May 29, 2008

Dr. Andy Underwood presented school budget figures for review last Thursday during the regular meeting of Ava R-I School board. The information given to the board was provided as basic information for making budget determinations for the 2008-09 school year. The brief history provided a reference point for budget numbers yet to be determined for the upcoming term. The budget must be set prior to July 1. A date for the 2008-09 senior graduation ceremony was discussed and set by the board. Two parent representatives from the senior class were in attendance and informed board members upcoming senior students had unanimously chosen Saturday as the ideal time for graduation, and the majority of parents polled on the topic had also voted for a Saturday ceremony. In response to the input, and according to the school calendar, board members approved Saturday, May 16, 7 p.m. as the day and time for senior graduation. Gearing up for next year the board approved high school and middle school hand books noting a few minor editing corrections for the publications. However, during the course of the evening, a new Missouri School Board Association (MSBA) policy on student attendance was incorporated, with each principal formulating an adaptation of the recommended policy to fit their campus and students. According to Ava principals, the new policy is being implemented to change poor attendance behaviors by setting benchmarks for students and parents, and stricter guidelines for teachers to implement. In middle school, students consistently exhibiting attendance problems will be subject to a percentage loss of grade for that class hour. Assessment will occur on a semester basis with ten absences warranting a two percent decrease in grade for the student. If a student fails a class due to attendance, class time will most generally be made up during summer session. Poor attendance in elementary becomes a factor when a student accumulates absences beyond the allowed number for the year creating grounds for retention. At the onset of an attendance problem, parents will be contacted and a plan to better the attendance record will be put in place. During the school year, twelve absences will be considered grounds for retention. In the high school, students with five excused absences per class may be penalized with a two percent grade reduction for the semester; six excused absences, a four percent grade reduction. The first unexcused absence warrants a four percent grade reduction and the second unexcused absence, eight percent. Administrators said attendance incentives will still be offered next year to all students. Ava School's food services pro¬gram was presented by cafeteria manager and director of services, David Davidson. Davidson said the school's food services plan had just passed state review, a process which occurs every five years. Providing an overview of the year, Davidson said the cafeterias had served 56,465 breakfast meals, and 193,803 lunches, for a total output of 250,268 meals. Overall, Davidson said the program and facilities were in "good shape", although, the campus could use another freezer for storing food items. Davidson noted food costs have risen dramatically since January 2008, citing a 53 per¬cent increase in applesauce, 31 percent increase in corn, French fries / tator tots up 11 percent, peaches up 33 percent and mustard, 43 percent. Conse¬quently, in his recommendations for the ensuing year, Davidson ad¬vised board members to consider an increase in meal fees, noting expenditures in the food services program would overshadow income by approximately $50,000. Dr. Underwood provided each board member with preliminary budget considerations for the 2008-09 school year. The report gave board members an informative update on school costs, revenue factors, year-to-year comparison figures and projected revenue stream changes. Proposed salary options were also provided to the board along with salary information from comparable schools in our area and from across the state. Budget allocations adopted in past years were also included for comparison. Underwood told board members he welcomed their comments, input and ideas on budget issues, as the budget for 2008-09 must be set and approved prior to July 1, 2008. Underwood also explained the legislature had passed a foundation formula for next year, with 44 percent of school funds allotted by new formula, and 56 percent from the old formula. Under this breakdown, Ava will receive a fund increase of $130,000 for next year. However, Underwood noted the formula figure is based on student enrollment, and as the enrollment numbers continue to decline, so does the funding. A program evaluation of the guidance and counseling program at Ava schools was given to the board of education by Dr. Nancy Lawler. In the report it was noted the counseling department serves students at all grade levels from kindergarten to seniors, and to accomplish this task, the district employs 1 ½ counselors in the elementary, Roberta Long and Robert Rogers; 1 ¼ counselors in middle school, Heather Snelson and Amanda Badgett; and 1 ¾ counselors and a secretary in high school, Jeff Martin, Amanda Badgett, and Laura Walker. Expectations and goals of the guidance department are geared to address personal, social, academic and career development needs of each student, at each level of study. Overall, the program which was rated a 4.7 out of a 5-point scale, was accepted by the board. During closed session, a number of resignations, job exchanges and new hires were approved by board members. Velma Shortt, middle school librarian and a teacher in the Ava district for 27 years, tendered her resignation. Velma is retiring after 35-years in education. High school counselor Amanda Badgett had resigned her position with Ava schools for an opening in Marshfield. Heather Snelson, Ava middle school counselor, has opted to fill the high school position vacated by Badgett, and Brooke Melton, fifth-grade math teacher, has chosen to assume the middle school counselor responsibilities. Along with the high school counselor job, Snelson will serve as Link Crew sponsor. Ranae Stillings, middle school Title I Paraprofessional, tendered her resignation. Becky Lakey will take over the job responsibilities and fill the position. Annette Copeland of Ava was hired as a third-grade teacher in elementary. Don Yarger is moving from high school special education teacher to alternative school director. Charles McDonald, who was hired last year as middle / high school ISS supervisor, will assume the freshman math teacher job, a position recently vacated by Glenda Dean. Camilla Jones was hired as the process coordinator for students in kindergarten - twelfth grade. Jones, who was previously a special ed teacher in Mansfield, will assume responsibility for the job vacated by Tammy Gunter. Kathy Cruse, who was with Ava Head Start for 16 years, was hired as the PAT educator. Lisa Johnson, third-grade, and Trish Hall, kindergarten, have assumed sponsorship of the middle school TREND club. High school counselor Jeff Martin will oversee the high school club. Amy Plackemeier, business teacher, is the sponsor of middle school yearbook, and Melissa Tate, high school social studies teacher, is Anchor Club sponsor. Dr. Underwood provided three ideas for consideration as possible replacement options for the sick leave pool, a program which was recently discontinued. Underwood's suggestions were disability insurance, a teacher-to-teacher donation pro¬gram, or to increase the allow¬able number of sick days individuals may accumulate. Board members approved a summer snack application for federal grant money, a program which provides food to students during summer session. School bus routes and mileage designations were also accepted as presented. The Ava school board spotlight honored the Missouri full day pre-school project directed by teacher Sarah Key. In her report, Key noted the program had been recognized by state administrators as a quality program, and was singled out as a model for other schools to follow. The program allows Key to work with and teach 15 pre-school children, and according to screening scores, the program is effective. Key explained each child is screened prior to entering the pre-school program, and screened once again before entering kindergarten. A comparison of the scores has shown students benefit from the program, as all student scores have increased at kindergarten screening. The board recognized Key and the support group by presenting a framed certificate of recognition. A slate of officers for the newly created Ava school foundation was approved by the board. Officers and participants were selected as follows: David Norman, president; Pat Henry, secretary; Max Murphy, member; and Alice Fleetwood, member. School board members present were Randy Spurlock, Judy Lovan, Don Scrivner, Rick Ritter, Jeff Davis and Bill Philpott. Randy Ross was absent. The next school board meeting is Thursday, June 26, 6:30 p.m.