The Community R-VI Board of Education met in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. President Kevin Deimeke called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Board approved the agenda, the minutes of the Regular Board of Education Meeting held on December 16, 2008, the transfer from the general fund to the teacher's fund to cover monthly expenditures, and the Nurse’s Report for January.
Only one candidate filed for the two open Board of Education seats, incumbent Tresa Hodges. The Board approved the ballot with Tresa Hodges as the only candidate. The district will notify the county clerks there will be no need to hold an election and will now follow the procedure for appointing another board member.
Board President Kevin Deimeke read a thank-you note from Andrea Kleinsorge.
District Architect Martin Meyers presented Change Order No.1 and Change Order No. 2 from Cannon General Contractors for the district construction project. The Board voted to accept Change Order No. 1 (which removed $251,482.25 from the original bid for the project) and to accept Change Order No. 2 (which changed the reduction in fees to $245,482.25 and included adding windows for the old gymnasium at $6000). The kick off construction meeting with the general contractor and all the sub-contractors will be January 22, 2009 at 3 p.m. at the school district.
The Board voted to approve the 2009 Professional Development Plan and set High School Graduation Ceremonies for May 17, 2009 at 1 p.m.
Superintendent Arlen Provancha provided information regarding the Annual Performance Report and the monthly transportation report. Mr. Provancha reported on dates for the M.A.R.E. Conference in March. He would like to organize a Board Dinner for February. The food service review, which is conducted every five years by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, went smoothly with no findings. Asbestos inspection also went well, the district will receive the report in a few days. The district received the insurance certification for Cannon General Contractors. Mr. Provancha is starting the process for the 2009-2010 Calendar. The district preschool teachers, Bonnie Wilson, Toria Schlemmer and Virginia Brinker, will be presenting at the MO T Conference in the summer. Finally, he reported the district is considering hiring an A+ /Federal Programs Coordinator beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.
Elementary Principal Natalie Gibson provided elementary attendance and enrollment reports. Mrs. Gibson reported the entire K - 12 staff had a very successful meeting on January 16, 2009 with Myra Collins from Northeast Regional Professional Development. Mrs. Gibson reported on elementary improvement scores; discussion about the summer school program has begun. The district has a group of teachers and administrators attending the Powerful Learning Conference in St. Louis next week. There is a student teacher working in the kindergarten and first grade classrooms for fourteen weeks.
Middle School/High School Principal Dr. Steven Wolf spoke about attendance for his buildings. He reported the second A+ Leadership Committee meeting will be held on February 18, 2009. Dr. Wolf presented a proposal for consideration of a green house for the agriculture department. Dr. Wolf reported on the A+ Learning System Program; he is considering using the programs for credit recovery next year. The district is planning to implement middle school intervention again this semester. The Board voted to allow the junior class to use the prom theme Las Vegas Nights. The National Assessment of Educational Progress Testing will be January 30, 2009. The Vandalia Chapter of the Susanna Randolph DAR recently announced the winners of the Audrain County Christopher Columbus Essay Contest-three freshman class winners are: First place-Annelissa Taylor, second place-Tyler Graham, and third place-Alisha Arens.
While in Executive Session the Board approved minutes from the Executive Session Meeting held December 16, 2008, completed their annual self-evaluation, and the annual Superintendent’s Evaluation. The Board voted to add an additional year to Superintendent Arlen Provancha’s current contact, which will extend the contract through June 30, 2011.
The next regular Board of Education Meeting will be held February 17, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the school library.