Mr. P. Proclaims - Board Candidates Questions & Answers - Kindergarten & Preschool Registration - First Semester Honor Roll - Elementary Spelling Bee, Geography Bee, and Middle School Spelling Bee - Trojan Crowning, Homecoming, and Project Prom
Snow, Snow, Snow. I think we have had our fair share of snow this winter. So far this winter, we have missed 6 days of school due to inclement weather. In fact, we canceled school on one of the make-up days due to dangerous driving conditions. I want to thank those individuals who have helped get our buses out of the snow drifts: Andy Fairchild, Jack McCown, Alvin Wagner, Michael Wagner, Ian Curtis, Herbert Knipfel, Jim Curtis, and Mike Orr. I always hate to mention names, because I don’t want to leave anyone out. Hopefully, I have mentioned all of the individuals who have helped get our buses moving again. I appreciate the willingness of our patrons to help out the school.
The state of Missouri is currently facing a massive revenue crisis. We are in tough economic times that don’t look promising in the foreseeable future. First, I want to let you know that the Community R-VI School District is financially sound. This is largely due to the fact that your Board of Education has been cautious stewards of the money. They have managed to build cash reserves, which are the envy of some other school districts, through careful management. These reserves are specifically built so that when times get tough, educational services may continue without serious disruption and without large cutbacks. At a time when other districts are looking at reducing staff and programs, Community R-VI is able to continue valuable educational programs. Also, they are able to continue to employ an adequate size faculty to efficiently serve the students, because of these reserves.
However, Community R-VI is not immune from the budget issues that affect the state. The State of Missouri can’t continue to have major shortfalls in income and Governor Jay Nixon can’t continue to cut the budget without affecting the money that Community R-VI receives. Many school districts are making severe cuts, and some districts are even discussed plans to disband and be absorbed by surrounding districts. Some in the state believe that the worst has passed and that revenues will begin to rebound, to some extent, while others believe that the worst is yet to come. I don’t know which opinion is correct. What I do know is that this district will need to spend some of the reserves for several years, in order to continue to provide good educational services. Furthermore, the district will look at programs, staff, and activities to see if changes can be made, which would reduce spending, and yet have a minimal effect to the education of our students.
When superintendents face uncertain and difficult financial situations, they often become somewhat pessimistic. The current revenue crisis is certainly one which makes me worry. But, as I told you before, the district is not on the verge of going broke. The district will continue to operate much as we have in the past. We can continue to make sure that our kids are getting good educational services. I am optimistic about the future of our school district. I am optimistic because we have recently renovated buildings, an excellent staff, and a Board of Education which, through conservative management of district funds, will be able to continue to provide an excellent education for the students of the Community R-VI School District.
Board Candidate Questions and Answers
Candidate: Rebecca L. Schafer
What is the responsibility of a school Board member?
A school board member has many responsibilities, but they all revolve around one primary responsibility – to make sure all district students receive the best educational experience available. The district students are our community’s most valuable asset. To ensure that educational experience board members shoulder many responsibilities. One of the more obvious responsibilities is to make sure that the financial health of the district is in good shape. This could be a concern for our board in the near future. It is the board members responsibility to have policies and procedures in place to support quality education. It is the board members responsibility to hire outstanding administration to oversee the schools day-to-day operations. Board members are responsible for components of student education that are frequently overlooked items such as, keeping quality teachers in district, keeping our facilities, grounds and busses in good shape all directly related to a quality education for our students. The board members are responsible to the district patrons. The patrons trust the board members to make the best decisions concerning their taxes and more importantly their children. To me this patron trust carries with it a major responsibility.
Why do you want to serve on the Community R-VI School Board?
I want to utilize my experiences and knowledge to help our school district to maintain what it does well and to improve in areas of weakness. I believe that serving your community is a vital part of being a part of the community. You should give back to those that have given to you and this community has given much to my family. Serving on the board will take countless hours, I am aware of that. Nevertheless, I want to be a part of a successful board.
What experiences, talents, or strengths will you bring to the Board of Education?
My own education should serve our district well; I have a Bachelors of Science with an emphasis in Management; Masters of Education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction; Masters of Education with an emphasis in philosophy and psychology and I will complete my Educational Specialist degree in May. The Specialist degree has educated me on how to run a school district, which would help me as a board member. Additionally I have had various training in budgeting and teaching.
