R-1 Board reorganizes following April election

Wednesday, April 20, 2016
New Madrid County R-1 School District's board members were sworn in on April 12 at the reorganizational meeting. Sworn in by Secretary/Treasurer Kay Rebstock were Ryan Eddy and Jenny Cope. Also during the meeting, officers were elected. They are: Ryan Eddy, president; Danny Parker, vice president; and Rebstock, secretary/treasurer Kay Rebstock. Submitted photo

NEW MADRID, Mo. - New Madrid County R-1 Board of Education swore in its newly elected members and elected officers during the April Board meeting.

After accepting the certified results from the April 5 election, Ryan Eddy and the district's newest board member, Jenny Cope, took their oaths of office.

The board re-elected Eddy as its president. Also chosen were Danny Parker as vice president and Kay Rebstock will continue to serve as the board's secretary/treasurer.

After approving a membership agreement with Missouri Educators Unified Health Plan Inc., the board approved the 2016-2017 MEUHP employee health insurance plans.

According to Dr. Cynthia Sharp Amick, superintendent, the plans will change for the coming year. The new plans, she said, will offer some new preventive prescription benefits and there are "quite a few prescriptions that will be available to us at lower or no cost, which is a real plus."

Also the plans will now provide a Health Savings Account plan. The HSA enables employers to deposit tax-free money into the account with the funds to be used for medical expenses.

While in the past, the district has paid up to $513 of an employee's insurance plan, for the coming year the board approved to pay up to 80 percent, or $410.40 per employee, Amick said.

A 25-hour extended school year will again be conducted for students meeting the criteria for those services. Amick explained the five-week program is designed for students who need to keep instruction going for a longer period in order to maintain educational skills.

In other Board action:

* Driver Education will again be offered during the summer for the district's students. The cost to participate is $35 with students receiving both classroom instruction and experience in driving. Amick noted the program is popular with students and allows them to apply for lower insurance rates.

* The Board's Annual Work Session is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 3.

* Following an audit by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of the District's food and nutrition services, the district received notification DESE had accepted the audit for fiscal year 2015. Amick praised the staff and administrators involved in the audit, which was conducted at Lilbourn Elementary School.

"They did a great job," Amick said. "Everything came out well and we received a very good audit."

* Enrollment for the district is 1,387 in April compared to 1,424 at this time last year. Amick noted the District is down by 11 students at Central High School and 21 at Central Middle School. There are three fewer students at Lilbourn Elementary and two fewer students at Matthews Elementary.

* As the District continues to strive for 90 percent of its students in attendance at 90 percent of the time, Amick advised the board attendance is currently at a rate of 89.17 percent.

* Personnel: Resignations were accepted from Melissa Pullum, Lilbourn Elementary art; Brent Shipman, High School English; Joe Dunn, JROTC; and Cindi Jones, director of Special Education.

BJ Stone was hired to teach the summer driver's education program.

The following transfers were approved: Kitty Anglin from Lilbourn assistant to Lilbourn Elementary secretary; and Bridgett Masterson from director of Elementary Education to director of Special Education.

The board renewed the contracts of district's tenured and non- tenured teaching staff at Lilbourn Elementary, Matthews Elementary, New Madrid Elementary, Central Middle School, Central High School and the Technical Skills Center.

Dates to Remember

Kindergarten Round-Up 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 21
Honor's Ceremony 6:30 p.m. April 25
FFA Ceremony 6 p.m. April 26
MS NJHS Induction 2 p.m. April 27
MS Choir Concert 1:30 p.m. May 3
HS Band Concert 7 p.m. May 3
Lilbourn Music Program 1 p.m. May 5
Matthews Music Program 1 p.m .May 5
MS Band Concert 6 p.m. May 5
Athletic Awards Program 6 p.m. May 5
Senior Awards 7 p.m. May 9
NMCC Graduation 6:30 p.m. May 10
6th/7th Awards Ceremony 9 a.m. May 11
NME Music Program 1 p.m. May 11
Underclassman Awards 2 p.m. May 12
Elementary Field Day all day May 16
8th Grade Graduation 9 a.m. May 17