Dexter, MO - The Dexter School Board met on November 17, 2020 for a regular board meeting. Below are the meeting notes.
Call to Order/Roll Call/Pledge:
The Board President announced the meeting is to begin, ascertains the attendance status of all board members as present (Mrs. Demaree attended via Google Meet), and then leads in the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Consent Agenda: The consent agenda was approved.
Public Comments: There were no public comments made.
Old Business:
A. There was no old business during this meeting.
7. New Business:
A. The board approved the 19-20 ASBR.
B. The board approved the 20-21 budget amendments for the month of November.
C. The board approved the 19-20 summer school report prepared by Mrs. Angie Duncan.
D. The board reviewed MCE policy updates P-2115, P-6180, R-6190
for discussion and approval at the December board meeting.
8. Discussion Items:
The following items were discussed with the board:
A. Principal’s Reports
B. Nurse’s Report
D. Superintendent’s Report (See Attachment)
E. Next Regular Board Meeting is December 15, 2020.
In Closed Session:
1. The board approved 17, 2021 semester graduates pending completion of all graduation requirements.
2. The board approved the following substitutes for the 20-21 school year: Ray Carrillo
Bedford Ray Coats son of the late Rev. John Ether Coats and Nellie Lee Pruitt Coats, was born in Rural Bernie, Missouri on November 6, 1938 and departed from this life at his residence in Bernie, Missouri on November 22, 2020 at the age of 82.
Mr. Coats had served in the National Guard for 7 years, later he worked at Allen-Christian Buick as Service Manager and as a salesman. Mr. Coats was very active in his community, He had helped set up the Ambulance in Bernie, Missouri and had worked as EMT for 10 years. He served as Stoddard County Commissioner for 16 years and Bernie Alderman for 20 years. He attended Northside Baptist Church of Bernie, Missouri having served as Deacon for 30 plus years.
He was united in marriage to Emma “Biddy” Borders in Bernie, Missouri on December 9, 1961. Mrs. Coats survives in their home in Bernie.
Other survivors include one daughter, Angela Becker & husband Glen of St. Louis, Missouri; by two sisters, Melba Florene Hube of Upland, California and Mary Louise Smee of Paducah, Kentucky; by two grandchildren, Rachel Anne Becker and Tristan John Becker; also by other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death other than by his parents, by two brothers, Ether Lee Coats and James Edward Coats.
A Graveside Memorial service will be conducted on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. at Bernie Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie in charge of all arrangements.
Dexter, MO - Each year the Dexter High School FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) organizes a Mac & Cheese Drive.
They gathered 1,009 boxes from students and faculty to donate to the Stoddard County Gospel Mission Food Bank.
Pictured from left to right Sharon Guy, FBLA adviser, Emily Northern (in van), Rachel Lin, Dylan Shelton and Keller Hatton.
Students across campus had individual experiences this month learning firsthand about different career fields, with the use of virtual technology.
Kindergartners were fortunate enough to link up with a former Kinder Mule now serving the U.S. Air Force, while Middle School SINGS students were able to connect with a scientist studying fish in Canada.
During Career Day on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Kindergarten Center, students Matthew Feltz and Preston Johnson came to school dressed as soldiers, which prompted paraprofessional Pilar Hopper to make arrangements to FaceTime her daughter Amiah Berry of the PBHS Class of 2019, who completed her Basic Military Training over the summer.
“…I told the boys they had a surprise phone call from my daughter, a real soldier, and they smiled really big and I took them out in the hall so they could talk,” Hopper recalled. “She asked them if they wanted to be soldiers when they grow up and they both said, ‘Yes.’”
Berry proceeded to teach the kindergartners how to properly salute, as well as make a war face. The Poplar Bluff alumna is currently attending technical school at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, and will be stationed at Fort Sam Houston in Texas at the end of the year.
Earlier in the week, a group of Middle School students participated in a video chat with Hannah Harrison, a scientist who is working toward her doctoral degree in Guelph, Canada upon serving in the Peace Corps for three years. Harrison grew up in Alaska.
“She mainly studies salmon and she spoke to the students about how she studies the salmon, working in fisheries and on fishing boats, as well as her work experience in the Peace Corps,” explained Krista Yarbro, teacher over the gifted program.
Yarbro linked up with the scientist via Skype a Scientist, an online database. Rather than selecting a specific field of study, she said she chose “any scientist” in order to expedite the pairing process. She plans to connect her class with another scientist through the program in the near future.
Pictured: Amiah Berry of the U.S. Air Force teaches kindergartens how to salute on Career Day. (Note: She is strictly wearing her hat indoors to display her uniform for the students).
Article and Photo by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
The Mules Booster Club has named Audrey Rahlmann-Lack and Jacob Baller the October Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports and Outdoors.
Jacob Baller, a junior football player, ended the 2020 season with 24 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns. A two-way starter, he also had 48 tackles, tying for third highest on the team. According to his coach David Sievers, he had “numerous big plays” and “big games” against Sikeston, Cape Girardeau and Jackson. While he was nominated for football, Jacob is a clutch baseball player as well.
“On offense, he led the team in receiving yardage but also made numerous highlight film catches,” said Sievers, noting that as an underclassman Jacob was both an excellent leader on the field as well as academically. “On defense, he was one of our team leaders, and asked to play several positions.”
Audrey, a senior softball player, had a .390 batting average, 17 singles, nine doubles, six triples (the second highest on the team), 14 RBIs, 32 runs (the highest), 23 out of 24 steals (the highest), an on-base percentage of .425, a slugging percentage of .646 and a fielding percentage of .868, with 90 total chances, 77 putouts and two double-plays during the 2019 season. A four-year letterman, she was named All-District second team and All-Conference first team this season. In the classroom, she maintains an 11.14 grade point average, and is a member of the National Honor Society.
"Audrey is a fantastic athlete, but even more [importantly] she is a great leader and role model for the underclassmen in our program," said her coach Joel McDuffey, adding that she was the team’s most positive, vocal leader. “Her constant positive attitude and effort embodies the culture we, as a team, worked toward this year. She will be missed next season and we wish her all the success as she joins the Three Rivers Softball program next year.”
Pictured from left to right: Jacob Baller and Audrey Rahlmann-Lack are presented the AOM awards by Mules Booster Club vice president Brian Taylor on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Photo and article by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
