North Mercer R-Iii School

MINUTES BOARD MEETING BOARD OF EDUCATION NORTH MERCER R-III SCHOOL April 11, 2016

I. Roll Call All members present. Time: 6:00 P.M.

Jennifer Wilson, Angel Bagley, Whitney McFee, Brooke Duckworth, Taylor Meinecke, and Natasha Price were in attendance of the meeting.

II. Approval of Minutes A. March 14, 2016 Chris Main made a motion to approve the March 14, 2016 board minutes. Julie Graham seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

III. Plaque Presentation Mr. Owens presented Tami Campbell a plaque in appreciation for her years of service on the board.

IV. Adjourn Tami Campbell made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:02 p.m. Peggy Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0 Gregg Widner – yes, Tracy Meinecke – yes, Julie Graham– yes, Tami Campbell – yes, Peggy Johnson- yes, Chris Main – yes and Kirk Ellis – yes.

______President Date

______Secretary Date

------I. Roll Call All members present. Time: 6:03 P.M.

Angel Bagley, Whitney McFee, Brooke Duckworth, Taylor Meinecke, Natasha Price, Jared Campbell and Cordell Myers were in attendance of the meeting.

II. Adoption/Modification of Agenda Kirk Ellis made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

III. Oath of Office The Oath of Office was given to the following board members: Tracy Meinecke and Jennifer Wilson.

IV. Election of Officers Kirk Ellis made a motion to keep Gregg Widner – President, Tracy Meinecke – Vice-President, and Julie Graham – Secretary/Treasurer. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0. V. Citizens Input Mr. Owens asked the board to go into executive session to discuss a student matter.

Whitney McFee, Brooke Duckworth, Taylor Meinecke, Natasha Price, Jared Campbell and Cordell Myers stepped out of the meeting at 6:04 p.m.

Kirk Ellis made a motion to go into executive session at 6:04 p.m. per 610.021 (Subsection 6). Julie Graham seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0 Gregg Widner – yes, Tracy Meinecke – yes, Julie Graham – yes, Jennifer Wilson – yes, Peggy Johnson – yes, Chris Main – yes, and Kirk Ellis – yes.

Angel Bagley left the meeting at 6:15 p.m.

Chris Main made a motion at 6:38 p.m. to come out of executive session. Kirk Ellis seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

Whitney McFee, Brooke Duckworth, Taylor Meinecke, Natasha Price, Jared Campbell and Cordell Myers returned to the meeting at 6:38 p.m.

VI. Consent Agenda A. April Bills B. Revenue/Expense Reports C. Nurse & Service Worker Reports D. Current Tax Report E. Program Evaluations: Technology; Guidance

All reports were included in the board packet.

Julie Graham made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

VII. New Business A. Senior Trip Presentation Taylor Meinecke presented the agenda for senior trip. The seniors will be going to Daytona Beach, Florida; May 1-5. An agenda was handed out.

Whitney McFee, Brooke Duckworth, Taylor Meinecke, Natasha Price, Jared Campbell and Cordell Myers left the meeting at 6:44 p.m.

B. Accept Resignations Heather Miller, Secretary; Tori Hague, Paraprofessional; Danessa Derry, Paraprofessional; Ashley Moore, Paraprofessional, and Terry Bomgardner, Secretary submitted resignations effective the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Tori Hague will be the PAT Director next year, Terry Bomgardner will be retiring and would like to work part-time next year.

Julie Graham made a motion to accept Heather Miller, Tori Hague, Danessa Derry, Ashley Moore and Terry Bomgardner’s resignations effective the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Tracy Meinecke seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0. C. Years of Service Awards Mr. Owens went over a list of faculty and staff members who have been with the district for 5, 10, 15 and 20 years. They will be recognized at the awards ceremony at the end of the year.

Chris Main made a motion to recognize the faculty and staff members. Kirk Ellis seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

D. & E.Salary Schedule & 2016-2017 Preliminary Budget Mr. Owens went over finance terminology with the board. Included in the discussion was funding categories, ASBR, fund balance, funding formula, assessed valuation, and tax rate.

Adding $750, $1,000, and $1,250 to the base was discussed last month. The current salary base is $26,750. Next year it is anticipated that state monies will be down $85,000. This is based number of students and a lower Dollar Value Modifier. The district’s free & reduced rate and number of Special Education students are down.

Mr. Owens would like the board to increase the tuition rate. The 21st century revenues and expenditures were not written into the preliminary budget. By adding $750 to the salary base and giving a 2.8% raise the district will have a deficit budget of $91,311 for the 2016-2017 school year.

The Assessed Valuation should increase; therefore, local taxes will be up a little. The following items were considered when preparing the preliminary budget: 6% increase in health insurance, state payment down $85,383, cutting one paraprofessional and having a half-time secretary.

Mr. Owens said the district can handle a deficit budget for a year, but the board needs to consider proposing a Prop C waiver.

