Neelyville approves bids, teacher departures and hiring

The Neelyville R-IV board of education approved a bid for the Hillview Elementary School lagoon project, accepted teachers’ resignations, hired new teachers and transferred personnel Thursday, March 24.

Persons & Sons, Inc.’s lagoon project bid for $103,247 was approved. The second bid was from R. L. Persons Construction, Inc. for $108,300.

The school will contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to see if funds are available to assist with the project.

“We also have been approved in the ESSER III Budget for the project,” Superintendent Debra Paris said. “The concrete work is to be done this summer but there may be a delay in receiving the UV lighting.”

The school district has been dealing with the lagoon issue for some time, Parish said,

“We are required by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to update the lagoon at Hillview,” Parish said. “Smith & Co. developed the architectural plans and coordinated the bid proposal request. On March 10, the two bids we received were opened.”

Smith & Co. reviewed the bids and indicated they were comparable and there were no revisions or substitutions that could be made. Greg Bell from Smith & Co. and Bob Persons from Persons & Sons were in attendance.

Resignations were accepted from Amy Mitchell, second grade; Taylor Harlow, head basketball coach, weight training and ISS; and Heather Black, Parents as Teachers.

New hires are Parents as Teacher Educator, Belinda Flanigan; first grade, Faith Garrett; senior high English, Kody Berger; technology director, Jerry Whitlow; and assistant baseball coach, Geoff Wertenberger.

Volunteer assistant junior high baseball coach is Jared Webster.

Transfers include Suzy Parks from junior high math to high school business; Kaylee Hessling from third to second; Chris Smith from resource to career/college advisor and weight training; Tammy Rudd from process coordinator to special education director; Brad Burdin from seventh/eighth English to high school basketball coach, ISS, and JH JAG; and Jennifer Barker from high school secretary to superintendent’s secretary.

The board requested the Classroom Teachers’ Association to provide proposals to address staff attendance since typically there are not enough substitutes as well as consequences for breaking contracts.

A committee composed of Lisa French, Tammy Spencer, Pat Truelove, LaMonica Moore, Parish, Black, Traci Reinbott and Justin Dobbins met Wednesday, March 23.

The group reviewed Board Policy GBCBC — Staff Absences and Tardiness and will present a proposal to the board to revise number three in the policy to 10 days a semester and 20 days per school year. The group also is proposing increasing the limit of accumulated available days from 60 to 70.

Another proposal is to pay employees $50 for days accumulated over 70, up from $20.

The group will met at 3:35 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, to review Policy GCPB — Resignation of Professional Staff Members and developed a proposal and to be presented to the board at the next board meeting.

At the March 8 meeting, the board approved terminating the district’s insurance through Educators Benefits Association and approved joining Ozark Schools Benefits Association for next year and the agreement was signed March 24.

The school participated in the five year bid process last year for food service. OPAA was the only company that submitted a bid and the board approved the renewal for the next school year.

Candidates for the two school board positions are Vernon Barker, Amanda Wolfram, Chuck Reinbott and Jill McGruder.

The school board election will be Tuesday, April 5, and the reorganization meeting will be at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, April 14 with the regular meeting at 7 p.m. The board has 14 days following the election to reorganize. Since the regular meeting was scheduled for April 21 which is past the deadline, the meeting time was changed.

The board approved the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan.

Board member Bobby Burgett, who participated in a visit by Congressman Jason Smith and state legislators Hardy Billington and Jason Bean, said the school did an outstanding job hosting the visitors.

A thank you card from the Bruce McGrew family was presented and read.

MSBA Certificates were presented. Letters from upper elementary boys in support and appreciation of Brad Burdin were presented.