Board of Education Meeting - Thursday, October 24, 2024

Administration Reports

Dr. Eric Wilken

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Eric Wilken, shared what he had learned from the Missouri Association of Rural Education conference, including an update from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on finance and governance.

Three members of the staff advisory and community advisory committees will be going through the GOKey Communicators training to learn how to better advocate for public schools.

He also mentioned that applications for the WCCF Willard Innovating Now grants are due on November 22, 2024.

Dr. Josh Ladd

Assistant Superintendent of Academics, Dr. Josh Ladd, provided the board with an update on enrollment and attendance. At the end of September, the district's average attendance rate was 95.22, up from last year's average in September (94.78).

He also shared the success of the College and Career Fair, with 331 attendees, and OTC's Exploration Day with 125 attendees.

Cathy Shoup

Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Cathy Shoup, provided the board with an update on the current bond projects at North Elementary and the Middle School.

At North Elementary, concrete has been poured for the new administrative office area and electrical work is underway. A new roof is being cut for the new addition. At the Middle School, electrical work has finished and drywall installation has begun.

Program Updates

Federal Programs

The board was presented documents with program updates on Federal Programs, Guidance Counseling, and Social Workers.

Special Education

Director of Special Services, Melissa Lewis, provided an update on the Special Services Department. The department currently serves 583 students on an IEP and 289 students with a 504. The department houses 51 cross-categorical teachers, 65 paraprofessionals, and 6 process coordinators.

Assistant Director of Special Services and Young Learners, Katie Spencer, gave an update on Early Childhood Special Education and Essential Skills classes, and Melissa Lewis gave an update on Emotional Behavior Support and cross-categorical classes.

Related services across the district include Speech Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Vision Instruction, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, and Behavioral Supports.

Strategic Planning

We highlight one of our 11 Smart Goals at each Board Meeting throughout the school year. Amy Stroder presented on the following SMART Goal and Strategies.

SMART Goal: The district will create a consistent framework to proactively teach and responsively manage student behavior and social-emotional support (SES).

Strategies:

1. Develop tiered social-emotional support system
2. Develop tiered response system for student behavior

Business Items

MSBA Policy Update

The board voted to approve the following MSBA policy updates:

• EBBC- Lactation Support
• GB- Part-Time and Substitute Employment
• GBE- Staff Health and Safety
• IGBA- Special Education
• IGBE- Students in Foster Care
• ILA- Test Integrity and Security
• JFCL- A+ Scholarship Program
• JG- Student Discipline

ASBR Approval

The Annual Secretary of the Board Report (ASBR) is required by Section 162.821 RSMo to be submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on or before August 15 each year.



The ASBR contains information such as revenues, expenditures, fund balances, debt and transportation data that are used for various data comparisons, calculations and data requests. The board voted to approve the 2023-2024 ASBR.

Late Start Procedure Approval

The board voted to approve the Late Start Procedure, which will alleviate scheduling concerns caused by the passage of Senate Bill 727.

April Ballot Issue Discussion

Cathy Shoup provided updates on the dual ballot issue for April 1, 2025.

RFQ Construction Manager at Risk

The board discussed a Request for Qualifications for a Construction Manager At Risk to manage bond construction if the April ballot issue is passed.

Bond Underwriting

The board voted to approve Piper Sandler for Bond Underwriting Services if the April ballot issue is passed.

Architecture Contract

The board voted to approve the HDesign Group contract to manage bond construction projects if the April ballot issue is passed.

Surplus

The board voted to approve surplus items which included an old volleyball net system at South Elementary.

New Hires

The Board of Education voted to approve the following hires at the October 24th meeting.

• Emma Smith, Secretary at Middle School
• Amy Hill, ECSE Paraprofessional at North
• Troy Clary, Bus Driver
• Baily Williams, ECSE Paraprofessional at North

Please join us in welcoming the newest members of our team!

Board Meeting Recording

To view a recording of the October 24, 2024 Board of Education meeting, click here.

Upcoming Meetings

The next board meeting will be a Study Session held on Tuesday, November 5 at District Office. Open session will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Training Room.