The Rock Port R-II School Board of Education held a regular meeting April 11, 2024. Board President Regan Griffin called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the board room. Other board members in attendance were Afton Schomburg, Joanna Burke, Jared Meyerkorth, Kayla Sierks and Reven Herron. Troy Cook arrived at the meeting at 7:41 p.m. Also present were Dr. Bollinger, superintendent; Mr.Parsons, high school principal; Dr. Waigand, Elementary Principal; and Jennifer Welch, Board Secretary. Guests were Jill Gilson, Kendall Carpenter, Rachel Stanton, Betsy Larson, Danyal Coon, Sage Acorn, and Chris Horn.
The agenda was adopted with the approval of the 2024 – 2025 PDC plan being removed until the plan is received.
Dr. Bollinger administered the oath of office to incumbent board members Reven Herron and Jared Meyerkorth.
Regan Griffin was elected president of the board and Reven Herron was elected vice-president.
The minutes of the regular meeting of March 14, 2024, were approved.
Dr. Bollinger reviewed the financial information. The transfer of funds, March final check register, and April check register to date were approved.
The board read a thank you from the Stanton family.
K-6 teachers discussed their English language curriculum. Board members voted to approve the purchase of the HMH K-5 reading curriculum in the amount of $56,504.28 and the purchase of the Savvas curriculum in the amount of $5,367.60.
Dr. Waigand and Mr. Parsons gave the elementary and high school reports.
Dr. Bollinger presented the monthly program evaluation report on student athletics/activities.
Sage Acorn and Chris Horn gave a construction update to the board.
Board members took action to approve the correction to the 2024 -2025 school calendar and the 2024-2025 Career Ladder Plan.
They also voted to certify the graduating Class of 2024 pending the completion of all requirements per board policy IKF.
The June board meeting date was changed from June 13, 2024, to June 10, 2024.
It was decided to leave the preschool rates the same. For full day preschool, Tier 1 will be $275, Tier 2 will be $180, and Tier 3 will be $125. For half day preschool, Tier 1 will be $175, Tier 2 will be $125, and Tier 3 will be $100.
The board approved the purchase of a 2018 71 passenger SAFTLiner bus from Midwest Bus Sales in the amount of $67,500.00.
Board members voted on a contingent approval of MEUHP with the district covering the cost of increase if United Healthcare or Blue Cross Blue Shield don’t come in with a better rate.
They also approved food service items for the kitchen in the amount of $27,456.00 with the DESE food service funds.
Board members voted to move to executive session in Accordance (3, 13) Personnel Matters. Dr. Waigand left executive session at 8:30 p.m. Following his departure, the special education stipend was discussed. Dr. Waigand returned to executive session at 8:45 p.m.
The meeting returned to open session at 9:27 p.m.
Board members voted to approve the HR form as presented. The HR form included the resignation of Katarina Bennett from her elementary teacher position and the resignation of Cara Davis from her high school paraprofessional position. The HR form included the hiring of Travis Jenkins as an After Prom Bus Driver, Marissa Whitt as the 6-9 mathematics teacher, and Tyne Chaney as the K-5 music teacher and School-Home Liaison.
The following non-certified employees were employed for the 2024-2025 school year: Erica Barnes, Richard Fentiman, Mary Hale, Stacy Hughes, Melissa Pierpoint, Dixie Teten, Debbie Clodfelter, Jordan Christian, Cindie Driskell, Michelle Garst, Wendy Hays, Kristi Herron, Trevor Holmes, Tisha Jackson, Mark McMahon, Jennifer Welch, Todda Wren, Danny Fischer, and Richard Morgan.
Non-certified employees also employed were Carol Herron (Reven Herron abstained) and Jessica VanGundy (Troy Cook abstained).
The board also voted to employ the following with extra duty contracts for the 2024-2025 school year: Donald Parsons, Athletic/Activities Director; Shauna Farmer, MOSIS coordinator, concession stand manager, peer counselor sponsor, high school cheer sponsor, and dance team sponsor; Tiffanie Gaines, technology coordinator and junior high cheer sponsor; Amy Skillen, website manager, yearbook/newspaper sponsor, senior sponsor, and high school scholar bowl; Kristi Herron, website manager; Michelle Garst, website manager; Tawni Ellis, peer counselor sponsor; Kerri Rodriguez, high school play sponsor; Jeremy Palmer, FFA sponsor, assistant junior high football coach; Crystal Goins, FCCLA sponsor; Stephanie Parsons, FBLA sponsor, junior sponsor, head high school volleyball coach, assistant junior high volleyball coach, and assistant summer weightlifting program; Abby Palmer, instrumental and vocal music, marching auxiliaries, senior class sponsor; Christin Dush, NHS sponsor; Thomas Herron, head junior high scholar bowl, and junior class sponsor; Melissa Pierpoint, senior class sponsor; Richard Fentiman, junior class sponsor; Kendall Carpenter, high school cheer sponsor; Angela Mace, head high school cross country coach; Steve Waigand, head junior high cross country coach; Dalton Jones, head high school football coach, head summer weightlifting program; Jordan Shrader, assistant high school football coach; Jayme Wood, head junior high volleyball coach, and assistant high school volleyball coach; Stephen Gaines, head junior high football coach and head junior high girls basketball; Kelcie Gaines, assistant junior high volleyball coach and assistant junior high girls basketball coach; Aaron Carpenter, head high school boys basketball coach; Austin Alitz, head high school girls basketball coach; Gary Davis, assistant high school girls basketball coach; Chris Gebhards, head high school boys wrestling coach and assistant junior high boys wrestling coach; Trevor Holmes, head high school girls wrestling coach, and head junior high mixed wrestling coach; Gus Heinz, assistant high school boys wrestling coach; Steve Proctor, assistant high school girls wrestling coach; Sammantha Giddinge, assistant junior high boys basketball coach; Wendy Hays, assistant junior high girls basketball coach; and Hayley Jones, assistant junior high girls wrestling coach.
Board members also voted to employ the following with extra duty contracts for the 2024-2025 school year: Shawn Shineman, head high school girls golf coach and head high boys golf coach (Jared Meyerkorth abstained); Aidan Burke, assistant junior high football coach and assistant junior high boys basketball coach (Joanna Burke abstained); Regan Griffin, head junior high boys basketball coach (Regan Griffin abstained); and Jared Meyerkorth, assistant high schoolboys basketball coach (Jared Meyerkorth abstained).
The board also took action to raise the Special Education Director stipend to 10% of the elementary principal base salary.
Future business was discussed.
The meeting adjourned at 9:49 p.m.