My recent work experience has been in the educational field. I have taught for nine years, three of those years were at Community R-VI and the last six years have been at the Mexico Middle School. Prior to taking a full time job at Community R-VI I substitute taught for the district for about 10 years, this included two long-term assignments.
I have extensive experience in the business field. I worked for two different municipalities at one I was the City Clerk, in charge of the finances. At the other I worked in the Finance Department primarily with the budget aspects of that city. I owned my own tax business for several years after having done taxes for other businesses for about seven years. Prior to moving to Martinsburg I worked in industry in various management positions.
I believe the mix of my educational background, leadership positions and financial background give me quite a bit to offer the district.
What do you believe is the future of Community R-VI and how do you propose to help shape that future?
Our district has proven strong throughout the past few years I hope to see the district continue to be a strong educational institution. One outstanding aspect of our district is that of technology; we are years ahead of many districts. As the saying goes, we are now educating children for jobs that don’t even yet exist. But we need to continue to move forward in this area. I would hate for us to lose the ground that we have gained here.
Our district will be facing two major areas of concern in the near future. First with the economy as it stands, we may be facing budget cuts. I know that DESE, the state department, has stated that there is even less money in the state budget than there was for the current year. Our administration has done a great job with the funds, actually, Community is in better shape than many schools in the state, but there may be some difficult decisions ahead. I feel that my background with finances and in particular my knowledge of school finance would help the district to get through these potentially trying times. The other major decision that our district will be facing is that of finding a new superintendent. With the announcement of Mr. Provancha’s retirement looking for a new school leader will be a vital role for board members. He is giving the board ample time to look for a replacement, this decision will be key to the health of the district. A poor decision by the board could seriously hurt the education of the district’s students. Finding a quality superintendent is the primary role of the school board and I would like to use my experience in helping the school board make a good decision for the community.
Candidate: Kevin Deimeke
What is the responsibility of a school Board member?
The main responsibility of a board member is the health, education, and welfare of our students. In order to facilitate these goals, the foremost obligation is to the financial solvency of the District and secondly, to insure the Board policies are current, applicable, legal, and executed.
Why do you want to serve on the Community R-VI School Board?
School Board members are charged, by law, with providing quality education for our youth. I consider it one of the most important responsibilities I have ever undertaken. It is very rewarding as we watch students achieve and succeed, perhaps, as a result of and environment the school board helped to provide.
What experiences, talents, or strengths will you bring to the Board of Education?
Serving on other boards throughout my life helped to prepare me for this challenge. Serving as a former school board president and finishing my 1st term as a board member, I believe these experiences are strengths that could benefit the district in the future. I have lived in this district my whole life. My wife, myself, and our children are products of CR6 and I am pleased with the results and will strive to maintain that level of education. As with some other members of the board, my wife and daughter are teachers, which provides and additional insight, which is very beneficial.
What do you believe is the future of Community R-VI and how do you propose to help shape that future?
Continue to improve our education levels with diminished resources. We can’t pretend that the state can cut our education funding without negative long term consequences. Our students will be less prepared and less prosperous if our state fails to increase education funding to keep up with the rest of the world. When state government cuts funding for school transportation, character education, and virtual education programs, it hurts our students and diminished their future. Unfortunately, it is often politically easier to cut education that to make difficult decisions within the rest of the budget. This, I believe, will be the biggest challenge we face in our future. We will have to continue to be creative and do more with less.
Candidate: Rhonda Curtis
What is the responsibility of a school Board member?
The responsibility of a School Board Member is to be part of a board that governs a school district where the emphasis is placed on student achievement. A School Board Member is responsible for knowing school law, areas of finance, and school board policies. In addition, a school board member must be able to effectively communicate with the public. State Law requires new Board Members to complete a 16 hour Essential Board Member Certification which includes the following topics: student achievement, school law, school finance, board policy, board relations, board operations, goal setting, advocacy, and working with the media.
According to the Community R-VI Board Policy Handbook, Policy 0310 states, “The School Board of Education performs three basic functions in the management of the School District. The School Board shall exercise full legislative rule and management authority for the District by adopting policy and directing all procedures necessary for the governance of District education and administrative responsibilities. The School Board shall delegate to the Superintendent the responsibility of implementing all Board policy. The School Board shall determine the effectiveness of policy implementation through evaluation of school operations, practices, and program outcomes. The achievement level of students shall be the guiding standard through which all success shall be measured.”
Why do you want to serve on the Community R-VI School Board?