If $1,000 is added to the base the budget would be written for a deficit of $102,828; adding $1,250 to the base the budget would be written for a deficit of $114,345.

Mr. Owens would like to stay under the $100,000 range and recommended adding $750 to the base. If something changes later on the board can increase the base.

Tracy Meinecke made a motion to add $750 to the salary base (2.8% salary increase for all other positions). Kirk Ellis seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

E. 21st Century Grant This is the last year of the 21st Century Grant. The district can re-apply for another 5 year grant. North Mercer is the fiscal agent for the grant. The other schools involved are Cainsville, Ridgeway, Gilman City, Newtown-Harris, and Spickard. The grant amount will be $400,000 for the first year and will go down every year. This grant is highly monitored.

Kirk Ellis made a motion to re-apply for the 21st Century Grant. Julie Graham seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0. F. May Board Meeting Date Mr. Owens asked that the board move the May board meeting to Thursday, May 12th due to senior trip and graduation. Mr. Owens and Jennifer L. Wilson are chaperones for the senior trip.

Tracy Meinecke made a motion to move the May board meeting to May 12th. Kirk Ellis seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

G. Baseball Mr. Owens said that he hasn’t heard anything back from Smithfield regarding a field. Our options include postponing starting baseball until the 2017-18 school year, or going with an all away schedule in spring of 2017. Playing in Lineville and Princeton has been discussed, however, it is unsure about getting insurance to cover playing at Lineville and Princeton’s fields are busy with their summer leagues. A lot of students have shown interest in playing. Mr. Guilkey has shown interest in coaching spring baseball.

Mr. Owens recommended postponing starting until spring 2018 or play all away games the spring of 2017. The board would like to play all away games and start baseball the spring of 2017.

The District feels there should be an equal number of sport offerings. The board decided to continue offering golf, students can be in 2 spring sports. If golf numbers fall below 6 the board will look at discontinuing it.

VIII. Principal’s Report Mrs. Palmer reported the following: o Spring music concerts have been re-scheduled for April 21 & 22 o Testing is underway o Ten students will be competing at State FBLA o 2 teams will be competing at State FFA o 5 students will be competing at State Envirothon

IX. Superintendent’s Report Mr. Owens reported the following:  Handed out a couple board policies and Sunshine Law highlights  MSHSAA dead period has been set for July 22-31, 2016  The Poe house the district purchased is not in good shape and needs to be torn down, the Jackson house doesn’t need anything done to it right now. Ron Stark submitted a bid to tear down the house and trees. Mr. Owens will also check with Aaron Moore  An estimate was received on the new office $18,000 – labor and $14,000 material/supplies at Girdner’s. Will talk with other contractors about getting estimates

Jennifer Wilson said that there are big grants for Alternative Schools and asked if the board has ever looked into getting one. Mr. Owens said they have talked about an alternative school, but you have to have the right staff and will need to get students from other schools. There is a lot of money for it but also big headaches. Jennifer asked not to rule it out.

Expanding the preschool playground and preschool to 0-5 year olds has also been discussed. X. Executive Session A. 610.021 (Subsection 3) Julie Graham made a motion to go into executive session at 8:04 p.m. per 610.021 (Subsection 3 & 6). Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0 Gregg Widner – yes, Tracy Meinecke – yes, Julie Graham – yes, Jennifer Wilson – yes, Peggy Johnson – yes, Chris Main – yes, and Kirk Ellis – yes.

Tracy Meinecke made a motion at 8:20 p.m. to come out of executive session. Peggy Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

XI. Actions from Executive Session A. Certified Staff Chris Main made a motion to hire Melissa Hill, Communication Arts, for the 2016-2017 school year. Tracy Meinecke seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0, Gregg Widner abstain.

Chris Main made a motion to hire Jessica Gannon, Music, for the 2016-2017 school year. Tracy Meinecke seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

B. Non-Certified Staff Kirk Ellis made a motion to employ Kelly Cowan for the 2016-2017 school year. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

Kirk Ellis made a motion to employ Tori Hague, Parents as Teachers, for the 2016-2017 school year. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

Kirk Ellis made a motion to employ Nellie Henley for the 2016-2017 school year. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0, Julie Graham abstain.

Kirk Ellis made a motion to employ Kip Houk for the 2016-2017 school year. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

Kirk Ellis made a motion to employ Richard Jones for the 2016-2017 school year. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

Kirk Ellis made a motion to employ Jeannie Miller for the 2016-2017 school year. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

Kirk Ellis made a motion to employ Brian Persell for the 2016-2017 school year. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

Kirk Ellis made a motion to employ Jennifer Wilson for the 2016-2017 school year. Chris Main seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0. XII. Adjourn Julie Graham made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 p.m. Tracy Meinecke seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0 Gregg Widner – yes, Tracy Meinecke – yes, Julie Graham– yes, Jennifer Wilson – yes, Peggy Johnson- yes, Chris Main – yes and Kirk Ellis – yes.

______President Date

______Secretary Date