The Tarkio R-I Board of Education met Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Tarkio High School. The meeting was called to order by board president Garrett Wood. Members in attendance were Jamie Barnett, Heather Olson, Josh Wright, Brooke Vette, and Sam Hannah. Chris Yates was absent. Others in attendance were: Tarkio Elementary Principal/Tarkio R-I Special Education Director Kari Taylor, Tarkio R-I Superintendent Carrie Livengood, board secretary Lanette Hogue, Tarkio High School Principal Nick Kemerling, Deyton Thomson, Markie Sundermann, Jennifer Peregrine,  Erica Taylor, Ashlee Driskell, Amy Hurst, Shannon Bruns, Tiffany McGinness, Kara Vette, and Baylee Ray.

The agenda was approved.

The board norms were approved as presented and district obligations were approved.

Amy Hurst asked the board for an update on the questions she presented last month. Mrs. Livengood let her know that the numbers will be presented in the facilities update.

A TAC report and a CTA report were presented.

Elementary Principal Kari Taylor reported that the elementary had 95% attendance for February. The book fair was held the week of March 6-10, 2023. The elementary had 60 participants for their Literature Night on March 2, 2023. Grades 3-5 are practicing and preparing for MAP testing. Read Across America was held the first week in March. Several teachers have attended PD trainings.

High School Principal Nick Kemerling reported the year-to-date attendance at the high school is 94.98%. Jackie Cochenour with Northwest Missouri Children’s Advocacy Task Force facilitated Stewards of Children for 6th-12th grades. Junior high wrestling wrapped up the season. Baseball has 20 players, high school track has 17 girls and 14 boys, junior high track has 26 athletes, and high school boys’ golf has seven boys. The FFA Chapter, high school scholar bowl, and band and music students are starting spring contests. Mrs. Meyerkorth took five high school students to Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Missouri. The National Honor Society tapping ceremony was held on March 10, 2023. The Tarkio band held a Small School Bands Festival on March 14, 2023.

Superintendent Carrie Livengood gave a financial report. The district ended February up $2.76 million from this time last year. She shared a facilities update and a lease summary from Bruce Johnson. Bruce Johnson will attend the April meeting to finalize the lease amount. Budget revision was shared with the only numbers that were changed being M&M surtax, local taxes, and railroad and utilities. She shared the numbers for the items that were asked about last month: 41 new interior elementary doors, $163,684; replace the pod drinking fountain and hand washing station, $29,204; new fire alarm system in the elementary, $63,260; bullet resistant film on exterior doors at the elementary, $14,596; bullet resistant film on exterior doors at the high school, $14,411; and additional insulation in the junior high wing, $9,598.

The board voted to approve quote #AAAQ11196 for fiber and quote # AAAQ11197 for cameras as presented.

The board voted to approve the final reading of the calendar for 2023-2024.

Mrs. Livengood reported that the administration had a meeting with Great Circle. Great Circle has to make the decision if it is possible to locate an alternative school here in Tarkio.

A food service proposal meeting was held March 14, 2023. The only food service company that attended was OPAA!

The board voted to continue to offer full-time staff the three HSA plans and one PPO plan and continue to pay $500 for staff for insurance a month.

The board voted to move the reorganization meeting to Wednesday, April 18, 2023.

Board members voted unanimously to add $1,000 to the base for certified staff and to approve the new salary schedule as presented and change the daily payout for sick leave from $35 a day to $50 a day.

Mrs. Livengood shared the APR results with the board.

The board voted to approve the student information system quote from Lumen Touch for the 2023-24 school year as presented.

The board voted to approve resignations of the following: Nate Jeter, Nick Kemerling, and Eric Walker.

The meeting moved into closed session pursuant to RSMo§. Record and Vote at 9:10 p.m.

The board voted to offer contracts to the following: Courtney Driskell, Ellie Graves, Courtney Harms, Michelle Henry, Michelle Seiter, Courtney Meyerkorth, Kadie Howard, Tiffany McGinness, Nicole Albertson, Nathaniel Wehmeyer, Baylee Ray, Whitney Harrington, Kara Vette, Dustin Piper, Cassie Runde, Josh Taylor, and Beth Wennihan.

The closed session adjourned at 10:17 p.m. The meeting moved back into open session.

The board voted to approve overnight trips for State FBLA and State FFA.

The meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m.