The North Nodaway school board, at their regular meeting Wednesday, hired three teachers. Lori Harris was named Middle School Math Teacher. Andrew Hunsucker was named Elementary Teacher. Hailey Wilmes was named Preschool teacher for the upcoming school year. The board voted to accept the retirement of Victor West and the resignation of preschool teacher Kayla Baldwin. All votes were unanimous.
Jason Jenkins addressed the board to discuss concerns about the baseball team, which went 0-15 last year and 1-14 this year, snapping a 30-game losing streak. He noted that out of their 15 games this year, only four were against non-cooperative teams. He presented stats on the team’s schedule this year. Out of those, North Andrew was 6-13 and outclassed North Nodaway in its game. They have 18 players, three coaches, and played 11 JV games. South Holt was 15-7, had 15 players, three coaches, and nine JV games. He didn’t present the Stanberry numbers, but as listed on their page, Stanberry had 14 players, two coaches, and had seven JV games. Stanberry outclassed North Nodaway, beating them 8-3. DeKalb had the closest makeup to North Nodaway, having 13 players, two coaches, and three JV games.
Jenkins noted that the other teams in North Nodaway’s class developed big by scheduling more JV games. By contrast, North Nodaway started with 16 players, but seven had never played baseball before, even with the Cubs, North Nodaway’s summer ball team. Several had quit during the course of the season.
He recommended hiring a third coach so that coaches could work with players individually, playing more JV games, setting coals, and looking into joining a cooperative although he acknowledged the latter step would be difficult.
North Nodaway has three different options for joining a cooperative; however, it would be subject to approval of the other schools. Three schools can form a baseball cooperative since MSHSAA rules allow it for sports consisting of eight or more players. If North Nodaway were to join the Nodaway Valley cooperative, that would create a combined total of 144 students. That would turn the Thunder from being on the bubble of Class 1 and 2 into a solid Class 2 school. If they were to join the Northeast Nodaway cooperative, that would create a combined total of 157 students, which could force the Bluejays to compete in Class 3 in future years; the cutoff for Class 3 is 166 students. If they were to join the Platte Valley cooperative, that would force it to move from Class 1 to Class 2. Currently, the Platte Valley cooperative consists of 57 students; adding North Nodaway would bring it up to 104 students, which would move it over the cutoff point of 98 students for Class 2.
One issue affecting the scheduling of junior varsity games is the MSHSAA pitch count rules. Violations of these rules result in an automatic forfeit and an automatic suspension of the coach for the next game for the first offense.
Principal Roger Johnson noted that one factor to consider was that the team will lose only one senior this year and that 4-5 eighth graders plan to play baseball next year. “They should go out and stay out,” he predicted.
The board took no action on the cooperative proposal. If the school were to vote on such a move, it would need to be placed on the agenda for a future board meeting.
In a revision to the Student Handbook, the board plans to formalize the “No Cell Phone Use” policy that it passed last fall and that the school implemented in January. Cell phone use and other electronic devices is not permitted during the school day without permission from the administration or their designees, and such devices will be placed in district-issued pouches at the beginning of the school day. Violations will be subject to discipline.
In another proposed change, students failing to complete homework will be put on Gradewatch and given one calendar day to complete the assignment before they will be assigned a one-hour extended learning session after school. Students assigned extended learning for late homework will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities that day. There are additional penalties for repeated late assignments.
Field trips will be considered an extension of the classroom. If a field trip is required for a course, students are expected to attend the trip. Absences in other classes or school activities due to attendance on field trips will be considered excused absences.
A proposed addition on dance policies states that any organization wishing to sponsor one must make their request four weeks in advance. Students caught drinking during a dance will be asked to leave and parents and law enforcement will be notified. Students who have been drinking will not be allowed to attend. Students who have dropped out of North Nodaway will not be allowed to attend prom.
In other changes to the Handbook, the K-12 Christmas meal that has been held at the school the last two years will be formalized. Any sport or activity which has qualified for state will be recognized with a whole school assembly.
