The Rock Port R-II School Board of Education held a regular meeting June 10, 2021. President Jeremy Davis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the board room. Other board members in attendance were Joanna Burke, Reven Herron, Dan Lucas, and Jared Meyerkorth. Members Regan Griffin and Afton Schomburg were absent. Also present were Superintendent Ethan Sickels, High School Principal Donnie Parsons, and Board Secretary Debbie Young.

The agenda was adopted, and the minutes of the regular meeting of May 13, 2021, were approved. Mr. Sickels reviewed the financial information for the month ending May 2021. The transfer of funds, the May final check register, the June check register to date, and the activity account checks were approved. During communications, Mr. Sickels read a thank you note from Tiffanie Gaines.

Mr. Waigand’s report was reviewed in his absence. May attendance was 96.10% (178 students). Students and staff were thankful to be in-person and without masks on for the final week of school. It was a step closer to normalcy as a most unusual year finished and they start making plans for the new school year. Congratulations to Mrs. Shelby Garst, second grade teacher, on being named the Elementary Outstanding Educator of the Year. It was a well-deserved honor for a great professional in the classroom and even better person! Awards assemblies (grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-6) were held Tuesday, May 28. Several student achievements were recognized, including reading goals met, superior achievement (81st percentile or higher) on NWEA, and superior growth (81st percentile or higher) on NWEA. The new Promethean boards were installed in all grade level classrooms, preschool, Title Reading, and special education on May 17. They are getting an early jump on some future CSIP goals. A positive behavior support committee was formed and met on May 19. The committee took feedback on positive behavior characteristics staff would like to see in students from both the elementary and junior high/high school buildings. Handbook changes for the 2021-22 school year and staff professional development were reviewed.

Mr. Parsons reported high school enrollment and attendance through May 20, 2021, was 93.99% (146 students). The building is much quieter now but there are still plenty of summer activities. A multitude of summer camps, weightlifting, and service organization activities are among the events taking place into June and July. Results from state track were noted: the girls’ team placed fourth overall; Alivia Baucom placed first in the shot put and discus; Rylee Jenkins placed second in the discus; girls’ 4×800 of Mikayla Makings, Macie Hale, Makenna Farmer, and Aubrey Watkins placed sixth; girls’ 4×400 of Mikayla Makings, Rylee Jenkins, Rachel Vogler, and Makenna Farmer placed eighth; and Colten Stevens placed fifth in the discus. Other year-end award winners: MSHSAA Award of Excellence – Makenna Farmer and Gabriel Abbott; Outstanding Senior Athlete – Alivia Baucom and Gabriel Abbott. NWEA to MAP projections, 2021-2022 handbook changes, and several upcoming dates were reviewed.

Mr. Sickels stated the monthly program evaluation report is on Food Service – OPAA! He reviewed the house and senate bills affecting education that were passed by the state legislature in the last session. The facility plan was discussed including projects scheduled to be completed this summer. Mr. Sickels gave an update on the status of the ESSER funding, discussed softball options, and reviewed information on the upcoming auction at the Clarinda Academy. Access to the weight room and equipment repairs were discussed during board member reports.

The board proceeded to address several items of new business. Action was taken to approve the 2020 – 2021 final bus routes, to approve the 2021 – 2022 breakfast and lunch prices with no changes, and to approve an increase to the meal stipend from $12 to $18 per day for state event travel. The 2021 – 2022 athletic official pay schedule was approved as presented with the addition of baseball officials. Consideration was given to the facility maintenance and improvement projects to be completed this summer with action taken to accept the bid from School Specialty in the amount of $7,375.20 for four new cafeteria tables, to accept the bid from Davis Concrete in the amount of $8,187.50 for sidewalk repairs in three areas on the school grounds, and to the accept the bid from Davis Concrete in the amount of $10,800.00 for concrete repairs at the stadium. Bids to replace the restroom flooring in the high school dome and the elementary school were reviewed. Following a brief discussion, it was decided Mr. Sickels should obtain bids for epoxy flooring in the elementary restrooms only with action taken authorizing him to accept a bid not to exceed $8,600.00. Consideration was given to bids for a seven-passenger van. Mr. Sickels noted he only received one bid as not many car dealerships in the area had inventory meeting the bid specifications. He also presented the auction sale bill from Clarinda Academy listing two used seven-passenger vans for sale. Following a brief discussion, it was decided Mr. Sickels should attend the auction with authorization to spend up to $55,000 to purchase one or both vans at his discretion. Action was taken to approve the 2021 – 2022 Vo-Tech transportation agreement with Tarkio R-I School, to approve the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction Plan as required for receipt of ESSERIII funds, to approve the E-Rate Consulting Agreement for the 2022 – 2024 funding years, and to approve the 2020 – 2021 budget amendments.

Consideration was given to employment of personnel. Recommendations were presented and action was taken to extend a 2021 – 2022 teaching contract to Carrie Driskell for junior high math; to extend 2021 – 2022 employment agreement to Jennifer Welch as a full-time substitute and to Brittany Paris as an elementary paraprofessional; to extend a 2021 – 2022 extra-duty contract to Donnie Parsons for assistant high school football; and to employ Bracton Cook for summer maintenance.

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