Clark County R-1 Reorganizes, Eyes Busy Spring
By Mike Scott
The Clark County R-1 Board of Education reorganized following the April 7 election and heard updates ranging from student achievement to budget pressures during its meeting Tuesday, April 21.
The board accepted the results of the April 7 election, dissolved the current board and administered the oath of office to new member Becca Green and returning members Doug James and Heather Weber-Webster.
Board members then elected officers for the new term. Broderick Bush was chosen as president, Mark Plenge as vice president and Doug James as treasurer. Linzi Forquer was named board secretary, and Bush was selected as the district’s Missouri School Boards’ Association delegate.
Among reports to the board, Superintendent Lyndel Whittle said all 31 district buses passed their Missouri State Highway Patrol inspections.
The board also recognized Lance Smith, who was recently named regional Middle School Principal of the Year.
Clark County R-1 also received top marks in the Clarence Cannon Conference sportsmanship ratings for winter sports. The district earned all 4s, the highest possible rating.
Administrators reported the district is applying for a RootEd grant that would provide a career and college counseling position to help students and families navigate postsecondary planning. Black Hawk Principal Betsy Parrish endorsed the idea, telling the board the program had been a “game changer” for her daughter in Knox County.
Building principals shared updates from across the district.
At Running Fox Elementary, Principal Amber Hall said MAP testing is beginning and the school has built a space-themed “To Proficiency and Beyond” preparation program. She said students are also making use of the outdoor classroom, and second graders recently presented pollinator reports.
At Black Hawk Elementary, Parrish said the school’s Art/Robotics/Music/Title Night was a big success. She also praised Kellie Lemmon’s STEM classes and commended Mrs. Wallain for a successful elementary concert that featured singing, dancing and instruments.
Indian Pride Learning Center Principal Olivia Nixon reported the Life Skills class recently attended the Job Olympics in Centralia, with eight students qualifying for the state event in May.
At Clark County Middle School, Smith said attendance has been good and track season is underway. He said students are competing well despite low participation numbers among boys. He also described the eighth-grade field trip to the Lincoln Memorial and other sites in Springfield, Illinois, as a success.
Clark County High School Principal Dennis Dent said baseball, track and golf are all in full swing. He also reported the Scholar Bowl team won a district championship and said FFA and FBLA students have completed their state conventions. Dent told the board graduation is set for May 17, the academic awards program will be held May 11, and the Building Trades program has sheetrock installed and textured on its current project.
All principals praised School Resource Officer Shannon O’Day for his commitment to students and the relationships he has built with them.
Whittle told the board the district is facing budget concerns due to a shortfall in state revenue projections. He said the state overestimated lottery and gaming revenue and schools will be about $138 million short. Transportation funding, he said, will remain at this year’s level, even as districts face rising costs.
Under old business, Whittle said the district believes it has found a way to offer a half-time gifted position without adding staff. He said two current employees are working out plans for the program.
In new business, the board heard from band director Mr. Dooley, who said the high school band has been invited to march in the Indianapolis 500 parade for a third time. The board approved the trip.
The board also approved the district’s career ladder plan for the next school year.
Board members discussed a list of possible summer projects, including a needed sidewalk and fencing at Indian Pride Learning Center, refurbishing the high school gym floor, replacing the middle school gym floor, resurfacing the track, addressing a bird problem at Black Hawk, improving drainage at the Black Hawk playground and possibly replacing a 1999 pickup with a trailer instead.
“We’re trying to find a way to spread things out as painlessly as possible,” Whittle said.
In other business, the board accepted a single bid from NEMO Regional Planning Commission for the Building Trades program to construct a house similar to this year’s project. The bid was for $19,500 plus mileage.
The board also approved an MSBA policy update and a new time clock subscription for hourly staff. Whittle said the district currently uses a card system, leading to accuracy concerns.
The new system will allow staff to clock in and out on tablets or phones while requiring them to be on district premises to do so. The cost is $2,925, plus the purchase of some tablets. Bus drivers will continue to use a different system.
The next regular meeting of the Clark County R-1 Board of Education is scheduled for May 19.
