Linn R-2 High School/Middle School Principal Jeff Jacques told the board during the Feb. 15 meeting that the district is working with students on the Did Not Finish (DNF) list to help meet their needs.

“We have been addressing the DNF list,” said Jacques. “With the break, a lot of kids did not use that time usefully getting their grades up. The teachers have done a really good job; we have almost cut it in half now. Now, we have a total of 68 students with multiple Fs. So about 22% of our students are failing at least one or more classes. So we are utilizing time during lunch. They got a loss of privilege. We set up tables and we got extra teachers in there working with our seventh- and eighth-graders, and we’re making sure during seminar time that our teachers are addressing those needs. We have improved it and dropped it almost by half.”

“Sounds like you have a plan though,” said Board President Dennis Gravedoni.

No other discussion was held.

In other business, board members unanimously approved on-call services for the elementary HVAC repair project through Navigate, which will be paid $26,969 for this project. 

This includes having someone on-site twice a week throughout the summer to oversee the project.

Project Manager Cory Bextermueller, who attended the meeting via Zoom, said, “During construction, I’ve got one guy who will be there a minimum of twice a week. He’s going to be kind of heavy-handed as far as construction administration because it’s going to be a lot of logistic coordination and then verifying the quality of work so we don’t end up in the same situation the district is in now.”

Bextermueller added that the first step includes the central office and half of the elementary on the upper floor and half of the elementary on the lower floor.

“That is phase one and goes from May 24 to June 24,” said Bextermueller. “The gymnasium does not have any PRF piping work associated with it so the gym will be open all summer.”

Phase two begins on June 25 and runs until Aug. 5. This will involve the other half of the elementary on both the first and lower floors.

“The contractor will get a week, from Aug. 10-16 to fix any items and do clean up,” said Bextermueller. ”The critical date there is Aug. 16, I believe that’s when your teachers and staff return and start prepping for students to return the week after that.”

Board member Dr. Shawn Strong asked if teachers will have to empty all the rooms before the contractor comes through. Bextermueller said that the district shouldn’t have to and that dust covers will be used on equipment.

In response to a question from Dr. Strong about additional costs outside of the contract, Bextermueller said that the only unknown was how much refrigerant can be captured, filtered, cleaned, and reused. “If the system is a little low due to the leaks, we’ll have to buy some refrigerant but I can’t quantify that until we do the process,” said Bextermueller. “We have 206 pounds in the whole system. If we put more than 30% of that back as new I’d be shocked.”

* The purchase of an oven from Fellers Food Service for $11,740.60 was approved.

* The 2022-23 school calendar was unanimously approved.

* Susan Patterson’s retirement and the resignation of Audrey Williams were unanimously approved.

* Revised Board Policy 1425 was unanimously approved.

* The next regular board meeting is scheduled for March 15 at 6:30 p.m.

* Bills were approved for payment of $541,770.99. The school has a checking and investment balance of $4,823,525.55 including investments of $474,999.76 through Mid America Bank.

JACQUES NAMED HOMELESS LIAISON

Jacques is now the homeless liaison for McKinney-Vento Homeless Program.

This position is responsible for supporting the needs of the homeless student population in the district and ensuring the delivery of mandated services to facilitate the student’s attendance and access to an appropriate education. The liaison assesses students and families; interprets laws relating to homeless students; works as a team member to develop intervention strategies; provides case management; monitors student progress, and makes referrals. The liaison also acts as a resource to school staff and conducts related training.

The McKinney-Vento Act provides rights and services to children and youth experiencing homelessness, which includes those who are: sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; staying in motels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to the lack of an adequate alternative; staying in shelters or transitional housing; or sleeping in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or similar settings.

“I got trained this year and have to go back and get another certificate,” said Jacques. “I learned a lot. I didn’t realize what classification was really classified as homeless and those types of things. It’s been a good learning experience. The good thing is we don’t have any students right now homeless.”

Jacques added that this is the first year the district is involved in the program and has not had to provide these services to any of its students.

REPORTS

In her report, Superintendent Dena Smith provided an update on the goals she has for the district.

Goal 1:  Prepare students for college and career readiness.

* Students are gearing up for spring competitions for FCCLA, FFA, and FBLA.

* Mrs. Wolfe completed the post-graduate follow-up as required by DESE, Smith noted in a written report. Of last year’s graduates, 23% are employed; 45% are in a two-year school; 25% are in a four-year school, 2% are in the military, and 5% fall into the “other” category. 

* Beginning this semester, juniors and seniors have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship that covers tuition and fees for dual credit and dual enrollment courses.

* There are 26 current scholarship opportunities listed in the bulletin.

