Raymore-Peculiar School District News
Nov. 4, 2022
In this issue:
  • Dr. Alan Downing
  • RPHS musical comedy
  • District audit
  • Calendar
Dr. Alan Downing selected as principal for Ninth Grade Center
Dr. Alan Downing will be the principal for the new Ray-Pec Ninth Grade Center, which is scheduled to open in August 2023. The Ninth Grade Center is under construction on M-58 adjacent to Ray-Pec East Middle School.

Downing is currently a Math Instructional Coach for secondary schools in the district. Previously, he was a math teacher from 2008 to 2019 at Ray-Pec High School.

Dr. Al Voelker, Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services, said that Dr. Downing is well-respected by staff and will be a tremendous principal.

"He is collaborative in nature and will work well with staff, students, and members of the community," Voelker said.

Downing is excited about the opportunity open the new Ninth Grade Center.

"I've been a freshman teacher for most of my career, and I know how important this time is in the lives of our students," he said. "I'm looking forward to working with the ninth grade center team to create an environment where every student feels valued, challenged, and supported." Read more
RPHS to present musical comedy 'Something Rotten!'
Raymore-Peculiar High School invites you to see performances of the musical comedy Something Rotten! in the high school theatre at:
  • 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4
  • 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5
  • 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6
Reserve tickets by calling the box office line, 892-3999, extension 2400. Tickets are $7 for adults and $6 for students.

Something Rotten! is a hit musical that centers on Nick and Nigel Bottom, two brothers who are trying to make it in the theatre world in the time of Shakespeare. Hoping to create something new and popular, Nick visits a soothsayer and finds out that musicals will be all the rage in the future. As the Bottom brothers work to create the world’s first musical, they come up against the outrageous and extremely popular Shakespeare, who determines to discover what theatrical innovation the brothers are working on. The show is filled with catchy songs and lots of laughs.

The cast includes Tre Hill and Sav Jordan as the Minstrels, Andrew Burton as Brother Jeremiah, Jillian Collom as Portia, Xander Blackmon as Shakespeare, Ronald Graves as Nick Bottom, Brandon Cea as Nigel Bottom, Nigel Norvell as Peter Quince, Elijah O’Brien as Tom Snout, Devin Fisher as Robin, Makail Cull as Francis Flute, Jordan Kim as Starveling, Corbin Williams as Lord Clapham, Noah Tuttle as Shylock, Brooklyn Burk as Bea, Ember Davis as the Astrologer, Dinah Hodgson as the Psychic Woman, Eli Showen as Eyepatch Man, Audrey Shepard as Nostradamus, Irelynn Sloan as Shakespeare’s Assistant, Ben Herrell as the Foreman, Destinee Shaffer as Helena, Reagan Sheedy as Rosalind, Bing Van Son as the Master of Justice, and Elizabeth Burton, Aurora Lautzenhiser, and Mia Mikulicz as Renaissance Writers.  Read more
District receives clean audit
The Raymore-Peculiar School District received a clean audit opinion on its financial statements, compliance with laws and regulations, and internal control over financial reporting for the year ended June 30, 2022.
 
Brian Eckhoff, CPA from Westbrook & Co., P.C., presented the audit results on October 27 to the Board of Education. The Board’s Audit/Finance Committee participated in a comprehensive discussion of the audit with Mr. Eckhoff at its September 20 meeting. 
 
Board President Ruth Johnson was pleased with the audit report. "The audit shows that our staff continues to follow best practices in financial policies and procedures," she said.
 
Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle agreed. "The clean audit reflects on the hard work of Chief Financial Officer Cyndee Byous, Director of Finance Tiffany Banks, and their staff in ensuring the District continues to be the best stewards of taxpayer funds." 
Important calendar dates:
Please note these dates:
  • Nov. 23-25: No school, Fall Break.
  • Nov. 28: No school, staff planning and collaboration.
  • Dec. 22: Early dismissal.
  • Dec. 23-30: No school, Winter Break.

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