PREPARES FOR YEAR
The Murray County Central School Board met on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. The agenda was approved along with the consent agenda items. Besides approving the bills, they also approved the coaching staff positions for the fall sports, student activities, and student council. Angie Biegler and Mallory Ludolph have been hired as paraprofessionals. The board also accepted the resignation of paraprofessional Tiffany Lambertus.
Elementary Principal Patrick Freeman then presented the Board with his update. Enrollment is up 6 from last month. Principal Freeman thanked the teachers and support staff who provided quality programming for students who have participated in our extended school year this summer. The PBIS committee met on August 7 to reflect on last year and plan for the new year. SEL Character Counts with 7 pillars and weekly focal points will be used this year. The 3R’s will be the focus in September, then will be worked into the 7 pillars for the rest of the year. The weekly assemblies will become monthly, highlighting each month’s theme. The Rebel bucks will still be used with the “menu board” to choose rewards. LETRS Unit 4 will be completed during workshop week. K-2 will be working on UFLI Foundation Phonics, while 3rd and 4th will be piloting a new language arts program called Wits for Wisdom. August is a busy month, with Registration, Shop with a Cop, New Teacher Training, Pre-School Screening, SWWC Data Mine, CPI Refresher and the Teacher Back to School Workshop.
Secondary Principal Jake Scandrett also gave his redisposed port. Enrollment is at 329, up 22 from last year. There is a larger 7th grade class as well as an increase in new student enrollment to our district. Teacher Workshop week plans are in place. They include several trainings and professional development sessions. The teachers will learn to use the Magic School platform, which includes aids for improving student learning, providing tools for differentiating instruction and assessment generation, as well as assistance in writing IEPs and determining the best accommodations and modifications for students who need different options. Principal Scandrett thanked Investors Choice, Minnwest Bank and the United Methodist Church for the things they do to welcome teachers back to school. He was happy to say that they have filled the last para opening and coaching positions for fall, but were unable to fill the HS SpEd teacher opening. He thanked Sharon Johnson and Lindy Larson for their willingness to help out by adding students to their caseloads. Registration began on August 5th, with schedule change days being held on Thurs. Aug 22 for 12th grade (am) and 11th grade (pm) and Friday, Aug. 23 for 9th and 10th (am) and 7th and 8th (pm). If students need help with registration, they may stop in at the school offices for assistance. If they cannot come at the scheduled time for changes, they can reach out to Mrs. Walker to reschedule.
Principals Scandrett and Freeman will attend the Data Mine workshop in Marshall on Aug. 21st and share that information at the next board meeting.
Thank you to those who helped out in the School District Booth during the Murray County Fair.
7th grade orientation is Wednesday, August 28 at 7:00pm in the auditorium. Please arrive at 6:30pm so the students can practice opening their lockers and figuring out their combinations. “We are excited to meet our incoming 7th Grade students and have our orientation night,” said Scandrett.
Superintendent Meyer next shared that the auditor has scheduled to start the fiscal year 2024 audit in September and have information for the board at the November meeting with the results ready for the December meeting presentation. There was an Open House on Friday, Aug. 16 to commemorate the 1924 building that is still in use. This was put on by the Murray County Foundation Historical Society. It included touring the building as well as a gathering for alumni/class reunions at the fairgrounds. MCC had an entry in the parade. The all-staff back to school picnic will be held Thurs. Aug 29. Building cleaning, painting and other preparations for the new year are nearing completion, with just a few things left. We really appreciate the custodial staff for all their hard work. The new intercom system has been installed. This upgrade in both buildings is a huge school safety and communication plus. The new phones are also all completed. This will save the district about $200 per month as we will be using the internet instead of Frontier. We are still waiting for the curb to be installed on the parking lot on the north side, hoping it will be done by the time school starts.
Next, the board approved a resolution calling for the School District General Election. There are 3 positions open for terms of 4 years each. This will be sent to the county to be included on the ballot. The board also approved the changes in the Classroom Procedures of Operation regarding Detention, Discipline (PBIS – Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support) and Honor Roll, which has now discontinued weighted courses. All courses, including college courses are now equal to 1.
Next on the agenda was a review of the Employee Handbook – the same handbook for ALL employees. There are some additions to the beginning and some minor wording changes, which were approved.
Special Education teacher Kate DeLong has requested a second Therapy Dog, so there can be a dog in each building. This request was tabled since the dog has not been trained yet. After a lengthy discussion on liability insurance for the Therapy Dogs, the board approved paying for the lowest priced liability insurance.
Josh Malchow and Ashley Haken were present to discuss a TIF distribution for property in the Lindenwood/Prairieland area. $228,606 in a TIF fund, of which a portion belongs to the school. If the City decides to give their portion to the county, would the school be willing to give their portion that to the county for the Wonder World project? After discussion and clarification, the board agreed to also give their portion to support the Wonder World building project.
Next, the board moved on to Policy revisions, which were primarily wording changes to match statutes, and changes were approved.
Finally, the board gratefully approved the following donations: Three Ministries – Hearts & Hands Murray County - $3,500.00, Children’s Fund, $2,500.00, Winter Clothing and $6,000.00, Backpack Program; American Legion, $350.00, Community Ed / Legion baseball; Apex Clean Energy, $3,500.00, Scholarship; Casey’s, $10.00, Elementary Student Activity. The meeting was adjourned.
