Palmyra R-I school board discusses special vocational committee meetings
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by Patty Cheffey
An overview of the initial meetings of the special vocational committees was discussed during the Palmyra R-I Board of Education meet last week.
In addition, the board set the tuition rate for the school year, approved the final CSIP plan, discussed the Sept. 6 community meeting and set some dates for future events.
According to Superintendent Jason Harper, discussion on the vocational committees’ meetings centered on strengths, weaknesses and goals.
During those meetings, the committees, which covered business, agriculture and family and consumer science programs, were introduced to members, given explanation of class offers and briefly discussed class offerings and CTSO (career and technical student organizations, such as FFA, FBLA and FCCLA) and participation in those programs.
A tuition rate of $11,158.30 was set for the 2023-24 school year
That rate is based on revenues and expenditures of the school district. DESE provides a calculation sheet that produces the rate for the district.
Following approval of the CSIP (Comprehensive School Improvement Plan), which has to be submitted to the state by Oct. 1, the board discussed the Sept. 6 meeting regarding that plan and the districts’ five-year facilities plan.
Harper noted the district is interested in pursuing an owner representative to help with the facility planning.
“An owner’s rep will provide project management solutions to public agencies seeking to build or renovate existing facilities,” explained Harper. “They make the process more efficient, and provide cost savings with their knowledge of facility renovation.”
As part of this whole process, Harper said he would like to do another community survey that would include students, parents, staff and community members in order to have the most current data with which to work.
While no specific date has been set, Harper indicated the survey will probably go out before Thanksgiving.
In other business, the board reviewed the upcoming dates for the MSBA Fall Conference that will be held Nov. 2-4 in Kansas City.
The regional meeting was held Sept. 18 which Harper and board members, Roth McElvain and Andrew Lehenbauer, attended.
The board also approved Saturday, Dec. 2, as the date for the annual board retreat, a working session for the administration and board to do long-rang planning in academics.
Roger Kurtz, retired director of the Missouri Association of Schools Administrators, will facilitate.
The board tabled approval of the Watchdog Program at Palmyra Elementary until October to have further discussion on the program.
That program is designed for fathers, who sign up, to volunteer at the elementary school at least one day each year.
The board indicated they are wanting more information about the program before approving it.
The board heard a presentation from the high school Key Club, which is a service organization sponsored by the local Kiwanis Chapter and which does service projects for the Palmyra Community throughout the year.
Sarah Freels, Key Club sponsor, and students, Chloe Welch, Landon Szarka, Renae Billup and Lauren Highfill, made the presentation, which included an activity that asked board members to define their meaning of service.
The Board completed the first reading for board policies AC, BBBA-1, BBF, AND EF.
The policies AC and EF had minor changes in the nondiscrimination statements. BBBA-1 changed the requirements for board candidates to have lived in the district for one year prior to the board elections, and BBF has changes in board ethics requirements.
The board also heard presentations from all three building principals, Jared Pontius, high school; Steven Kerr, middle school; and Bridgette Augspurg, elementary school.
The board approved Ron Blue and Robert Harper as substitute bus drivers, and approved the resignation of Joyce Prough as PAT parent educator.
The board also approved educational movement for 11 staff members for the 2023-2024 school year. This movement is for additional educational credits on the salary schedule.
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