The Fairfax R-3 School District Board Of Education held a regular meeting November 20, 2024. Miles Smith called the meeting to order at 6:31p.m. Also present were: Crystal Woodring, Treyvor Umbarger, Courtney Grossman and Shelby Hurst, board members; Nick Kemerling, Superintendent; Gracey Mobley, Melanie Lucas, and Lauren Clark, teachers. Brett Johnson was absent.
The agenda was approved as presented.
Consent Agenda
Board members reviewed of minutes of the October 16 regular and executive sessions.
The financial report showed a fund balance of $2,024,827 as of November 6, 2024. The fund balance on November 6, 2023, was $1,762,055
Karen Burke and Caroline Peters recently attended Software Unlimited training in Lawrence, Kansas. This is the financial software Fairfax will be transitioning to. Bev Shiflett continues to work at Fairfax one day every week or every other week, but Karen and Caroline have been doing much of the work along with their high school and elementary secretary jobs. There have been five to six inquiries into the open secretary position, but at this time no one is interested.
Mrs. Shiflett has worked around 86 hours, which amounts to $3,096.
The monthly bills were approved for payment.
Superintendent’s Report
• Rick Harrington recently repaired a water leak in the elementary workroom bathroom and there have been no problems since.
• The city crew added rock between the north side of 3rd street and the bank of the newly acquired lot.
• Jeff Jobes attempted to fix the kiln in the art room the week of November 3. He found a part that could be part of the problem, but did not think that was the only issue. The part in question was $300 to replace and Jeff thought there were other issues, so it was decided not to repair. Later that week Jeff located a kiln from an individual in Maryville, brought it to the school, and was able to get it operational. Jeff did not charge the school for the kiln or the work, but did suggest replacing the wiring to the kiln area. Mr. Kemerling had Jeff replace the plug and wiring.
• While Jeff was working in the art room a leak was reported in the kitchen. Jeff found the leak coming from the dishwasher and ordered seals and will replace them a day students will not be in the building so the seals have time to set.
• After the kitchen leak was evaluated, Kerry reported a leak in the boiler room. Jeff was able to locate the leak and reported the deaerator (DA) tank for the boiler was leaking near the pump fittings. A deaerator tank’s purpose is to store and supply consistent water to the boiler, bring the temperature of the water up before reaching the boiler, and to drive undissolved oxygen and other gasses out of the water prior to reaching the boiler. This keeps the boiler from corroding. The school’s DA tank is somewhere around 900 gallons.
The floor drain was not working properly. Galen Vernon was able to remove some of the water and work on the drain enough that the water slowly drained overnight. Fairfax had hoped to use the Tarkio elementary school’s old DA tank, but it was not big enough, so a patch was welded onto the tank.
Meek and Sons cleaned out the floor drain last week and it is now working properly.
• An alumni group contacted Ms. Wyatt regarding improvements to the sound system in the gym. Three companies have been on campus to bid on the project and Mr. Kemerling has received two bids, one for $20-$25,000, the second for $11,000. Mr. Kemerling is waiting on a third bid from Midwest Data Center. This would be funded by donations, but the board would need to approve the gift if this project progresses.
East Atchison Wolves Report
The junior high basketball teams have played several games and are improving every week. One thing that stood out at a game last week was three of five starters for the girls’ team were from Fairfax and four of the boys’ starters were from Fairfax.
Cross country ended its season with the girls earning a 10th place finish at state.
Principal’s Report
All parents were contacted at least once via email or phone to schedule a parent-teacher conference. Parents who needed a conference met with teachers the week of October 21.
In a PD update on teachers, it was reported that grades K-4 continued their work with standards referenced grades.
The Veterans Day assembly was a successful event for students and the community. This year’s speaker was Clyde Hughes.
The staff held a Thanksgiving potluck and will have a Secret Santa through December. They will get together sometime in December.
Student recognition assemblies were held the week of November 18. The school is recognizing classroom achievement, attendance, citizenship, and activity participation. Certificates will be given and elementary and secondary assemblies will be separate.
The consent agenda was approved.
New Business
The following bills were approved for payment: Falls City Mercantile, $3,693; First Student Transportation, $2,404 for October Vo-Tech transportation; and Conrad & Higgins, CPA, $3,175 for the annual district audit.
The board reviewed the facility needs and last year’s plan and approved an updated facility plan.
The board received the final lead testing results and the MUSIC insurance rate increase information.
Board members voted to approve payment of $45,695 of reimbursable funds to teachers below the DESE baseline salary. Included in that amount is payment to staff above the threshold.
Board members voted unanimously to approve the Learn Life Saver program. This information complies with Missouri Law 170.311 in that the board decides if organ and tissue donation be presented in the health curriculum.
The board also took action to approve board updates.
Ms. Debra Wyatt presented a request to allow the band to perform in Branson, Missouri, next spring. The board approved the trip and fundraising.
The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m. The next regular board meeting will be Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the school library.
