Dudenhoeffer questions R-2 board about fall baseball

By Neal A. Johnson, UD Editor & Edward Gehlert, Staff Writer
Posted 7/6/22

Linn resident Jason Dudenhoeffer questioned R-2 board members during the open forum portion of their June meeting about the fate of fall baseball. Coach Dan Campbell has been hired to lead the team …

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Dudenhoeffer questions R-2 board about fall baseball

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Linn resident Jason Dudenhoeffer questioned R-2 board members during the open forum portion of their June meeting about the fate of fall baseball. Coach Dan Campbell has been hired to lead the team in the spring, but there is no one at the helm for the upcoming fall season.

“What’s our thought process on not hiring the same guy to do both?” Dudenhoeffer asked.

Board President Dr. Shawn Strong noted that Campbell would be busy with junior high basketball this fall.

“I think the question is whether or not we’ll have fall baseball,” Dr. Strong added. “I think long-term, it’s not viable. In the short term, the concern for me is that the last two baseball coaches have left, and they both said their reason for leaving was fall parents. That makes me think we need a break from baseball.”

Dr. Strong said no decision has been made to cut fall baseball, but if that happens, it will come down to program support.

“Football is our number-one priority right now,” he said. “Logically, fall baseball is going to cut into football numbers.”

“This year, you know the numbers because football practice has started, correct?” Dudenhoeffer asked.

“I do believe we’ll pick up more football players as we get toward the fall semester,” Dr. Strong said.

“I believe you’re going to have plenty of kids to play fall baseball,” said Dudenhoeffer. “I know most of them. My main point in speaking tonight is that if we can’t find a guy to coach fall baseball, I’ll put my name in the hat to do it, just to give these boys some time. I want these players to have the opportunity to play baseball and learn to play with each other as a team. With all the turnover in baseball coaches in the last few years, there have been no summer camps, games, or open fields for these players to get extra practice in as a team. If we take away fall baseball, we’re asking the players to compete at the high school level in the spring after being together less than a month before their first game of the season. It takes more than three weeks of practice to be ready to compete in the spring.”

Dudenhoeffer added other sports such as football, basketball, and softball have months to prepare for their respective seasons. He acknowledged that coaches leaving the district is a significant factor but asked that the board not put fall baseball on the back burner.

“I don’t think that’s right,” he said.

In response to a question from the board, Dudenhoeffer said at least eight players are interested in playing baseball this fall.

“I’ve heard rumors, so I’m going to ask the question,” said Dr. Strong. “The rumor is that upperclassmen baseball players are encouraging students not to go out for football. I’ve been told that by several sources, so is there any truth to that?”

“I have never heard that,” Dudenhoeffer replied.

Board member Jamie Bish said that most sports only get one season, so off-season workouts or camps are reasonable. However, most sports do not play year-round.

“We haven’t had a coach stick around to work with them during the summer,” said Dudenhoeffer. “Maybe that will change with the new guy. Hopefully, he’ll be around a few years. I think down the road, I have no problem with cutting fall ball if we need it for football. At this point, (baseball) players are not going to play football. They just don’t know the game.”

Dudenhoeffer reiterated that the basketball team is playing in summer leagues, and the baseball team hasn’t done anything together since the last district game.

“The conversation is being driven by the lack of a coach,” said board member Brett Phillips. “If you have a coach who is enthusiastic and on top of it, then these baseball decisions would have been made long ago. That’s the whole crux of it, I think. I’m sympathetic to your cause, and you know that, but the matter is we have turnover. We have to get coaches in place, but the one season they have takes precedence over the extra season. We have to check the box of having a junior high basketball coach because those kids only have one season.”

“Is there a way for me to coach?” Dudenhoeffer asked, noting he does not hold a four-year degree. “Is there a way around that for MSHSAA? Are you still taking applications for a fall baseball coach?”

Phillips said the policies in place put those questions before the principal, athletic director, and superintendent.

“Those folks make those decisions regarding who we’re going to hire,” said Phillips. “But you can’t be a head coach without a four-year degree. That’s a MSHSAA thing, and we have to abide by it.”

Dudenhoeffer asked if the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) allows for an emergency option in the event a district cannot find a coach with a four-year degree.

“You may be right,” Phillips replied. “That can be found out with a phone call.”

Dudenhoeffer closed by saying that many of the baseball players plan to play baseball in college, and every opportunity to improve is important.

“We appreciate your passion for it and for working with the kids during the summer,” said Dr. Strong.

In other business, board members voted to amend the 2021-2022 budget to actual figures as of June 30.

• The board reviewed evaluations of the Title I and A+ programs and changes to the handbook.

REPORTS

In her report, Elementary Principal Tracy Kingsley provided the board with dates for fall registration dates.

“This will help us gather information and process it before school begins,” Kingsley noted in her written report. “This will also give our new nurse more opportunities to get immunization records collected and processed.”

Students in grades K-2 (and older siblings) can be registered on Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and students in grades 3-5 (and younger siblings) can be registered on Aug. 10 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Any elementary student can be registered from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Aug. 11 and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug 12.

• Kingsley informed the board that a Back to School Health Fair will be held at the elementary on Aug. 11 from 4-6 p.m.

 “Mrs. Everett has been busy working to get vendors and supplies for a wonderful back-to-school health fair. If you know of anyone interested in setting up a booth or donating materials or time, please contact Mrs. Everett,” Kingsley noted.

• A master schedule has been shared with staff for next year.

“This schedule includes a 90-minute reading block, systematic opportunities for intervention in reading and math, as well as a one-hour math block,” said Kingsley. “Title staff have a variety of push-in times and pull-out times to support the various needs of our students. We’ve added some math support in our upper grades.”

• There are staff openings for a music teacher for grades K - 2 and paraprofessionals.

• Staff members have discussed Social Emotional Learning throughout the year as they see the ongoing need among students. Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Everett, and Mrs. Sieg attended Conscious Discipline training this year with Jill Molli. “After sharing their learning with the faculty, the faculty shared in their end-of-the-year survey that they would like to have the opportunity to learn more about it,” said Kingsley. “I’m working to schedule one or two dates this year. It is powerful learning and something the staff will be able to use immediately.”

• Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) now requires a Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.

Kingsley reported that the new DESE requirement this year is that the district assesses kindergarten students within the first four to six weeks of school. After researching the suggested assessments, R-2 applied to be part of a pilot with an assessment called Kindergarten Observation Form (KOF) and was accepted. The kindergarten team will be trained this summer, and the assessment will be free to the district next year.

• Class lists have been completed.

“We’ve done our best to introduce those attending summer school to their new classroom teachers whenever possible,” said Kingsley. “Letters will go home soon with this information. This letter will also include supply lists and fall registration info.

In his report, Middle School/High School Principal Jeff Jacques noted the year ended with an enrollment of 302 students with an average attendance rate of 95.35%. 

“The most exciting of it is we only had 34 students with Fs, so we did bring that number down,” said Jacques. “If you look at the past, I think we started with 63 at the beginning of the year, and each time we got better. Hats off to my staff. Hats off to the students. Eleven percent of students with an F is still not acceptable but a whole lot better than what we were doing.” 

• Jacques reported the master schedule was completed.

This was the final report that Jacques will make, and Dr. Strong thanked him for the work he has done for the district.

“Thank you for your time with the district and the energy you brought to the position,” Dr. Strong said. “Clearly, the students, many of them thought very, very highly of you.”

“Thank you for the opportunity,” Jacques replied. “As I told a lot of you individually, I apologize for not fulfilling my obligation. Lot of stress and things. I still feel very proud to be a Wildcat. I will still help out in any way possible.”