Regular Board Meeting Notes - July 27, 2023 - 6:00 PM-Regular Board Meeting
Call to Order/Roll Call/Pledge:
The Board President announced the meeting is to begin, ascertains the attendance status of all board members, with Mr. Jon Thompson and Mrs. Saren Demaree being absent. The Board President leads in the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Consent Agenda: The consent agenda was approved.
Public Comments: There were no public comments.
Old Business:
A. There was no old business to discuss.
New Business:
A. The board approved budget amendments for the month of July.
B. The board approved authorizing the redemption of $575,000 principal amount of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2020 and authorizing the publication of notice of redemption. By completing the $575,000 prepayment on March 1, 2025, the District will save $86,250 of interest expense.
C. The board approved the re-adoption of policy and regulation 0342-Nepotism, Conflict of Interest, and Financial Disclosure. This is required for the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Discussion Items: The following items were discussed with the board:
A. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for August 22nd at 6:00 p.m. The tax rate hearing will begin at 5:50 p.m.
In Closed Session:
1. The board approved the following substitutes for the 2023-2024 school year pending a favorable background check and sub certification:
2. The board approved the following resignations, retirements, and/or recensions: Rob Nichols-Assistant HS Baseball Coach.
3 . The board approved the transfer of the following individuals for the 2023-2024 school year, pending appropriate certification: Kim Lacy transferred from MS Building Aide to MS Library Aide pending completion of the substitute certificate.
Puxico, Missouri - The regular meeting of the Puxico R-8 School Board of Education was held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, 2023 in the Board Room of the Central Administrative Building on the Puxico school campus. The Board opened the meeting with a prayer by Mike Clubb.
President Chad Payne called the meeting to order.
The Board approved the minutes of the regular board meeting on June 8, 2023 and the closed session meeting on July 22, 2023.
The Board approved the payment of bills and went over the financial reports.
The Board adopted the Agenda.
Superintendent Cindy Crabb’s Report
Mrs. Crabb gave updates on the Governor's Grant extending the 2023 - 2024 school year to address teacher salaries. The transportation budget will be expected to be fully funded at 75% of allowable costs. A bill has been introduced to put back in a minimum number of instruction days that must be provided in public schools. Currently they are a 5 day a week district and they operate on the hours based calendar for 168 student days with additional Professional Development days for a total of 175 hours. The District and Mr. Todd Jenkins, new Jr. High Principal, hosted a welcome luncheon for the Junior High staff this week.
She also went over Curriculum and Instruction, Employment Opportunities, Facilities Updates and a very busy Upcoming Schedule for the District.
New scoreboards have been installed in the Arnold Run gymnasium, thanks to donations from First Midwest Bank. The floors have been removed in a few of the elementary classrooms, the upper level of the special education building, and the special education office. new flooring will be installed. New signage has been ordered for the ball fields, the junior high classrooms, and district directive signage. First grade will receive new student furniture as well as two classrooms at the high school. District security cameras requiring replacement are also being installed.
Under New Business several items were approved including 1) Evaluation of Instructional Climate (A+, At Risk and Code of Conduct); 2) Evaluation of Educational Persistence (Attendance, Dropouts, Grade Promotion and Retention); 3) Evaluation of School Service including Facilities and Safety; 4) Appointment of Superintendent as authorized representative of the Board and as federal/state program director for the 2023-2024 school year; 5) Participation in the teacher Baseline Salary Grant program; 6) Approval of Board Policy Updates; 7) Approval of the Emergency Mitigation Resolution and 8) Approval to seek bids for the storm damage repair on campus.
A motion to table the Evaluation of Technology portion of the meeting passed. There are many updates on campus and they should be done by the time teachers return from their summer break.
Motion to set the date and time for the Tax Rate Hearing was made. The Tax Rate Hearing will be at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, August 17, 2023.
Important Dates to Remember:
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 - Elementary Classroom Rosters Available
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 - Junior High School Registration for Grades 7 and 8, Schedules, and Pictures
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 - High School Registration, Lockers, Pictures, and Parking
Thursday, August 10, 2023 - New Student Enrollment
Monday, August 14, 2023 - Freshmen Orientation
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 - 6th Grade Orientation
Monday, August 21, 2023 - Back to School Night
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 - First Day of School
The Board voted to exit the open portion of the meeting and enter into the Executive Closed Session at 7:30 p.m.
The next regular board meeting is set for 7:00 p.m., August 17, 2023 right after the Tax Rate Hearing meeting.
Sixth Grade Beginning Band Camp
Beginning band camp will take place Monday, July 24 through Friday, July 28, in the band room at T.S. Hill Middle School.
This event is for all students who will be entering sixth grade band in the 2023-2024 school year.
