Neelyville High School senior Emandra Sturtevant recently was elected state vice president of career development for Jobs for America’s Graduates.
The Neelyville school board learned of Sturtevant’s victory at its meeting Thursday. JAG is an organization that helps Missouri youth successfully complete and graduate high school, then transition to career, military or college.
“Emandra overcame many obstacles,” said Superintendent Debra Parish. “Including her zoom interview being from home due to her quarantine. She was extremely nervous, but aced the interview and showed her Neelyville High School pride. We are so proud of her.”
This is JAG-Missouri’s first ever Career Association.
Parish said, “this is a huge honor for our local JAG and Neelyville High School.”
While a printed invitation to Sturtevant’s Initiation and Installation Ceremony Thursday, Oct 28, was sent to the board, Shannon Davis and the JAG Officers attended to personally invite them. They were also given information about a leadership event the group attended at Ellington and discussed the importance of support.
Parish added, “board members were impressed with the interpersonal skills and confidence exhibited by the students.”
Parish reported on Tiger Fest, relaying, “it was a beautiful, windy day with a great turnout. We appreciated the use of the hay from Jack Stull and the trailer from Sam Shepard. We also appreciated all the hard work of those who did the planning and all the background work to prepare for the day. We made over $2,000 to go toward the screens.”
The artistic screen printing will go on the Neelyville and Hillview cafeteria windows and doors, and doors to the Neelyville Elementary. The screens will provide safety, prevent sun glare, enhance the aesthetics of the building and promote school spirit, school officials said.
In the ESSER III COVID relief fund update, the budget was approved but may be revised until April 2024 if needed. The budget is: $60,000 for Lagoon Upgrade; $100,000 for heating/air upgrades; $18,597.02 for cleaning supplies; $100,000 for textbook/curriculum resources; $1,519,020.98 for salaries; and $556,500 for Boys’ & Girls’ Club. There is a total of $2,354,000.
The school has received a request for a $1,000 application fee to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to process the application for the required upgrade on the lagoon. Once the application is approved, officials will begin the bid process to get the work done.
The September financial report included a beginning balance of $2,470,553.26 and a closing balance of $2,199,372.76. Revenues were $378,993.08 and expenses were $650,413.54. September 2020 financial reports had a beginning balance of $2,252,257.63 with a closing balance of $2,058,124.92. Revenues were $321,808 and expenses were $515,940.71.
The board agreed three long-term substitutes may be employed for the remainder of the year if they can be secured through ESS and funded with the ESSER II grant. Parish agreed to check into the possibility of pursuing the matter.
The liability insurance company is requiring the school to get rid of the slides at Neelyville Elementary and one at Hillview Elementary, as they do not meet the specifications for school use. They are not going to be replaced. Parish said initially she was going to scrap them and put the proceeds toward the window screens. However, several people have indicated they would like to have them.
“We discussed putting them on Facebook for sealed bids, but, it was suggested we ‘auction’ them off at the elementary Christmas Program,” Parish said. “The board approved that plan.”
The board approved spending $1,780 to purchase of a fork loader attachment for the Kubota tractor to be used in a variety of ways saving time and promoting safety, according to board minutes.
Heather Horne was approved to co-sponsor of the Senior Beta with Rebecca Huber.
The COVID-19 update as of Oct. 21 includes 23 total positive cases: one staff, 22 students with 81 total close contact quarantines; 20 exposed at school, 61 at home; 13 of the 20 exposures were able to do in-school quarantine and 27 students avoided quarantine due to either mask and/or vaccination status.