two each received a $200 check for their achievements.
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Elks Lodge held their annual Students of the Year Banquet at the Elks Lodge on April 19, 2016.
Two students from each school district within Stoddard County were recognized throughout the year as Dexter Elks Lodge Students of the Month.
Each April, all of the students are recognized at the annual banquet to honor their achievements and to name the Students of the Year.
The Dexter Elks have sponsored this program for 40 years and Larry and Carol White have headed the program for the past 11 years.
Students, their parents, and their school counselor were treated to a delicious meal catered by the Elks. Each student was invited to the stage to introduce themselves and who attended the banquet with them.
Shown in the photo are front row seated from left to right: Rebecca Heuring, of bell City, Adrianna Gensler of Bloomfield, Erin Lauters and Garrett Kyle from Dexter, and Cybil Voss of Bernie. Standing are from left to right Brock Beacham of Bernie, Skie Pinkley and Parker Miller from Richland, Nathan Dare of Puxico, and Jennifer Beal of Advance. Not present for the photo were Tyler Battles from Bloomfield (He was at a baseball game and came later to the banquet), McKenna Hawthorne from Puxico, and Creighton Miles of Advance.
Dexter, Missouri - Erin Lauters is the 2016 recipient of the Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship.
Presenting the scholarship are Laura Lee stone of the Beta Sigma chapter and Debbie Essner of the Gamma Delta Masters chapter.
The four local chapters of Beta Sigma Phi, Xi Lambda Psi, Beta Sigma, Xi Lambda Eta, and Gamma Delta Masters, contribute to scholarship fund.Each year, a Dexter senior is selected to receive this $500 scholarship.
Erin Lauters is the daughter of Ron and Kollete lauters.
She has been a member of the DHS Marching Band all four years of high school. She has also been a member of the Jazz Cats all four years of high school.
Erin is a member of the Rotary Interact Club, student Council, Future Teachers of America and has been on the Scholar Bowl team her junior and senior years. She is in the Top 10% of her class.
She has been a member of the All-District Band for three years and All-District Jazz Band for two years. Erin was a delegate for Missouri Girls State in 2015.
Her plans are to attend Arkansas State University and pursue a degree in Elementary Education.
Congratulations Erin!
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Public School Board along with superintendent Mitch Wood met for the a regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.
The School Board recognized the April 5th municipal election, reinstating incumbents Nancy Mayer and Herman Morse. They also elected new board offices. Serving as board presidents will be Rick Williams, vice president Herman Morse, board secretary will remain Laura Miller, and board member Nancy Mayer will serve as treasurer.
Board members also approved officers for the Dexter Public Schools Foundation to include Mark Becker as president, Rick Williams as vice president, Joe Watson as treasurer and secretary will be Herman Morse. Representing the School Board will be Mark Nea.
Shown in the photo is Nancy Mayer and Herman Morse being administered the Oath by Laura Miller.
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Public School Board along with superintendent Mitch Wood met for the a regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.
Board Reorganization
A. The existing Board reviewed and approved certified election results. County Clerk Joe Watson confirmed Nancy Mayer and Herman Morse were elected to the Dexter R-XI Board of Education.
B. The existing Board voted to dissolve in order to reorganize.
C. Oath of Office. Board Secretary Laura Miller administered the required oath to Nancy Mayer and Herman Morse.
D. Elections of Board Officers. Mr. Wood oversaw the election of the new Board’s President who then presided over the further election of the remaining three Board officers – Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The new officers are President Rick Williams, Vice-President Herman Morse, Board Secretary Laura Miller, and Treasurer Nancy Mayer.
E. Call to Order. The new Board moved forward as the new President presided.
Public Comments
CTA presented updates of school happenings throughout the campus. Requests to address Board -- none
Correspondence – thank you note
Recognition of Guests - none
Old Business
The Board approved the revised Football Scoreboard Lease Purchase Agreement after school attorney Mr. Ringer made revisions. Local merchants and organizations have pledged more than $300,000 in the form of seven-year sponsorships to appear on the scoreboard which Mitch Wood, superintendent, noted would fully fund the purchase.
Mr. Mouser gave information obtained from technology committee meetings that have been held. The major concern from the committee was to provide more technology access to our students. The committee felt carts with chrome books would be a tremendous addition along with some interactive technology such as, smart boards or Promethean boards at SW Elementary. The technology director stated that in order to do this more access points were needed throughout the building. Mr. Wood recommended that we look into putting some mobile chrome books in Central, Middle School and High School and to look at placing some Interactive boards at Southwest. This is contingent upon making some cuts within the buildings to help off-set the cost. The board agreed with this recommendation.
New Business
The Board renewed its annual membership with the Missouri School Boards Association. The cost was $7,631, a $500 increase from the previous year.
The Board approved to declare some outdated and used books in Middle School as surplus property. Middle School plans to sell these to students at a minimal cost or discard them through auction.
The Board approved a technology infrastructure improvement project to upgrade the wireless accessibility in the buildings at a cost of $89,997. 80% of the cost may be subject to e-rate reimbursement which puts the cost to the district approximately $17.999.40.
The Board set the date and time of Thursday, June 30, 2016, at 6:00 PM for the regular June Board meeting.
In accordance to the current by-laws of the Dexter Public Schools Foundation, the Dexter Board of Education approved the appointments to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Board approved the Directors and their respective terms of office as presented:
President Mark Becker – April, 2019
Vice-President Rick Williams – April, 2018
Treasurer Joe Watson – April, 2019
Secretary Herman Morse – April, 2018
Member Mark Nea – April, 2017
The Board approved a resolution honoring the staff members retiring at the end of the 2015 - 2016 school year.
Discussion Items
Nurse’s Report was presented.
Board Committees – There were four standing committees assigned by Board President Williams: Activities Committee – Mark Nea and Jim Reiker
Public Relations Committee – Nancy Mayer and Bob Thrower
Building and Grounds Committee – Herman Morse and Kevin Bishop
Principal’s gave a report on happenings in their buildings.
In Executive Session:
The Board accepted a letter of resignation from Middle School Asst. Football Coach Eric Boles.
The Board accepted a letter of resignation from Head Bus Mechanic Brad LaRue, effective April 12th 2016.
The Board accepted a letter of resignation from Classroom Aide Janet Heuring, effective at the end of the 2015-2016 school year.
The Board accepted a letter of resignation from Classroom Aide Melissa Yount, effective at the end of the 2015-2016 school year.
The Board employed teacher Kris Rudd for the 2016-2017 school year. His assignment is High School Industrial Arts.
The Board approved the employment of coaches and sponsors for the 2016-2017 school year as presented.
The Board voted to approve a 2% increase for the Classified Staff based upon the recommendation or the administration for implementation July 1, 2016.
The Board voted to approve a one-time wage adjustment for administrative office classified staff based upon the recommendation of the administration for implementation July 1, 2016.