* Seven summer opportunities for students are still available. These are listed in the daily bulletin with information on how to apply. 

* Juniors who are taking the ACT at school are scheduled to do so on April 5.

* The ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate is an assessment-based credential issued at four levels; platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. The assessment measures and certifies the essential work skills needed for success in jobs across industries and occupations. All but 10 of the juniors and seniors who tested earned a National Career Readiness Certificate.

Goal 2:  Promote, facilitate and enhance parent, student, and community involvement in district educational programs.

* Homecoming was held on Jan. 4 with a game against Eugene. In addition, the baseball banquet honoring last year’s baseball team was held. The dance was rescheduled for Feb. 12.

* The kindergarten round-up is scheduled for March 2 and kindergarten screening is slated for March 7. Kindergarten screening for St. George is scheduled for March 14.

* Linn FFA Contest Day is March 7.

Goal 3:  Recruit, attract, develop, and retain highly qualified staff.

* Elementary CARE team meetings are being held to come together to discuss interventions and strategies to help kids.

* Principals are completing walk-through evaluations and summative evaluations on teachers will begin in March.

* Student surveys in grades 4-12 took place the week of Feb. 8.

Goal 4: District facilities will adequately meet the needs of our students, district programs, and community.

In her written report Smith noted the district is almost ready to start the bidding process for the elementary HVAC project. The goal is to begin work on May 23. 

“We have developed a plan for summer school to allow the contractor maximum access to the building while still being able to run a normal summer school,” Smith said.

In his report, Jacques informed the board that Central Missouri Community Action presented a Reality Enrichment And Life Lessons (REALL) simulation on Feb. 10 for juniors.  

REALL is designed to challenge youth to think critically about how choices and decisions made in adolescence may have consequences in adulthood. 

* Jacques announced FFA proficiency award winners. In first place and moving on to state are Ellie Monnette for Agriculture Education Leadership, Myra Baker for Nursery Operation, Brett Barnett for Ag Mechanics Design and Fabrication, Natalie Morre for Agriculture Sales, Boone Roberts for Environmental Science, and Kayla Arlen for Food Service.

First place in Area are Jacob Starke for Agriculture Processing and Jeffery Mebruer for Goat Production.

Second place in Area are Abby Sweezer for Fruit Production and Kristin Rieke for Vegetable Production.

Third place in Area are Boone Roberts for Agricultural Sales, Abby Sweezer for Diversified Crop Production, Alli Klebba for Forest Management, Erika Platt for Outdoor Recreation, and Kristin Rieke for Sheep Production.

* Jacques reported that Jack Curry, Kayl Bogle, Lauren Jacquin, Kendyl Peters, Brittney Chapman, and Ellie Monnette are the Wildcats of the Month.

In her report, Elementary Principal Tracy Kingsley updated the board on advancements made in reading.

Dr. Brown met with teachers this week and discussed mid-year benchmark data, intervention groups, and modeled lessons in kindergarten, fourth, and sixth grades. Teams worked with some new resources/materials that just arrived and made plans for small groups and intervention groups. 

“We are starting conversations about needs for next year and Mr. Jacques and I have started discussing transition ideas for sixth to seventh grade,” she noted. “Evaluate testing in January brought huge growth in second- and third-grade ELA, which is very promising as both have been very low in foundational skills.”

* Kingsley also included information concerning math in her report to the board.

As teachers continue following their math standards and building their curriculum in math, both fifth and and second-grade teachers have purchased resources more closely aligned with their standards and in response to the needs of their students.

* Evaluate data in math shows fourth grade reaching proficient and third grade with 10% growth this month, Kingsley noted in her written report.  

* Kingsley also told the board that some students are struggling and letters have been sent to parents.

“Kindergarten and first-grade teams have been reflecting heavily on students who are struggling to achieve grade-level expectations and at this point considered candidates for retention,” she noted. “Letters have been sent to parents and we will meet as a Care Team next week to put interventions into place to help those students find success.” 

* Joyce Everett and Cindy Sieg are working with Knowledge Bowl students weekly as they prepare for the competition in March. 

* Chess Club resumed this month with Neal Johnson. The group meets after school on Thursday.

* After-school tutoring is underway in math and reading.

Athletic Director Billy Garrett reported that track repair and runway surfacing will take place in the next few weeks and that they need temperatures above 40 degrees at night and dry conditions for it to be completed. Irrigation installation and grading will take place as the weather turns to spring as well.

* Junior high volleyball had 12 girls come out for practices and games were scheduled to begin on Feb. 21.

*Golf, track, and baseball practices start on Feb. 28.