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Jan. 23, 2023, SSD200 Board meeting
Courtesy of Sedalia School District 200
During its Monday, Jan. 23, meeting, the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education recognized Bailey Brown as the district’s local recipient of the John T. Belcher Scholarship. Brown will receive a $500 award, funded by the Sedalia School District Foundation, and moves on to compete at the regional level. Brown, center, is shown with Board President Diana Nichols, left, and SSDF President Deidre Esquivel.
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The Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Jan. 23, in the Heckart Performing Arts Center. Vice President Sam Kempton was absent.
The board approved a resolution calling for a special election on April 4 to make permanent the district’s current temporary operating tax levy of $0.8628 per $100 of assessed valuation. A simple majority of votes cast is needed for the measure’s approval. The levy currently brings in about $3 million per year to the district.
Superintendent Dr. Todd Fraley said the district surveyed parents, staff and registered voters within the district’s boundaries; with more than 800 responses, 68% supported making the current tax levy permanent. Fraley said approval in April will allow the district to move forward with long-range plans to improve district facilities.
Board Director Matthew Herren praised Fraley for moving forward with the recommendation. He said Fraley was transparent in making the case for the ballot measure; Herren said he supports it because the money is needed for the long-term stability of the district and because it does not increase residents’ current tax rate. Herren added that it is important to recognize those who expressed opposition to effort.
Fraley said money generated by the tax levy can be used in both the operating and construction funds. This contributes to the district’s ability to add funding for staff salaries and benefits, which can help recruit and retain the best staff members.
The election notice for the April Board of Education election was approved. Three seats, each with three-year terms, are on the April 4 ballot. The candidates are Pam Moon, Brad Grupe, Dale Garrett and Scott Gardner.
Curriculum directors Devon Gilmore and Becky Brownfield received the board’s approval to use a one-time allotment of $364,000 in federal funds in four areas: professional development and instruction materials, phonics training for third grade teachers, specific professional development for language acquisition for EL teachers and students, and an EL summer camp for students to help with language acquisition and district standards.
Also Monday:
-- The calendar for the 2023-24 school year was approved. Staff members voted for one of two options, and Option 2 was the overwhelming favorite. The school year begins Aug. 24 and ends May 17. Fraley said the calendar committee was tasked with trying to balance the number of days in first and second semesters.
-- A construction contract with American Institute of Architects and a Notice to Proceed agreement were approved for the work expectations for the Team SCREAM auxiliary building project.
-- A JROTC 8th grade Leadership and Character Development program course was approved for Smith-Cotton Junior High School. Students who successfully complete a full year of this course will be enrolled in JROTC as a weighted class when they enter high school.
-- Proposed changes to the 2023-24 Smith-Cotton High School Course and Student Resource Guide were approved. S-C Principal Wade Norton removed a proposed required Transition to High School course for freshmen at the board’s request.
-- The Smith-Cotton Junior High Course Description Guide for the 2023-24 school year was approved. Sixth grade students will be required to take two ELA courses, one reading and one writing, which will reduce their elective class options by one. Other key changes:
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Health class moves from sixth grade to seventh grade
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Addition of FACS Focus on Foods course for eighth grade
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Addition of LEGO Botics course for seventh or eighth grade
— Summer School dates were approved. Elementary Enrichment (Math, Reading, Science) for students entering grades 1-6 will be June 5-23; English Learners Elementary Summer Camp, by invitation only, will be June 5-23; Reading Camp for students entering grades 1-6 will be July 10-28; Junior High Enrichment and Core Builder for students entering grades 7-9 will be June 5-23; Credit Recovery for grades 9-12 will be June 5-21; High School Academic Virtual Courses (Health, PE, Personal Finance) will be offered in June and July; and Driver’s Education Program will be offered in June and July depending on enrollment.
-- The board recognized the following donations:
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Gardner Denver donated $375 in Walmart Gift Cards in support of Whittier High School students.
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In December, the district was informed that it will receive a Ukrainian Refugee School Impact Grant (URSI) allocation of $51,354. The goal of this grant is to serve recently arrived Ukrainian refugee students ages 0-18 and their families. The district has 57 refugee students enrolled with more possibly enrolling next week. This money can be used for the remainder of the 22-23 school year. Plans are for two temporary family liaisons to help with transition and language support. Secondary Curriculum Director Becky Brownfield said there is a possibility of an additional allotment in July depending on refugee enrollment.
-- Sedalia NEA President Tyler Janke said his group’s members would like to work with district administrators on ways to recruit and retain teachers and to discuss pay equity, insurance and daycare.
-- SCEA President Misty Tow said the group received 352 nominations for Educator of the Year, with more than 150 Sedalia 200 educators nominated. Recognitions for the Outstanding Educator and Associate will be Feb. 21 along with the SCEA Board Candidate Forum. Building level Outstanding Educators are:
- June Snapp, Loftus Early Childhood Center
- Brandi LaCasse, Skyline Elementary
- Megan Palmer, Parkview Elementary
- Randi Steward, Heber Hunt Elementary
- Cheyenne Zinck, Washington Elementary
- Danni Gerke, Horace Mann Elementary
- Kristen Patrick, Sedalia Middle School
- Shelly Heritage-Paxson, Smith-Cotton Junior High
- Kassandra Nickel, Smith-Cotton High School
- Jerry Fagg, Whittier High School
-- Deidre Esquivel, president of the Sedalia School District Foundation, reported that the Leave A Legacy program raised $2,025 from paver stones for the district this year. Since the program began in 2010, it has provided more than $61,000.