Bronaugh R-7 board purchases classroom security devices

Friday, June 17, 2016
The former English classroom is in the process of becoming the new meeting room for the Bronaugh school. Monday's R-7 board meeting enjoys the table donated by the Christian Church in Liberal. Clockwise: Jordan Dickey, principal; Saundra Bogart, board member; Corey Yount, board member; Jill Walrod, board member; Bill Rainey, board member; Brent Baines, board member; Ryan Linn, board president; David Copeland, superintendent. Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

As if to bookend their meeting, the Bronaugh R-7 Board of Education opened and closed its meeting focused on the Guardian Angel interior door security device.

"This patent protected active shooter device can be deployed quickly by classroom teachers in the heat of an emergency," said Lance Sargent, co-owner of SOS-Guardian Angel.

Sargent and co-owner Justin Osburn demonstrated the device, showed where it would be mounted and took questions. What the board saw at the start of its meeting made such a positive impression that in a unanimous vote at the end of the meeting, the board approved the purchase of some 27 devices to be installed on nearly every class and locker room door.

"It will cost about $4,000 and should be installed next Wednesday," said Dr. David Copeland, R-7 superintendent. "No, this is not perfect, but if it slows a perpetrator down long enough so people can be evacuated then I know lives will be saved while giving law enforcement time to respond."

The County Teacher's Association monthly report was made by first-grade teacher and 18-year veteran Sarah Morris.

"We love our administrators and are grateful to the board for all the ways you support the children, staff and this school," said Morris.

Bronaugh Principal Jordan Dickey reported progress on writing a district curriculum, which conforms to the Missouri State Standards.

The board agreed to hold a special meeting on June 27 for final review of this year's budget.

"We will also go line-by-line over the entire budget for next year so you see the local tax revenue as well as funds from the state and federal governments," said Copeland. "You can't be my watchdog if you don't know how a budget is put together and what's in ours. So be prepared, it will be a long session but I will try hard to make it interesting. You're going to see, understand and shape this district's budget."

The board established rates for extra duty stipends, those assisting in coaching volleyball, girls and boys basketball and cheerleading.

Dickey led the board through a series of updates to the school handbooks with a focus on the amount of math that must be taken to graduate.

"Right now, students are not only required to take three years of math but they must pass algebra II," said Dickey." I think for college bound students this is a must but for those going into farming or a trade, this requirement is becoming a real problem."

The board kept the three-year requirement but removed mention of algebra II.

Coach Daryl Dodson said the painting of the locker rooms was about three-fourths complete and that new lockers have been installed on the girl's side.

Dickey informed the board of a special gift of $2,500 for teacher professional development in the coming year. When asked the source, Dickey related how a scholarship given to recent graduate, Cole Diggins, included a gift to his high school.

Copeland told the board that to qualify for continued assistance with food service costs, federal guidelines required an increase in meal charges. Meals for elementary students would go from $1.85 to $2, middle and high school meals would go from $2.25 to $2.40 and adults would go from $2.50 to $2.75. Unanimous approval was given.

"In next year's budget, one area in which I think we can find some significant savings is transportation," said Copeland. "For example, Sheldon has more students than we do but has consolidated to two bus routes, we could do the same. Now that won't cut our transportation costs by a third but it will help."

"I also want to look at options for transporting our seven students who'll be attending Nevada's Vo-Tech center," continued Copeland. "I'm glad they want to go and I'm grateful to Nevada for taking them but it's going to cost $22,000 to transport those seven. There's got to be a better way."

The board authorized Copeland to seek a bid for two bus routes instead of three and explore options for transporting the Vo-Tech students.

Before going into executive session, the Dickey concluded by announcing several important dates.

"The back-to-school open house is set for Tuesday, Aug. 16," said Dickey. "And I know graduation was a month ago, but the new school year will begin on Thursday, Aug. 18."

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