Below are highlights of items discussed during the open session on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, Board of Education Meeting. The full agenda with document links is available on the district website. The next regular session meeting is Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hallsville Primary School cafeteria.
RECOGNITIONS
Leigh Pemberton, Linsey Johnson, Katie Stockamp, Emily Porter, Jennifer Anderson, Kendall Koopmann, Courtney Aitkens, Rhiannon Cook, Kelsea Miller, and Holly East were recognized for completing the two-year professional development course in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS®). This course of study gives teachers the skills needed to teach language and literacy to every student by providing in-depth training in the Science of Reading.
Erin Snelling, event organizer, Bryan Bolton, Peyton Early, Betsy Berry, Kayla Eass, Cori Martin, Rhianna Cook, Jared Ravott, Scott Allen, & HS Biology Club were recognized for assisting with the Solar Eclipse & STEM Science Day event on campus in April.
HMS teachers Alyssa Wheeler and Tricia Williams, were recognized for always assuming positive intentions. Students nominated both teachers through the Teacher Caught Being Good form.
The Hallsville Board of Education recognized retiring administrators John Downs, Superintendent of Schools, and Brad Blakemore, Activities Director, and presented each with a plaque.
FAMILY ACCESS CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE MEMORANDUM
The board approved the FACE Memorandum of Understanding. FACE will continue to provide services to help address the needs of our students and their families by providing the district FACE community-based personnel, regional coordinators, and a Family Interventionist Specialist.
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY MEMORANDUM
The board approved the Missouri State University Memorandum of Understanding. Qualified students can earn both high school and college credit simultaneously by successfully completing these courses. Our agriculture education dual credit courses are offered in coordination with Missouri State.
MISSOURI CAREER ADVISING INITIATIVE MEMORANDUM
The board approved the renewal of the MOU with rootEd Alliance and Ozarks Technical Community College to continue grant funding of the post-secondary advisor position, as presented.
POTENTIAL APRIL 2025 BOND ISSUE
At the April meeting, the Board directed Superintendent Downs to contact Lorenzo Boyd at Stifel for an analysis of potential bonding capacity should the Board elect to run a no-tax-increase bond issue next April. Stifel completed their analysis and determined that the district should be able to bond up to $6.5 million at that time. Stifel’s analysis is attached at the end of the superintendent’s district report.
SAFETY GRANT
The district is finalizing coordination for installing the camera system expansion approved at last month’s meeting. Expansion of the system is the last improvement under our approved grant application. Many steps can still be taken to improve campus safety, including installing a second set of security doors at main entrances where they are absent, improved fencing in select campus locations, and improvements to some HVAC systems with a focus on air quality. All of these could be considered for a potential bond construction project.
DISTRICT CONTINUOUS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CSIP)
Over the last several months, the administrative team has engaged in multiple conversations to consider how the district can impact students' reaching their potential and becoming productive members of society. We have reviewed layers of achievement, demographic, program, and perception data to identify priority areas and formulate actionable steps for our new comprehensive school improvement plan. Feedback is currently being collected from staff to refine the action steps, and the administrative team will subsequently review and update the plan based on the responses received.
FOOTBALL LOCKER ROOM
A Board member has requested continued discussion on the plans for a replacement home locker room.
CROSSWALK AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF HALLSVILLE
The Board approved the agreement with the City of Hallsville to install two marked crosswalks on North Street/Ricketts Road. The crosswalks will facilitate safe pedestrian travel to campus from the Echo Ridge and Douglas Pointe subdivisions.
DISTRICT CAREER LADDER PLAN
The Board approved the district plan for participation in the state Career Ladder program for the 2024-25 school year. The district's plan represents a phased approach to implementation of the program. In FY24, all qualified faculty who were eligible to implement Career Ladder were placed on Stage I if they chose to participate. Teachers who complete and log an additional 50 hours of work within the categories defined in the plan will receive a $1,500 stipend.
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