Much of the McDonald County Board of Education's April 9 meeting was filled with what the board loves to do best -- recognizing student achievement.
Three separate student groups or individuals, along with three employees from White Rock School, were recognized by the board for their achievements.
The two student groups recognized were both representing the SkillsUSA program. The OCC team (Opening and Closing Ceremonies) performed the SkillsUSA opening and closing ceremony procedures.
The team recently placed ninth at the state of Missouri SkillsUSA competition. Team members include Shawnta Baldwin, Jacob Bennett, Joshua Cavender, Andrew Draves, Jacob Franklin, Donovan Taylor and Brett Woodward.
The purpose of the OCC competition is to evaluate the students' understanding of the symbolic representation of the colors and assembled parts of the SkillsUSA emblem and to evaluate teamwork and professional presentation skills.
The SkillsUSA Teamworks carpentry team was recognized for winning the state SkillsUSA carpentry competition. Team members Elijah Stone, Dillion Lance, Jared Griffin and Brik Wilson, along with instructor Mark Kaufman, were granted permission to travel to Louisville, Ky. during the last week of June to for the national competition.
The individual student to be recognized was Maria Arnett, who won four awards while competing with Team Missouri at the 2014 Special Olympics National Track Meet in New Jersey.
Arnett took second in the 100 meter run, third in the long jump, fifth in the 200 meter run and ran a leg of the 4x100 meter relay that finished fourth.
Adam Lett, principal at White Rock School, recognized his Employees of the Month. They were Kristi Bloom, resource teacher, Lori Ledford, health aide, secretary and bus driver, and Harry Gann, custodian.
Regular Business
Prior to the meeting, the board discussed the near completion of construction projects in Pineville and Southwest City. Pineville is on schedule to be completed by the middle of May and the "hope" is for Southwest City to be done in time for eighth grade graduation at the end of May.
The board announced that a groundbreaking ceremony for the FEMA safe room/performing arts center to be built at the high school will be held at 11:20 a.m. on Monday, April 20.
Work on preparing a student parking lot began Monday and is expected to take four days. The construction site (on the current student parking lot) will then be roped off with construction to begin at that time.
The board gave approval to the expansion of the district's junior college flex program to allow juniors to attend classes off campus. The program allows students to take course at Crowder College, either in Jane or Neosho, and receive high school credit.
The board approved program evaluations for the elementary and high school counseling programs.
In other business, the board:
• discussed health insurance and noted the district now has four options for staff;
• approved financing of about $250,000 for three new school buses;
• approved putting out for bids the demolition of gyms at Pineville and Southwest City; and
• paid bills in the amount of $1,208,503.21.
General News on 04/16/2015