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Bronaugh R-7 board reviews ag program
The six members present at Thursday evening’s meeting of the Bronaugh R-7 school board handled a number of end of the school year issues including review of attendance figures, adoption of a wellness program, a look back by the superintendent of the last two years and a review of the vocational agriculture and Future Farmers of America program.
Travis Wait, Vo-Ag and FFA teacher, provided an in depth review of the district’s program along with a look ahead for the year to come.
The written report provided a long list of program strengths which include, for the fifth year in a row, being a top 50 chapter in the state (out of 331); having a member earn state FFA degrees, another being selected to attend the Missouri Agribusiness Academy, and, for the seventh consecutive year, having a student selected as the Area Star and advancing to state competition.
Said Wait, “I have good student leadership and the program here has students who work hard and the achievements I just mentioned show this along with a total of 103 hours of community service performed this school year.”
Wait also cited two students winning area proficiencies and going on to state competition with both placing first, one in beef cattle production and the other in grain production.
The agriculture education program has 16 males and 16 females with the two largest student career paths being agriculture mechanics and technology and animal science.
“A total of $8,700 worth of agriculture scholarships were earned by seniors in agriculture areas through their direct involvement with the Bronaugh Vo-Ag department and FFA chapter,” said Wait.
Goals for the 2017-18 school year include implementing a new curriculum for advanced plant science and having 100 percent of students who complete the program pass the Missouri Agricultural Skills and Knowledge Assessment Industry Recognized Credential. The MOASK IRC is how schools recognize students performing at a proficient level as determined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
“In terms of special trips, I operate on a three year cycle,” said Wait. “This next year I plan to take 12 students to the Washington, D.C., leadership conference, the second year we go to state FFA camp and the third I take off and give myself a break.”
Principal Jordan Dickey asked the board to think about revising the district’s handbook on fundraising. Currently, the policy limits every group and class to one “major” fundraiser per year with the exception of the senior class.
Board member, Jill Walrod said, “I’m glad you brought this up because sometimes it seems like there are several going on at the same time or it’s like, no sooner is one done when another starts right up.”
Dickey said she would locate one or more options and email them to board members for review, prior to the next meeting.
In review of district finances, a certificate of deposit containing the Pearl Martin Fund is coming due. Superintendent, Dr. David Copeland asked if they wanted to withdraw a limited amount for upcoming projects. The board decided to withdraw just over $9,100, leaving exactly $80,000 to be placed in a new certificate of deposit at Metz Bank.
Board members were handed a 31-page packet as a proposed district wellness program and Copeland expected board members to take action on it next month. Instead, the group saw the relatively light agenda and decided to take time to read the key provisions and listen as the superintendent reviewed changes and important features. Following a bit of discussion, by a vote of 6-0, the board adopted the program.
Dickey’s review of end of the year activities had but one sour note.
“As you know, one of our state required goals is to have 90 percent of our students attending 90 percent of the time,” said Dickey. “While the elementary school certainly will make that, it looks like the high school will just miss it for the year.”
Dickey commented how, in a school with smaller enrollment, a few students with health or other problems, which keep them out can wreak havoc on overall attendance numbers.
“As the Nevada R-5 program emphasizes, minutes matter and I will intensively focus on this in the coming year,” said Dickey. “Because minutes add up to hours and hours become days and being on time and showing up are basic skills students need to learn, not only for school but for jobs and all of life.”
Copeland began his report with a review of summer facility projects.
“As you already authorized, we will be completely redoing the two bathrooms in the main hall which folks use when visiting our school,” said Copeland.
The superintendent’s list moved on to possibly covering the yellow blocks along the walls in the main hallway with something, which looks more attractive and professional. The water fountain near the math room is slated for replacement and water problems with the agriculture building will be addressed besides a general cleaning of the building.
The final handout of the meeting was a list produced by the superintendent, listing accomplishments in the past two school years.
“Maybe it’s a sign of growing old but I find it’s easy for one school year to blur into another,” said Copeland. “Jordan and I have just completed two years and I wanted to take stock of all we’ve done together.”
The list of 64 items included such things as a new canopy at the front entrance, new doors, replaced nine interior doors, installed the Guardian Angel door security system, six new toilets, new backboards in gym, created/remodeled a conference room, repaired six heating, ventilation and air conditioning units, put epoxy floors in six rooms, created a new softball field, reduced bus routes from three to two, created a theater department as well as a speech and debate team and started the board/staff appreciation dinner.
The meeting concluded by setting the date for an extra board meeting in June, to close out the current budget year and adopt the budget for the new year.