Carthage R-9 Sixth Grade Center principal retiring, Board accepts 7 other resignation/retirements, hires 8 teachers

(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, February 19, 2024, 6:00 pm, at Steadley Elementary. Present were Board members Jeff Jones, Niki Cloud, Ryan Collier, Nathan Terry, and Lora Phelps. Patrick Scott arrived after the meeting started. Bill Lasley was absent. 

Steadley Elementary students, Quinley Adams, Zale Athan, Cadence Chilton, and Beau Whitehead led the Pledge of Allegiance. First grade students provided cheerful songs under the direction of vocal music teacher, Ms. Lydia Burnett. 

The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous meeting, payment of bills, district financial report, and student ridership count for 2023 2024. 

dMs. Melissa Daugherty, Carthage community member, shared with the Board of Education a letter her grandson, Blayne Daugherty received from Congressman Eric Burlison. 

Ms. Beth Hunt, Curriculum Director, presented a MSIP 6 Standard Report on Curriculum. An overview of improvement target areas one and two were discussed along with priorities established by PLCs and leadership teams. 

Mr. Bryan Shallenburger, Director of Special Services, presented a MSIP 6 Standard Report on Special Services. An overview of improvement target one, assessment data, and improvement target progress were discussed. 

Mr. Jones provided a Carthage R-9 School Foundation update highlighting the Trivia Night fundraiser was a huge success and appreciated all those who supported and attended the event. It is also scholarship season and encouraged students to apply. 

The board approved April 15, 2024, as the date for the annual reorganization of the Board of Education. 

Dr. Boyer presented the acceptable usage policy to the board. 

Dr. Huntley, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, presented the proposed 2024-2025 academic calendar to the board. Dr. Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, presented to the board the proposal to purchase two lease return buses from Central States Bus and the bid packet for two new 2025 buses. 

Dr. Goodnight presented the usage agreement to use the Carl Lewton Stadium for the 2024 baseball season. Dr. Goodnight provided information regarding the contract for the Carthage High School baseball turf and grading. Dr. Goodnight stated A.T.G.-Ram Industries, LLC meets all bid requirements and specifications for the project. 

Dr. Boyer updated the Board regarding the following: 

• Dr. Northup reported on academic and extracurricular activities happening at Steadley Elementary. 

• Tiger baseball stadium groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 11:00am, at 1100 E. Airport Dr., Carthage. 

• Carthage is hosting Soundfest Show Choir Festival this weekend. The junior high will be performing on Friday evening with Sound Intensity at 6:00pm and Sound Machine at 8:40pm. The high school will be performing on Saturday with Suite Sounds performing at 1:00pm and Soundwave performing at 4:00pm at Carthage High School. 

• The March Board of Education Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the Carthage Intermediate Center. 

• Carthage hosted the high school and junior high school archery tournament with over 1300 entries. Thank you to those who assisted in making this a very organized and well ran event. 

• Congratulations to Skeeter Wagner, First Grade Teacher at Steadley Elementary for being selected as the Elementary Teacher of the Year through the District and local Carthage VFW Post 2590. 

The Carthage VFW Post 2590 also selected their Patriot Pen essay winners - Luke Patrick and Allie Boyer. 

• The Carthage Technical Center held its 4th annual College & Career Fair with 90 + vendors engaging with over 800 juniors and seniors. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to this incredible event. 

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), and (6) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. 

In closed session the Board approved the following personnel actions: 

Approved the employment of certified, support, and substitute staff as presented contingent upon receiving a clear criminal record 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: 

Certified Hire 

Allison Taylor, Art Teacher Carthage High School 

Kaylee Wright, 3rd Grade Teacher New Hire Fairview Elementary 

Kady Miller, SPED Teacher New Hire Carthage Junior High School  

Brooke Ehlers, 3rd Grade Teacher Fairview Elementary New Hire

Grace O'Neal,1st Grade Teacher New Hire Fairview Elementary 

Brian Brinkhoff, Environmental Science Teacher New Hire Carthage High School 

Halle Miller, 1st Grade Teacher New Hire Columbian Elementary 

Elizabeth Bennett, SPED Teacher New Hire Carthage High School 

Support Hire 

Kimberlee McBride, Bus Driver New Hire Transportation 

Ida Still, Bus Driver New Hire Transportation 

Courtney Lashmet, Sped Paraprofessional Early Childhood Modification New Hire 

Madison Haslip, Sped Paraprofessional Carthage Intermediate Center New Hire 

Jordan Agan, Bus Driver Transportation New Hire 

Substitute Hire 

Nicole Hurlbut, Substitute Driver Transportation New Hire 

Katelyn Bowers, Substitute District Re-Hire 

Sureree Legore, Substitute District New Hire

Mackenzie Scholtz, Substitute District New Hire 

Kaitlyn Brooks, Substitute Cook District New Hire 

Ariel Quenneville, Substitute District New Hire 

Melissa Stremke Substitute Driver Transportation Modification 

Laurie Williams, Substitute Nurse District New Hire 

Angela Reynolds, Substitute Cook District Modification 

Jacalyn Gacke, Substitute District New Hire 

Brener Ocana, Substitute District Modification 

Lakyn Shallenburger, Substitute District New Hire 

Certified Transfer 

Zach Canfield, Career Technology Teacher Carthage Junior High School Transfer 

Lacy Reynolds, 5th Grade Teacher Carthage Intermediate Center Transfer 

Taylor Snyder, 1st Grade Teacher Columbian Elementary Transfer 

Camryn Holloman, Chemistry Teacher Carthage High School Transfer

Madison King, 2nd Grade Teacher Fairview Elementary Transfer 

Denise Torres-Pitzer, 2nd Grade Dual-Language (English) Teacher Fairview Elementary Transfer 

Alyx Hoberecht, EL Teacher Steadley Elementary Transfer 

Graham Cox, EL Teacher Fairview Elementary Transfer 

Nathan Kelly, Biology Teacher Carthage High School Transfer 

Support Transfer 

Marlon Meyers, Custodian Mark Twain Elementary Transfer 

 Certified Retirement 

Kelly Jacobs, Principal Sixth Grade Center Retirement 

Heather Gibson, Pre-K Teacher Pleasant Valley Elementary Retirement 

Certified Resignation 

Justin Smith, Math Teacher Carthage Junior High School Resignation 

Tiffanie Moore-Crouch, SPED Teacher Carthage High School Resignation 

Lauren Bailey, EL Teacher Columbian Elementary Resignation 

Tabitha Wilson,  2nd Grade Teacher Columbian Elementary Resignation 

Diane Ray, Chemistry Teacher Carthage High School Resignation 

Jennifer McDermott, SPED Teacher Carthage High School Resignation 

Support Resignation/Termination 

Rebecca Taylor, Sped Paraprofessional Carthage High School Resignation 

Sherry Willis, Cook Mark Twain Elementary Resignation 

Darryl Berg, Bus Driver (Full Time) Transportation Resignation 

Cyndi Cox, Bus Driver Transportation Termination 

Stefani Lambeth, Sped Paraprofessional Columbian Elementary Resignation 

Greg Spink, Bright Futures Bright Futures Resignation 

Substitute Resignation 

Kristin Carter, Substitute District Resignation 

Stacy Morgan, Substitute District Resignation 

Elizabeth Riley, Substitute Nurse District Resignation