The Rock Port R-II School Board of Education held a regular meeting January 16, 2020. President Jeremy Davis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Other members present were Ken Miller, Harold Lawrence, Dan Lucas, and Clay Vogler. Members Afton Schomburg and Rich Dewhirst were absent. Others in attendance were Superintendent Ethan Sickels, High School Principal Donnie Parsons, Elementary Principal Steve Waigand, Board Secretary Debbie Young, Crystal Goins, Megan Bebb, Kymm Bredensteiner, Jennifer Geib, and Shauna Farmer.

The agenda was adopted and the minutes of the regular meeting of December 12, 2019, were approved. Mr. Sickels reviewed the financial information for the month ending December 2019. The transfer of funds, December final check register, January check register to date, and the activity account checks were approved. During communications a curriculum presentation was given by Megan Bebb regarding high school language arts. The calendar committee reviewed the preliminary 2020-2021 school calendar, and Mr. Sickels reviewed the work calendar summary.

Mr. Waigand reported December attendance in the elementary was 97.73%. Enrollment is 187 with the addition of four new students in December. The Energy Bus Rally was held January 13 and recognized students that were “Fueling Your Ride with Positive Energy.” January’s Energy Bus Principle is “Transform Negativity” (maintaining self-control). Students meeting their AR goals for second quarter earned a movie party the afternoon of December 18. A special thank you to the Reading Incentive Committee for setting up the different movies, popcorn, and refreshments. Students truly were “Creating a Positive Vision” and “Driving with Purpose” when working toward and achieving their reading goals. A group of students made Christmas cards for the residents of Pleasant View Nursing Home and read Christmas stories to them on the afternoon of December 18. They did a wonderful job and spread some joy to others in the process. The school’s 14th STEM Showcase night on December 16 provided students with opportunities to share their creativity and problem solving skills. The winter music program brought out the musical and theatrical talents of preschool through third grade students. This year the students performed “Flakes” to a capacity crowd in the gymnasium. Upcoming dates and activities and staff professional development were reviewed.

Mr. Parsons reviewed several upcoming dates and activities. There are eight new students, so there are 163 students enrolled in grades 7 – 12. Attendance through January 10 is 95.38%. Staff and students are recharged after a solid Christmas break. Classroom teachers are jumping into second semester curriculum. April and testing season will be here before we know it! Junior high scholar bowl has started their schedule. High school scholar bowl and junior high wrestling have started practice.

Mr. Sickels presented the monthly program evaluation on guidance. He reminded the board that the February 13 regular meeting is scheduled for noon with board members visiting classrooms prior to the meeting beginning at 10:00 a.m. Mr. Sickels noted that the municipal election date is April 7, so the April 9 regular board meeting will probably need to be rescheduled as the election results will not yet be certified. Board members were asked to check their calendars for April 16, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.

Under board reports Mr. Lawrence shared information from a recent conference he attended regarding negative childhood experiences and/or trauma and its long term effects on health and learning outcomes. Hopefully this increased focus and recognition will lead to some changes to funding in both the medical and educational fields to support all student needs. Mr. Vogler reported from the December TABS meeting.

The board then proceeded to address several items of new business. Action was taken to approve May 10, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. as the time and date for the 2020 graduation ceremony, to approve amendments to the 2019-2020 budget, to approve the district MUSIC scholarship applicant, to accept extra-duty resignations from Rachel Jenkins for cross country coach and from Ciara Armstrong as assistant volleyball coach; to approve the retirement of Jackie Miller and Lyn Simmons at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, to approve the employment of Patricia Crawford as elementary paraprofessional, and to approve a contract extension of one additional year through the 2021-2022 school year for Superintendent Sickels.

Following a brief discussion of future business items the meeting was adjourned.