The Rock Port R-II School Board of Education met May 14, 2020. President Jeremy Davis called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Other members present were Afton Schomburg, Harold Lawrence, Rich Dewhirst, Clay Vogler, Ken Miller, and Dan Lucas. Also present were Superintendent Ethan Sickels, High School Principal Donnie Parsons, Elementary Principal Steve Waigand, and Board Secretary Debbie Young.

The agenda was adopted. The minutes of the regular meeting of April 16, 2020, were approved. Mr. Sickels reviewed the financial information for the month ending April 2020. The transfer of funds, the April final check register, the May check register to date, and the activity account checks were approved.

Mr. Waigand reported student belongings were packed up and sent home on April 27. Class lists and supply lists were included in the student bags. He thanked the teachers and staff for their flexibility in a very unusual end to our school year. Teachers have been diligently getting classrooms packed up and ready for summer. Several classroom moves within the building are currently taking place. Chromebook drop-off in the elementary was on May 7. Teachers took an inventory of returned devices. Students did a great job of caring for the devices over the extended break. Full day preschool registration is scheduled for Thursday, May 14. Kindergarten Round-Up and Preschool Round-Up are tentatively scheduled for Friday, August 14, 9:00-11:00 a.m. This will give students an opportunity to meet their teacher, see their classroom, and take a ride on a school bus prior to the first day back as a school. No kindergarten or preschool screenings are scheduled for the summer. Screenings (as needed) will take place during the upcoming school year. Mr. Waigand has been communicating with teachers on a weekly basis through Zoom meetings or by phone. Teachers will officially check out the week of May 11-15.

Mr. Parsons acknowledged the tremendous job the staff has done in transitioning curricula to fit the school’s online format. There has never been a shortage of staff stepping up to volunteer to help when needed. Mr. Parsons felt that the Rock Port R-II staff has done what’s best for the students, and they are lucky to have the staff they do. He reported year-end high school enrollment is 163 students with attendance at 95.35%.

Student locker clean-out was April 27-30 and Chromebooks were returned May 7 and 8 with most textbooks and Chromebooks being collected. Teachers will check out May 11-14. While the administration will continue to monitor guidelines and seek advice from local experts, graduation has tentatively been set for Sunday, June 14, 1:30 p.m. at Blue Jay Stadium. More information will be forthcoming. He also reported on MSHSAA updates for summer and fall athletics.

Mr. Sickels reviewed the monthly program evaluation report on professional development. He updated the board with the latest information on CARES Act funding. Rock Port R-II expects to receive the funds in this fiscal year and will use them to pay allowed expenditures incurred after March 13. The state legislature will be making budget cuts; hopefully education will be spared from drastic cuts, but he will update the board as the information becomes available. He reviewed the MSBA pandemic guidelines and recommendations which were just released. He reported on the food service program and meals being served to families during the school closure, stating this program will end on the regularly scheduled last day of May 15, 2020. The church will be starting their summer feeding program after that date.

Board members discussed their concerns regarding the pandemic and what actions should be taken at this time to prepare for school opening and fall sports. Safety measures to implement for the June graduation ceremony were also discussed.

The board proceeded to address several items of new business. Action was taken to approve the 2019-2020 audit engagement letter from March, Espey & Merrill; to approve the 2020-2021 agreement with the Tarkio Technology Institute; and to approve the 2020-2021 preschool tuition with an increase of $10 per month to each tier.

Mr. Sickels reviewed the district technology needs and facility maintenance projects for the 2020-2021 school year with action taken to approve the purchase of recommended technology items, playground mulch, and roof repairs. Other maintenance projects will be put on hold pending further information on the potential funding cuts.

Action was taken to approve the banking bid from Citizens Bank & Trust, and to approve an extra-duty contract to Emily Graham for assistant junior high girls’ basketball. Bids for the lockers being removed from the high school were opened, and Mr. Sickels will contact the bidders for pick-up and payment.

The next meeting will be June 11, 2020, at 6:00 beginning with the reorganizational meeting and the regular meeting to immediately follow. After a brief discussion of future business items the meeting was adjourned.