The Rock Port R-II School Board of Education met October 10, 2019. President Jeremy Davis called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Other members present were Afton Schomburg, Ken Miller, Rich Dewhirst, and Clay Vogler. Member Harold Lawrence was absent, and member Dan Lucas entered the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Others in attendance were Superintendent Ethan Sickels, Elementary Principal Steve Waigand, High School Principal Donnie Parsons, Board Secretary Debbie Young, and Jackie Miller.

The agenda was adopted and the minutes of the regular meeting of September 12, 2019, were approved. Mr. Sickels reviewed the financial information for the month ending September 2019. The transfer of funds, September final check register, October check register to date, and the activity account checks were approved. Mr. Sickels read a thank you note from Shelby and Trey Garst and shared the OPAA newsletter.

Mr. Waigand reported September attendance in the elementary was 97.05% (181 students). October’s Energy Bus Principle is “Create a Positive Vision.” The Energy Bus Assembly was October 1. Students were recognized for taking responsibility for their actions and decisions – being the driver of their bus! Parents were invited to the assembly. A special thanks to student council members for being door greeters, taking pictures for Twitter, playing music, announcing student winners, and presenting the awards. Elementary Student Council members for 2019-2020 are: Dylan Lair, Kinleigh Daugherty, Gabe Gebhards, Landrey Kelly, Zoey Zach, Greyson Henning, Eli Cox, Reese Herron, and Grady Cook. The Talented and Gifted (TAG) group has started after school on Mondays from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m., and their sponsor is Mrs. Mertens. The school’s WATCH D.O.G.S. kick-off was held September 30. Dads, granddads, and other father figures learned about how they can have a positive impact on the school by volunteering to be a WATCH D.O.G. for a half day or full day. A special thanks to Mrs. Ellis for organizing the event. The Title I Parent Meeting was held September 19. A special thanks to Mrs. Mertens for organizing and leading the presentation. Several upcoming dates were reviewed along with October staff professional development.

Mr. Parsons reviewed several upcoming dates and activities. September attendance for the junior high and high school was 98% (155 students). DCI and RPDC Work: We’ve been fortunate to work with the ladies from RPDC on updating and improving the school’s curriculum. This year math is the focus, but all teachers are getting individual work time during the regular school day. Staff continue working on classroom teacher educator growth plans. Compliments on new scorer’s table have been received. Mrs. Gaines and her students were thanked for their for help with programming. Classroom reports were received from Mrs. Acton, Mrs. Bebb, Mrs. Miller, and Mr. Skillen.

Mr. Sickels reported on topics discussed at the monthly Northwest MASA meeting. The monthly program evaluation was given on Special Education. Mr. Sickels gave updates on the status of the audit report and the final expenditure reports for state and federal programs. He also reviewed the status of the outstanding lunch account balances and reviewed budget projections by fund for the 2020-21 fiscal year. The superintendent’s growth plan was available for review with further discussion scheduled for the November meeting.

Under board reports it was noted that Ken Miller is the board member scheduled to attend the monthly TABS meeting.

The board then proceeded to address several items of new business. A football stadium steering committee comprised of board members, administrators, faculty, and community members was formed with the initial meeting to be scheduled in the near future. Action was taken to approve amendments to the 2019-2020 budget; to accept the resignation of Ethan Sickels from his position as assistant junior high girls’ basketball coach, and to employ Emily Kohout as the assistant junior high girls’ basketball coach and the head junior high girls’ track coach. Mrs. Miller presented a report on the junior high and high school foreign language curriculum.

The board moved from open session to executive session for personnel matters. Upon returning to open session the board reported the minutes of the executive sessions of January 10, 2019, and February 11, 2019, were approved. Following a brief discussion of future business items the meeting was adjourned.