School Board Names Assistant Principals, Considers Bus Route Changes
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By Mike Scott
Changes are coming at in the Clark County R-1 School District.
At their Thursday, June 10 meeting the board appointed two half-time assistant principals.
John Weaver will serve as a half-time assistant principal at the Middle School, and Ben Taylor will be a half-time assistant principal at the High School. Both will continue to teach their classes.
According to Superintendent Dr. Ritchie Kracht, Weaver and Taylor are both working on the required certifications.
“This will get the additional coverage we need, especially to help with discipline issues,” Kracht said.
In previous meetings, the board has discussed the amount of time that principal spend dealing with discipline issues, and the impact that has on their ability to help develop teachers and manage their buildings.
“It’s a good deal for us,” Kracht said, noting that Weaver and Taylor will receive and extra-duty stipend for their new roles.
Weaver and Taylor join Ethan Allen as assistant principals in the district. Allen is an assistant principal at Black Hawk Elementary.
School bus routes are currently under review, also.
“We’ve been down three drivers for a while,” said Kracht. “If we can’t get some hired, we’re going to have to go from 16 to 13 routes. It’s not great for the kids–some will have to get on the bus around 6:30am and their time on the bus will increase. But we really don’t have a choice.”
Elementary school principals Betsy Parrish and Katrina Nixon presented a new Language Arts curriculum for grades Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.
The curriculum form EL Education uses both online and classroom book learning, and is updated annually. It also aligns with Missouri’s learning standards.
“It will be a big improvement over what we are using currently,” said Kracht. The board approved its purchase, at a first year cost of about $77,000.
In other business:
-Nixon presented a report on summer school. Attendance numbers are about what they have been in previous year. The last day for elementary summer school students is June 23.
-Action on the baseball field fence remains tabled.
-There are a large number of summer Drivers’ Education students.
-Approved the purchase of new middle school and high school softball uniforms. The current uniforms are seven years old.
-Approved FFA trip to the national convention in Indianapolis in October. Clark County, Highland and Canton will share a charter bus.
-Approved a building trades bid of $14,000 to build a house for Karen Weaver.
-Reported that Clark County received a perfect score in the Clarence Cannon Conference Sportsmanship Awards, which are based on player, coaching and fan sportsmanship.
-Hired two new special education teachers. Marcia Lance will work at the Middle School, and Megan Kracht will replace Kelly Campbell at the Indian Pride Learning Center.
-Declared surplus property. The board declared a 2008 Thomas bus and a shed and contents at the Middle School as surplus property. Minimum bid on the bus is $1500.
-The budget meeting is set for June 29.
-Prior to the meeting, board members toured the remodeled locker room and concession building at the Activity Field. Photos of the work there can be seen on Page 9.