The board approved the first reading of the Student Handbook. The board will approve a second reading at their next meeting. The board also approved the first readings of the Athletic, Elementary, Personnel, and Transportation handbooks.
The school learned they had received a Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant. The school will get $45,000 for the next four years for a total of $180,000.
The board approved the purchase of two main basketball nets, four side baskets, and two volleyball sleeves for the main gym for a total of $51,800 from Wamco Athletics. The school got another bid, but it was considerably higher, and did not have room for a shot clock in case MSHSAA adopts a shot clock rule like Iowa has.
The school received one bid from Chris Kiddoo to refinish the hardwood for the stage and the science room for $4,350. The board voted to accept the bid.
The board voted to purchase 19 desks from Maryville Typewriter for the high school to replace aging desks, some of which will be thrown in the trash.
The school received two bids from I.G. Construction of Lexington (MO) and Asphalt Renovations of St. Joseph to put asphalt on the new parking lot in front of the elementary as well as the Ag center parking lot. I.G. Construction bid $42,000 while Asphalt Renovations bid $61,950. However, the I.G. Construction bid only included 2” of final compaction and the Asphalt Renovations bid included 4”. The board awarded the bid to Asphalt Renovations.
The board approved the following work list for summer:
—Teacher work orders;
—Floor scrubbing and cleaning;
—Rewax gym floors, along with kitchen, hallway, and cafeteria at the elementary;
—Mowing;
—Install office area and bathroom at the bus barn;
—Extend the concession area at the commons;
—Install locker tops and panels at the high school;
—Deep clean all milk coolers;
—Tear out elementary playground and bring in gravel;
—Pave the elementary parking lot;
—Install the new basketball hoops and volleyball sleeves;
—Elementary landscaping;
—Painting rooms at both buildings;
—Door name tags for new staff;
—Pave the ag center parking lot;
—Enclose the door in the elementary kitchen;
—Stripe and seal existing parking lots;
—Upgrade the sink and counters in the locker rooms;
—Remove old and install new desks at the high school;
—Bus inspections;
—Refinish the stage and science room hardwood floors;
—Clean air conditioner units;
—Dirt work at the bus barn.
Other work projects that the school is seeking bids on include updating Chromebooks, a drop ceiling and lights, a cold salad bar, and gravel and dirt work for a parking lot on the east side of the building.
The board will hold its regular meeting June 18th at 6 pm. The board will then hold a special budget meeting June 30th at the A&G in Maryville at 6 pm. The board tabled the budget as the state budget has passed, but is still awaiting the governor’s signature. The governor has 45 days to sign or veto legislation.
Superintendent Chris Turpin reported that the school celebrated staff and teacher appreciation weeks. The school and PTO treated them to snacks and treats.
The school is looking into options for school photos.
Parents have been sent letters stating that immunizations must be current in order to reenroll for next year. Parents have an option to submit an exemption, but it has to be the new form. Turpin reported there are 17 students who have not been immunized.
A few staff members have asked about getting CDL’s to help out transporting students to events if necessary. The school is working to train them.
The school received a $2,500 grant from the Rural Community Opioid Response Program to provide prevention opportunities for youth this summer. The school is planning to offer busing to the Hangar a few times, the Bowling Alley once, and to B&J Skate once. The funding can be used for snacks, entry fees, shoe rentals, busing, and staffing costs.
Clayton Scott has been in contact with the school about using facilities for his upcoming film, “The Pastor.” He has been invited to attend the next board meeting to sign the final paperwork and answer any questions.
The school was awarded an $11,000 grant from the Missouri Career Advising Initiative that will allow it to hire someone to assist the counselor in college and career development.
Additional lighting has been done in the bus barn. There are now motion lights that will come on once a bus pulls into a dark bus barn.
Turpin also reported on legislation this year. House Bill 567, which passed, took out the Consumer Price Index provision of the Minimum Wage Bill passed by voters in 2024, but schools will now be required to pay the $15 minimum wage.
Senate Bill 68 now requires that every school have a cell phone usage policy. It also includes possible funding opportunities for safety measures.
Other bills regarding open enrollment did not pass.