Band camp will be held Monday through Friday; times vary depending on which instrument the student is playing. The schedule for each instrument is:
8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Tubas and all Saxophones
9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Trumpets and Flutes
10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Trombones, Baritones, and Clarinets
11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. French Horn and Bassoon
1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. Percussion
Beginning band camp provides the opportunity for each student to get acquainted with their instrument and begin learning fundamental skills.
It is vital to set good playing and practice habits from the start.
Students will have smaller learning groups to help address their individual needs. Attendance is strongly encouraged, but is not mandatory to participate in band.
The Bloomfield School District Board of Education met on Monday, July 10, 2023. Jason Karnes, was on hand for his first formal meeting at superintendent of the Bloomfield School District. The meeting began at 7:00 p.m. with Juston Jarrell, Greg Stevens, David Clary, Brad Warner, (Board President) Cecil Haley, (Vice Board President) Justin Bell, (Board Secretary) and Lina Gibbs (Central Office Assistant) in attendance.
Roll call, approval of the consent agenda and previous board meeting minutes of June 19, 2023 were all approved. The Board also approved the payment of current bills.
Mr. Karnes presented the Treasurer's Report for the 2022 - 2023 Fiscal Year.
Career Ladder Grant Program
There was continued discussion of the Career Ladder Grant Program from the previous board meeting. Eligible teachers participating in the Career Ladder Grant Program shall complete a minimum of clock hours in one or more responsibilities or volunteer efforts. They must complete at least fifty clock hours for Stage I, seventy-five hours for Stage II, and one hundred clock hours for Stage III.
Bloomfield R-XIV School District teachers participating in the Career Ladder Grant Program shall complete a minimum of the required hours on responsibilities or voluntary efforts in one of the following areas: 1. Serving in teacher externships as provided in section 168.025, RSMo, 2. Serving as a coach, supervisor, or organizer of any extracurricular activities for which the teacher does not already receive additional compensation, 3. Serving as a mentor or cooperating teacher for new teachers for which the teacher does not already receive additional compensation, 4. Serving as a mentor for students, whether in a formal or informal capacity, 5. Providing high quality tutoring or additional learning opportunities to students, 6. Assisting students with postsecondary education preparation including, but not limited to, teaching an ACT or SAT preparation course or assisting students with completing college or career school admission or financial assistance applications, and 7. Receiving additional teacher training, coursework (recommended: 1 credit hour of coursework = 15 Career Ladder hours), or certification outside of that offered by the school district (i.e. National Board Certification).
Acceptable responsibilities are non-compensated activities that are not a part of a participant's regular contract and involve extended day activities. Responsibilities shall not be church affiliated. Responsibilities must be directly an obviously related to the improvement of programs and services for students as outlined in the Bloomfield R-XIV School Improvement Plan, Curriculum Development Plan, Professional Development Plan, Missouri School Improvement Program, or other instructional improvement.
"This allows teachers to spend additional time with students outside of the normal curriculum and outside of the daily classroom instruction," commented Karnes. "Allows for only certified staff to participate who are trained to mentor students."
Career Ladder Grant Program was passed by the Board for certified teachers. The school would pay 40% of the monies and the grant would pay the additional 60%.
Tax Rate Hearing Update
A motion to have the Tax Rate Hearing on August 14th at 5:45 p.m. was passed by the Board.
Eligibility Criteria for Free/Reduced Priced Meals
A motion to accept the Eligibility Criteria for Free/Reduced Priced Meals was passed by the Board.
Stoddard County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
A motion to except the Resolution for the Stoddard County Hazard Mitigation Plan was passed by the Board. Bootheel Regional Planning Commission prepared a multi-hazard mitigation plan for several schools and Stoddard County. This allows the Bloomfield R-XIV School District to apply for FEMA funds in the case of a natural disaster.
Extra Curricular Schedule
The 2023-2024 Extra Curricular Schedule was approved by the Board including reinstating the High School Science Club.
"We have two individuals wanting to bring back the HS Science Club and participate in science fairs," stated Karnes.
Bid for School Bus Purchase
The Board agreed to bid on a school bus to purchase. The two spare busses are getting in bad shape.
School Handbooks
The Board approved the changes to the Elementary, Middle School and High School Handbooks. The changes were mostly name changes and role changes . The school vision and mission was added to the handbook as well.
Superintendent Report
Mr. Karnes updated the Board on the summer projects and the Ag shop extension. Also upgrading of the internet from one building to another which will gain better connection for all will be completed by the time teachers return to campus.
Other Business
The Board approved providing lunch for all staff on August 17th at 11:30 a.m. The new hires will have their photo taken by the newspaper at that time as well.
Board provided lunch for staff. - August 14th the teachers come back. Date chosen was Thursday, 17th at 11:30 a.m.
The Board of Education will meet on August 14th at 6:00 p.m. in the Central Office.
Motion to adjourn into closed session was made at 7:50 p.m.
During executive session the Board approved the hiring of Mindy Thurmon as an elementary teacher.
