The Fairfax R-3 School District Board Of Education met March 16, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Jon Graves, board president, called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. Also in attendance were: Brett Johnson, Chance Clement, Crystal Woodring, Miles Smith, Sam O’Riley, and Theresa Larson, board members; Jeremy Burright, superintendent; Dustin Barnes, principal; and Karen Burke, secretary.
Board members voted to approve the agenda including additions and deletions.
Consent Agenda
Board members reviewed minutes of the February 21, 2023, regular and executive sessions, and the March 8, 2023, special open and executive sessions.
The financial report showed February year-to-date expenditures of $1,513,721.60 and year-to-date revenues of $2,292,005.40. The February fund balance is $2,245,147, up $224,010 from last year
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Burright reported on the following items:
• A School Safety Grant could help with getting notification systems such as door gates, buzzer systems, bell systems, and high school door buzzers.
• Mr. Vernon is working on the facilities list and is doing a great job.
• There has been a proposal from the Student Council to update the “F” that is on the bank near the bridge.
• Hillyard will come onsite and make any recommendations to plug into the Fairfax facilities plan to make sure the school is in compliance with its CSIP plan.
• The federal government uses public schools to extend COVID relief for free/reduced families and any absences they may have due to COVID.
• Information will be gathered from teachers. Board members were asked what information they would like Dr. Burright to ask the staff. Mr. Kemerling will be involved in the process as well. Board members were asked to email Dr. Burright and have it completed by March 22.
• There may be a special meeting to review insurance plans. They are looking at four different plans and will get more information and input from staff.
Two sample forms (MARE and MSBA) for board self evaluation: were shared with the board members. Each member is asked to share which model they like best and what they like from each model. A new evaluation form will be set up for each board member to complete to get collective scores.
Jon Graves and Miles Smith, co-op representatives, will attend the meeting on April 4. The new co-op agreement will be due in December 2023 for the fall of 2024.
Ashley Grossman was the superintendent spotlight for the meeting. She had an overview of the FCCLA program on what they are working on now, what they will continue in the program and what they will be adding in the future. (Her mentor has given some great suggestions that she wants to implement into the program.)
Principal’s Report
Mr. Barnes shared some general information on the end of the third quarter, parent-teacher conferences, and professional development opportunities. The high school drumline performed at the state basketball tournament, and the band attended Small School Band Competition at Tarkio.
FFA Contest Season is upon us. Various teams are competing in different events during the next month to six weeks.
He also reported on upcoming cyber-safety presentations, preschool and kindergarten screenings, the Tarkio Tech Career Fair, and job shadow days. MAP training for Fairfax teachers will take place March 29. Plans are being made for MAP/ EOC testing dates and logistics.
D.A.R.E. graduation will be Wednesday, April 5, at 7:00 p.m. at Fairfax.
Mr. Barnes gave an update on Student Information System / Technology. They continue to have various webinar training sessions for key administrative team members and are currently working on the next year file finalizing the overall school calendar, working on early out days. The school is in need of updating its current white-board/ Promethean boards across the district. They have acquired and implemented new panels in the several classrooms. It will take 14 new panels to finish out all of the existing teachers and rooms that require new technology. Mr. Barnes has been looking at options and is looking at a proposal to obtain NewLine panels.
The scholar bowl team has 13 members this year and won their first match on March 2.
Spring Sports practices are underway. The number of athletes on each team is: baseball – 20 (seven from Fairfax); golf – seven (five from Fairfax); high school girls’ track – 17 (four from Fairfax); high school boys’ track – 14 (four from Fairfax); junior high girls’ track – 17 (two from Fairfax); and junior high boys’ track – 16 (six from Fairfax).
Braden Graves and Jarrett Spinnato were named to the 2nd Team All-Conference Basketball Team, Natalie Hedlund was named to the 1st Team (unanimous), and Claire Martin was named to the 2nd Team.
The administrators from Tarkio and Fairfax met Monday March 13, to discuss various co-op topics. They discussed coaches’ evaluations, coaching staffing needs as well as starting to discuss the renewal of the co-op agreement. That will be discussed at a co-op board meeting.
Tarkio and Fairfax also discussed sixth grade participation in athletics. Discussion hinged around three main points: (1) Number of participants in junior high for next year in sports; (2) advantages and disadvantages of sixth graders participating in junior high sports; and (3) coaching needs for junior high sports.
Based on the discussion they are considering potentially recommending that the schools register with MSHSAA as a 6-8 grade middle school program and allowing sixth graders to participate in some or all junior high sports.
Mr. Barnes reviewed Fairfax’s District Annual Performance report with the board.
Board members voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda.
New Business
Payment of $4,842.80 to Al’s Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration, Inc. was approved 6 (yes) and 1 (no). This is the milk cooler that was brought in and should have cost $6,000. The cost is $4,567.80 plus $275.00 shipping.
Payment of $4,070.22 to Falls City Mercantile for food supplies. Overall food service costs remain lower than the 2021-22 school year.
Board members voted to approve the 2023-2024 calendar with updated teacher work days.
Board members voted 6 (yes) and 0 (no) to approve the purchase of a John Deere zero turn mower for $6,800 from Hiawatha Implement Co. in Mound City. Sam O’Riley had stepped out of the meeting for a moment.
The teacher salary schedule represents the changes made last year, has been vetted by the salary committee, and reflects the potential for $35,000 minimum salary legislation. Board members voted unanimously to adopt the 2023-2024 Teacher Salary Schedule as presented.
DESE is providing updated guidance for the Teacher Baseline Salary Grant, pending appropriation for the 2023-24 school year. Qualifying LEAs will be able to apply for grant funds to boost their teacher salary levels to a baseline amount of $38,000. LEAs that currently employ teachers making between $25,000 and $38,000 per full-time equivalent (FTE) will be eligible to apply.
Under this grant opportunity, up to 70 percent of the additional funds to increase teacher salary levels to $38,000 would come from state grant funds. The remaining 30 percent and related benefit costs would come from local sources.
This is an optional grant program. LEAs with regular salaries below $38,000 are not required to participate. The state minimum salary requirements in Section 163.172, RSMo have not changed because of this grant program. LEAs will be notified when the application becomes available.
Board members voted unanimously to approve the bid of $1,348.62 from Hillyard for main gym floor refinishing.
Board members approved the payment of $1,053.92 to First Student for Votech transportation Dr. Burright recommended moving this payment to the consent agenda from now on. It was board consensus to do so.
Old Business
There were no changes to the COVID Plan Feedback.
In addition to close numbers of families for or against AMI days (Alternative Methods of Instruction), students continue to have some type of academic exposure on AMI days vs. none on traditional snow days. Additionally, staff are in favor of AMI days. Accommodations are made for each family upon notification in order to compensate for insufficient bandwidth or lack of internet access. There were 55 respondents of 128 family members contacted for the family survey, for a 42.96% response rate. A total of 26 out of 35 staff members responded to the staff survey.
Theresa Larson made a motion to table until the next regular board meeting. Discussion was held and the motion was rescinded by Theresa Larson. Board members voted unanimously to approve the use of AMI days for 2023-2024 school year as determined by administrative discretion.
In hiring processes, it was determined no motion is necessary. The administration can follow the recommendations of legal counsel:
• Document the interviews of top candidates
• Keep documentation of interviews for one year, with the exception of hiring disputes
• Do not change board policy
The next regular board meeting will be April 17, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Election results for Fairfax R-3 board members must be ratified by the board within 14 days of the election.
