Menu
2015-2016 budget to be finalized June 26
Staff report
NEW MADRID - The New Madrid County R-1 School Board continued to fine-tune its budget for the coming year during the June Board meeting. Final approval of the budget is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 26 at the Board offices.
Recent revisions include the purchase of two vehicle from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Dr. Cynthia Sharp Amick, superintendent, said the District submitted a request earlier this year to be put on the MSHP's list for used vehicles. The school district is purchasing two Tahoes for use by the district's resource officers at a total cost of $34,000.
Also at the June meeting the Board approved the District's federal programs budget for the 2015-2016 school year. The R-1 District will receive $790,850 through Title 1A with most of this money used for salaries and benefits as well as some supplies including the purchase of Chromebooks for fifth grade students. An additional $145,806 in Title 2A money will be pooled with the Title 1A funds, Amick said. Also the District will received Title 6D funding of $27,229 which helps pay salaries of the school resource officers.
According to Amick, budget changes will be made until the June 26 meeting.
Also adjusted during the June meeting was the budget for the 2014-2015 school year.
The Board approved items to be declared as surplus property and be sold by public bid. These items include a truck, a car and 30 air conditioning units from the Middle School.
New Madrid County Central's events at its gymnasium could have a new look.
The Board gave the administration approval to proceed with working with Sportable Scoreboards, which plans to provide as many as two full-color video displays for the gymnasium.
Amick said the video displays would be funded through the sale of advertisements, which would be displayed along with videos.
The video screens could "display shots from basketball, the Prom's grand march or graduation....There is a lot of different things we can do with it," said Amick. "This is something new they have been doing with area schools."
She emphasized the District would be out no money for the scoreboard. "If the community supports it (by buying advertising), we will get one. If not, then there won't be one," she said.
The board had previously considered a four-sided scoreboard proposed by Sportable Scoreboards for the gym. However a structural engineer determined a seismic design would be necessary for a suspended scoreboard. Due to structural concerns and damage to the gym floor from the heavy lifts needed to install the sign, the board declined to take part, Amick reported.
The admission tickets will get a new look, too, at no cost to the District.
An offer by Huddle Tickets to donate tickets for admission to Central games was accepted. Amick explained each tickets will include a Casey's coupon on the back.
In other sports-related action, approval was given to begin a middle school track program for the 2015-2016 school year.
"This will work just like the high school's track program - the practices will be at the same time," said Amick. She added with several schools in the region also offering middle school track, the participants will take part in five to six meets during the season, providing participants with experience in the sport prior to taking part at the high school level.
In other board action:
Bank Card:
Approval was given for First State Community Bank to begin offering personalized debit cards featuring the New Madrid County R-1 school mascot and logo. The Bank will make a donation to the school district based on the number of times the R-1 debit cards are used.
Three Rivers College Proposal: A proposal from Three Rivers College for the Precision Ag Program was approved. The program is to begin in July.
Annual School Bus Inspection: The District received a rating of "Total Fleet Excellence" by the Missouri State Highway Patrol during the 2015 Annual School Bus Inspection. According to Amick, 94.9 percent of the New Madrid County R-1 buses received no out-of-service ratings.
This is the third year in a row for the District to attain the high rating, according to Amick, who offered her congratulations to John Garner, Joe Lewis, Cummins Mid-South and all bus drivers.
A+ Scholarship Program:
Rebecca Treece reported New Madrid County R-1's graduating class of 2015 included 18 students meeting all requirements to qualify for the A+ Scholarship.
The scholarship program requires students to complete a certain number of tutoring/mentoring hours while maintaining their GPA and attendance. If completed, they can receive scholarships to junior colleges and some four-year schools.
"We are really proud of those students and proud they could meet all the criteria," said Amick.
Personnel:
The Board accepted the resignations of Courtney Long, elementary teacher; Destiny McSpadden, Student Council High School; Kate Hampton, Beta Club sponsor; Katherine Stanley, Skills USA sponsor; Bill Nance, Credit Recovery program and Lisa Godwin, Middle School Student Council.
The following transfers were approved: April Grissom to assistant teacher at New Madrid Elementary; Cindy Shepard to kindergarten at Lilbourn Elementary; Nicole Tucker to ECSE at Lilbourn Elementary; Valerie Robbins to Career Exploration at the Middle School; Dontre' Jenkins to Lilbourn Elementary assistant; Corrine Karizamimba to fifth grade New Madrid Elementary; Tenisha Nelson to first grade at Matthews Elementary; Emily Girten to High School special education; Sandra Jamerson to Middle School special education; Lisa Payne to process coordinator; Stacey Vent to Middle School; Elizabeth Hodges to Cross Categorical; Jake Kimball to sixth grade physical education at Middle School; and Whitney Gorton to physical education at Lilbourn Elementary.
The following individuals were employed: Patrick Day, bus mechanic; Kathy Palmer, Cross Categorical special education; Richard Bohn, High School government/geography; Stephanie Uhls, New Madrid and Lilbourn Elementary music instructor; Elizabeth Hodges, assistant teacher; Ashley Brewer, assistant teacher; Toby Heeb, assistant teacher; Emma Will, Beta Club sponsor, Renee Smith, Skills USA sponsor; Gloria Wilderness, Middle School sixth grade teacher; Emma Hucklebery, assistant teacher Lilbourn Elementary; and Toby Heeb, Middle School boys basketball.