I have always enjoyed volunteering and donating my time to area committees and organizations. My past experience has enabled me to learn many aspects in area of Public School Education. Should I be elected to the Community R-VI School Board, I would be excited to learn the governing aspect of Public School Education. I would like to be part of a team whose goal is student achievement.
What experiences, talents, or strengths will you bring to the Board of Education?
I have past experience from serving on the Laddonia Christian Church Board and the Laddonia Athletic Association Board. Currently, I am employed at Moberly Area Community College’s off-campus site in Mexico. Other work experience includes Community R-VI Schools, Shelter Insurance Companies, and Mexico Public Schools.
Through my work at MACC-Mexico I have gained knowledge of the A+ program which provides post-secondary financial benefits for students who graduate from a public Missouri high school that has been designated as an A+ school by the Missouri State Board of Education. I assist high school students with their transition to higher education by advising and/or enrolling them in their courses each semester and by helping apply for financial aid.
What do you believe is the future of Community R-VI and how do you propose to help shape that future?
I believe the future for Community R-VI is to promote college preparation and workforce preparation, cultivate developing leaders for our region and/or community at large, foster continued development of student activities, such as, FFA, FBLA, FCCLA, etc., and provide assistance to teachers for further education.
Kindergarten Registration
Community R-VI Elementary Office
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
8:30 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.
Please bring your child’s birth certificate, immunization records, social security number, and proof of residency.
This meeting is for parents only.
For more information, please call (573) 373-5842 or (573) 492-6223.
Preschool Registration
If you have a child that will be 3 by August 1, 2010 and are interested in our preschool, please contact the school at (573) 373-5842 or (573) 492-6223 and give Christy your name.
Principal’s Honor Roll (All A’s)
Juniors:
Sylvia Modesitt
Freshmen:
Jacob Eastwood
8th Grade: Lindsey Gastler
7th Grade: Clay Thebeau
6th Grade: Collin Dungan and Karissa Graves
“A” Honor Roll
Seniors:
Brian Arens, Julia Beede, Chance Evans, Megan Goodwin, Sean Rybicki, Samantha Thomasson, and Hayley Vomund.
Juniors:
Pam Bertels, Ashley Curtis, Robert Dunn, Tammy Nation, Elizabeth Orr, Samantha Swaim, and Josh Wilson.
Sophomores:
Alisha Arens, Brittni Brand wein, Shelby Curtis, Ashley Evans, Justin Gastler, and Annalissa Taylor.
Freshmen:
Paige Curtis, Justin Durham,
Paige Harris, Tina McCoskey,
Dalton Oligschlaeger, Kaitlin Orr, and Rebekah Polacek.
8th Grade: Emily Day, Larin Fielder, Julie Hale, Haley Rutherford, and
Kymberly Woodhurst.
7th Grade:
Conner Brooks, Kyle Curtis,
Doug Davenport, Trever Hoyt, Dana Schulte, and Lane Thebeau.
6th Grade: Rebecca Hagan
“B” Honor Roll
Seniors:
Zak Allen, Andrew Bertels, Khari Bisby, Aaron Brooks, Cory Craft, Dewey Fennewald, Judy Graham, Kasey Hilderman, Haly Knipfel, Amber Nolan, Justina Peak, Jordan Robbins, and Emily Wieberg.
Juniors:
Daniel Ahrens, Dylan Applebee, Courtney Arens, Jamie Becker, Travis Duenke, Brian Fennewald, Luke Fennewald, Ashley Foreman, Megan Gastler, Tyler Kobush, Danae Martin, Ashley Schafer, Stephen Schafer, Kayla Schmeling, and Trenton Wieberg
Sophomores:
Amber Carline, Kalene Chism, Cameron Dubbert, Aaron Fairchild, Kimberlee Giese ker, Austin Layman, Tyler Myers, Brandi Righter, Caro line Schafer, and Stephanie Walker.
Freshmen: Caleb Bertels, Teresa Black, Cortney Bohr, Chelsie Cochran, Cameron Foreman, Nick Jensen, Megan Jones, Ryan Kitchen, Tyler Mays, Bridgett McGrew, Kristen Rutherford, Adessa Slavens, and Sean Wilson.
8th Grade: Katie Carline, Jacob Cartee, Cara DeVore, Amber Free man, Nick Gastler, Clint Graves, Kaleb Harris, Aaron Johnson, Amelia Knipfel, Cur tis Lierheimer, Emmalee McCoskey, Shane Myers, Ma son Sims, Bianca Stafford, and Justin Tharp.
