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NEVC R-1 board sets goals
On Tuesday evening, the Northeast Vernon County R-1 school board held a succession of four meetings whose open sessions lasted a total of well over two hours before taking up personnel matters in closed session.
The first was a special meeting on strategic planning which focused on the building improvement and comprehensive school improvement plans districts are required to prepare and submit to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Next came a school calendar hearing. NEVC’s 2018-2019 calendar would see the first day of school on August 23 and the last on May 14. State law mandates a public hearing by any district which has an opening day of school in excess of 10 days prior to Labor Day.
No one from the public attended and the proposed calendar was reviewed and adopted within 8 minutes.
The third was termed a reorganization meeting.
Administering the oath of office was board secretary David Bruce. Taking the oath were Bill Alexander and Scott Pritchett. In the April Municipal Election, Alexander was re-elected while Pritchett was newly elected and filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Gina Ensor several months ago.
Asked why he chose to run Pritchett said, “I’ve just been thinking about it a long time and just thought everybody should take their turn.”
Following the swearing, in the board formally disbanded and then reorganized with the election of Jeanne Hoagland as board president; Bill Alexander as vice-president; David Bruce, secretary; and Deland Prough as board treasurer.
The fourth meeting featured the reading of resignation letters from several teachers and a presentation on the upcoming senior trip.
Brenda Cain, senior class sponsor as well as math teacher for grades 10-12, addressed the group as did senior student, Emma Pritchett, about the upcoming senior trip.
Including travel time, the 5-day trip will have 12 students and five chaperones — two adults are bus drivers — heading to Gulf Shores, Ala.
Asked what she was most anticipating, Pritchett said, “I think going to the ocean.”
As they sat at a table in the library, the board watched the large screen as Superintendent Charles Naas reviewed a proposed salary schedule for the upcoming school year.
“I think it was the 2010-2011 school year, so it’s been seven years since we last raised pay for certified staff,” said Naas.
He said the non-certified staff have received a one percent increase each year but in that time, no increase has been given to teachers.
“As you can see, I am proposing we give a $500 increase to each teacher plus they’d get the usual step increase of $250 for further education,” said Naas.
Naas acknowledged that much of this raise will be offset by the increased cost of health insurance premiums. The resolution authorizing the increase was approved by unanimous vote.
Merging together the process for reviewing elements of the Building Improvement Plan and the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan for each of the district’s campuses, building principals gave a presentation to the board.
Kendall Ogburn, elementary principal, spoke briefly on 15 separate items.
He began by speaking of more and consistent benchmark testing in classrooms.
“Instead of just testing at the end of the year or semester, it will help teachers and students if we test one-day per quarter on each subject area,” said Ogburn.
He said a pre-test will tell the teacher what students already know and what needs to be taught.
With high school principal, Chris Hudson nodding in agreement, the principals want to put the emphasis on students learning as much as they can by determining student weaknesses at several points through the year and then adjusting lesson plans to address those student learning needs.
In presenting her equally long list, Hudson mentioned the need to add soft skills training. This includes everything from being able to hold a conversation/interview and keeping a positive attitude to being self-disciplined, understanding time management and constructively handling frustrations and anger.
“Not everyone gets these things at home and these are important skills for success in career and life,” said Hudson.
Each principal spoke of the need for a district-wide curriculum director, addressing the aging buildings, the need for storage space as well as security concerns due to multiple facilities and entrances.
In the superintendent’s report, Naas said he will provide the board with full information so they can make a decision about repairs to the high school’s roof at the May meeting. He said the district received a donation to be used for student scholarships.