Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Carthage R-9 Board accepts three retirements, three resignations, hires two teachers


(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, December 21, 2020, 6:00 pm, at Mark Twain Elementary. Present were Board members Jeff Jones, Bill Lasley, Karen Wilkinson, Ryan Collier, and Patrick Scott. Niki Cloud and Lee Elliff Pound attended via Zoom. 

A moment of silence was observed honoring Cara Pugh and Philip “Mitch” Brownrigg, valued members of the Carthage R-9 family, who recently passed away. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by a video with Mark Twain second grade students Sam Campbell, Joshua Dougless, Isaiah Lucarelli, Eunice Elias Sanchez, Genesis Alvarado Hernandez and third grade students Carter Manzer, Bridget Carter, R. J. Ford, and Saniah Haws. A video of Mark Twain’s Annual Third Grade Thanksgiving Feast was shown. 








The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous meetings, payment of bills, financial reports, and amendments to the FY21 budget. 

Ms. Renda Armstrong, DSWA, CPAs, reviewed the FY20 audit report. Carthage R-9 was in compliance with all requirements and received an overall clean audit report with no material weaknesses. 

Beth Hunt, Curriculum Director, provided an evaluative report on Curriculum, Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) I-5. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 State spring testing window, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will not be releasing a 2020 APR report for districts. 

An abbreviated District Report Card released by DESE indicates the District, when compared to state averages, experiences a larger percentage of students who qualify for free/reduced lunches, almost double the average percentage of Transitional Living/Homeless students, and almost seven times the number of English Language Learners. 

The district continues to see graduation rates higher than the state average and the drop-out rate of 0.7% is almost half that of the state average of 1.3%. With the success and support of the Carthage Technical Center, the placement of CTE students into the workforce continues to rise. 

Daelon Shockley was selected as the districts Missouri School Boards’ Association John T. Belcher Scholarship nominee. Daelon will compete for a regional scholarship; one regional winner will be awarded a state-wide scholarship. 

Shelley Wilson, Beth Gandy, Annie Yost, and Heather Hughes, High School Counselors, discussed the scholarship process which included the different types of scholarships and how information is made available. 

Each year students are routinely awarded scholarships from local, community, Carthage R-9 Foundation, collegiate, and institutional donors that total between $400,000 to $500,000. 

Dr. Baker discussed the TEACH Scholar program. The Carthage R-9 School District has partnered with Missouri Southern State University to highlight the education profession and create a program to attract and support Carthage students along the path to becoming highly qualified educators. 








Jelica Montelongo and Delayna Gardner, both Carthage High School graduates, were recognized as recipients of the Brandon Weaver TEACH Scholars/Carthage R-9 Foundation Scholarship. Brandon Weaver, Carthage High School/MSSU graduate along with Dr. Susan Craig, MSSU College of Education Department Chair, were in attendance. 

Ms. Niki Cloud provided a Carthage R-9 School Foundation update. Look for flyers around town or check out the Carthage R-9 Foundation facebook page https://www.facebook.com/carthager9schoolfoundation for more information on April’s Wiffle Ball Tournament. January begins the scholarship season. 

Jeff Jones, Board President, recognized Patrick Scott for completing Missouri School Board Association Certified Board Member (CBM) Essential Training. 

Dr. Baker updated the Board regarding the following items: 

• Survey results are being processed for the Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI-X) plan utilized on November 23 and November 24. The feedback will assist in evaluating our practices in the event additional AMI-X days are needed this school year. 

• The number of COVID cases attributed to school related spread continues to be minimal. 

• The District continues to take COVID serious by emphasizing social distancing, masks, and cleaning. 

• Board candidate applications will be accepted through January 19, 2021. Voters will decide on two three-year term and one one-year term board vacancies on April 6, 2021. 

• Christmas break for students begins December 23, 2020 and runs through January 4, 2021. 








The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss legal, personnel, and student matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (1), (3), (6), and (13) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. 

In closed session, the Board approved the following personnel actions: 

The Board accepted the resignations/retirement of the following certified staff:: 

Retirement (effective end of 2020-21 school year) 

Dana Cook School Nurse Coordinator District 
Robyn Galindo Second Grade Columbian 
Mary West Intermediate Center Special Education 

Resignation/Release from Contract 

Brenda Austin Practical Nursing Coordinator Tech North (Effective December 31, 2020) 
Lee Ann Fent Counselor Carthage Technical Center (Effective June 30, 2021) 
Christy Manley Special Education/Instructional Intervention High School (Effective December 22, 2020) 

In closed session the Board accepted the following personnel actions: 

Approved contracts and employment of certified and support staff presented contingent upon receiving a clear criminal records check from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a clear check of the Adult Abuse/ Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services for all employees new to the district: 

PN Contracts: 

Kerenza Crane Instructor Tech North 
Jennifer Huston Instructor Tech North 
Coeta Ogle PN Coordinator/Instructor Tech North 

Certified Staff:- 

Cris Laytham ELL Fairview 
Jennifer Spencer Special Education Columbian 

Support Staff: 

Caitlin Dean Educational Psychologist Internship//Temporary District 
Isabel Funderburgh Instructional Assistant Steadley 
Laura McClary Special Education Paraprofessional Columbian 
Kensey Sageser Receptionist District 
Allyson Whitehead Educational Psychologist Internship/Temporary District 

The Board was notified of the following personnel changes: 

Support Staff Transfers: 

Julie Kellogg Head Cook Columbian (Former Cook/Columbian) 
Lisa Ogle Payroll Clerk District (Former Receptionist/District Office) 
Kelly Swingle Payroll Supervisor District (Former Human Resources Clerk/District) 

Coaching Assignments: 

Gus Carter Assistant Track Coach High School 
Anthony Hance 9th Grade Baseball Coach High School (Former Assistant Baseball Coach/High School) 
Nathan Patrick Assistant Baseball Coach High School (Former 9th Grade Baseball Coach)

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