7th Grade: Joesie Allen, Chelsea Crewse, Lakin Davenport, Kelsey Hil derman, Nicholas Hoyt, and Heather Moore.
6th Grade: Mikyla Clubb, Gatlin Curtis, Mikel Davidson, Anthony Fair child, Chelsea Holmes, Racheal Levings, Zane Meador, and Mary-Kate Shanahan.
Elementary Spelling Bee
The elementary school held its annual spelling bee on January 5, 2010. The following students participated in the grades 3 through 5 bee:
Maddy Berry,
Kennedy Davis,
Justin Dawson,
Althea Day,
Maddee Gastler,
Matt Gastler,
Nathan Gastler,
Jaryn Kuda,
Rebekkah Painter,
Trenton Pepper,
Trevor Pepper,
Hallie Riutcel,
Bethany Schmidt,
Kristy Schulte, and
Charley Ann Stone.
Students placed as follows:
First Place
Justin Dawson, 5th Grader
Second Place
Maddee Gastler, 3rd Grader
Third Place
Trenton Pepper, 2nd grader
Geography Bee
Ten students competed in the Geography Bee on January 14, 2010. The contestants were Erika Byrd, Kathlyn Dawson, Matt Gastler, Hallie Riutcel, and Bethany Schmidt from the 4th grade and Avery Carline, Jesse Foreman, Katilyn Foreman, Elijah Jones, and Johnny Hicks from the 5th grade.
Winners were as follows:
First Place
Elijah Jones
Second Place
Hallie Riutcel
Third Place
Avery Carline
Middle School Spelling Bee
The Middle School Spelling Bee was held on February 11, 2010. Twelve students competed for the chance to go to the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee which is to take place in Columbia, Missouri.
The following students were participants in the school bee:
6th Grade: Mikel Davidson, Rebecca Hagan, Collin Dungan, and Karissa Graves.
7th Grade: Joesie Allen, Conner Brooks, Kelsey Hilderman, and Isaac Vaughn.
8th Grade: Emily Day, Nick Gastler, Haley Rutherford, and Kymberly Woodhurst.
The local bee winners were:
First Place
Karissa Graves
Second Place
Kimberly Woodhurst
Third Place
Emily Day
We are very proud of all of the contestants.
Trojan Crowning
Trojan Crowning at Community R-VI was held on December 3, 2009. Candidates were:
Freshmen - Tyler Mays, Paige Harris
Sophomores - Justin Gastler, Caroline Schafer
Juniors - Tammy Nation, Dustin Bohr
Seniors - Hayley Vomund, Cory Craft
The 2008 Trojan King, Travis Duenke, and Queen, Megan Goodwin, crowned the new king, Justin Gastler, and queen, Paige Harris.
Candidates were chosen by their classmates and then were interviewed by a panel of three judges. Judges looked at appearance and poise, participation in school and community activities, academics, résumé, and interview responses.
Homecoming
Homecoming Week was January 11-15, 2010. This year’s theme was “The Beat is On.” Events included a Dress Like a Rock Star, Pajama Day, Favorite Person Day, Spirit Day, and Skittle Day, and a first-time dance after the game. Classes were judged on their floats, cakes, banners, posters, Powder Puff cheerleading, air band, and other class competition games. The school class winner was the Seniors.
Homecoming events culminated with very exciting basketball games, which were held on Friday, January 15 against Silex. Varsity boys and girls, as well as Junior Varsity boys played hard.
Homecoming Royalty was announced during half-time of the Varsity boys game. Homecoming Court is as follows:
Andrew Bertels, King
Bridget McGrew, Queen
Andrew Bertels & Julia Beede Seniors Candidates
Ashley Curtis & Jamie Becker Juniors Candidates
Annelissa Taylor & Tyler Myers -
Sophomore Candidate
Justin Durham & Bridget McGrew Freshman Candidates
Alexis Welch & Jeremiah Winkler Crown Bearers
Project Prom
This year, Project Prom (an after-Prom party for juniors, seniors, and their guests) will be held at the Mexico YMCA on May 8. This will be a drug and alcohol free event. Prizes will be awarded to everyone in attendance. If you would like to help in any way with this project, please contact Bonnie Wilson at 373-5681 or wilson@cr6.net.