Knox County R-I Board Approves Policies

Knox County R-I Board Approves Policies

By Carol Kincaid
From Minutes

The January 20 meeting of the Knox County R-I Board of Education was basically to handle routine first of the year business matters and pay the bills.
Reports were heard from the administration members. High School/ Middle School Principal Andy Turgeon reported a December enrollment of 125 in the sixth through eighth grades; the high school total for December was 187.

Other topics he covered include the fact that the After-Prom committee will be using the building for after Prom on April 26; students in grades 7 -12–took their finals on January 5, and the new semester started on January 6; the alumni brunch was held on January 7; and earthquake drill was conducted on January 14; January 16 was the Courtwarming and a full day for Professional Development for the teachers; February 6, sophomores will go to Kirksville in the afternoon for the Career Fair; February 11 is an early out for Professional Development.

Special Programs Director Nancy Goodwin reported the following: Data collection for the MAP-A has begun. The testing window extends into February; the transition of Martha Gudehus into the Title 1 math position has been smooth and positive comments have been received from staff on the benefits she is bringing to the elementary; Annie McEwen, NEMO Special Education COOP process coordinator will be conducting a file review with district special education staff February 11th during the professional development time; we currently have 63 students with IEP’s enrolled in grades preschool through 12th grade. This is an increase of 4 from December. We are serving 27 students through Speech Intervention Services.

Elementary Principal Marty Strange presented the following report: Tutoring resumed January 6 with 45 elementary students; January 9- Lt. Col. Koonce spoke to the elementary students at a Character Assembly, Middle School students also heard him speak later that day; PTO met January 12 to organize for the Spring PTO Carnival. It is scheduled for March 28. It will be a Hawaiian Luau; Fourth grade students are scheduled to take NAEP tests on January 26; Elementary students will be performing as cheerleaders/dancers at the home varsity basketball games on January 29 and January 30; a MAP reward trip is planned for mid-March, the elementary students will be roller skating in Quincy and seeing a movie, this is for students scoring proficient or advanced on last year’s test; MAP testing for the current school year is scheduled for March 30- April 9. There is a current enrollment of 233 students in K-5th grades.
Steve Ramer, Transportation Director reported that the new bus will be delivered in either March or April.

Superintendent D.J. Leverton updated the board on the status of the Social Security Administration policy and Federal Section 218 Agreement; reported on possible future legislation in regard to required school days/hours; updated the board on employee health insurance.

CTA Representative, Betsy Ayers announced that January is Board of Education Appreciation Month. On behalf of the administration, faculty and staff, Ayers presented each member of the Board with a certificate of appreciation for their dedication and service to the Knox County R-I School District. The CTA provided the Board with refreshments following the meeting.

Marilyn Waite, MSIP (Missouri School Improvement Plan) Coordinator/Administrative Assistant, presented the Mid-Year report on the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan for 2008-2009. It was approved by the Board. She also presented the Community Education Report. It too, was unanimously accepted by the Board.

Supt. Leverton reported on the current status of the roof and discussed with the Board possible options to repair and update the roof on the elementary school building. He presented the Programs and Services Evaluation Schedule for 2009-2010. The district annually reviews the goals and objectives of each program and service, reports on the effectiveness of each program and service and reviews actions to ensure these programs efficiently achieve their goals. It was accepted unanimously.

Several policies and regulations were presented for approval. Policy 2210-STUDENTS- Admissions and Withdrawal-Entrance Age; Policy 3113-FINANCIAL OPERATION- Financial Management- District Funds Account; Policy and Regulation 4120- PERSONNEL SERVICES- Employment- Employment Procedures; New-Policy 4335- PERSONNEL SERVICES- Absences, Leave, Vacation-Employee Emergency Service; Policy and Regulation 4732- PERSONNEL SERVICES- Separation- Termination of Employment: Administrators; Policy 6180- INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES- Curriculum
Services- English Language Learner (ELL) These policies and regulations were unanimously approved.

A new policy, “4125-PERSONNEL SERVICES-Employment- Notice of Arrest, Abuse Complaint, Traffic Citation “. Shelly Bugh and Stacy Harder both voted against the policy, expressing concern about the language in the policy. The other Board members voted in favor of the policy and it passed.

Adjournment was followed by closed session to discuss the following: Legal matters under Section 610.021 Subsection 1; Personnel matters under 610.021, Subsections 3 and 13; Student matters under Section 610.021, Subsection 6.