The Salem R-80 Board of Education met April 17 to discuss the hiring of new personnel, new positions in the high school and for the swearing in of officials following the recent election.
Re-elected officials Chris Heavin and Carrie Snider were sworn into their positions by board secretary Holly Erway. Bernie Sirois was elected as board president, Dustin Howard as vice president, Erway as board secretary and Larry Maxwell and Carrie Snider as Missouri School Board Association delegates.
Other business discussed at the meeting:
• The tuition rate for the 2018-19 school year was set at $7,417.68 by a unanimous vote.
• A security resource officer position and school psychological examiner position was created with the understanding that the position would be filled if the budget allows. It was a unanimous vote.
• The resignations of Eric Myers, Erin Blankenship, Natalie Sellers, Lori Beasley and James Joynt were accepted.
The following personnel were hired unanimously by the board: Brian McNamee; varsity football; Tony Edwards, assistant football; Kyle Anderson, assistant football; Bryan Carty, middle school football; David Bell, middle school football; James Joynt, middle school football; Phil Karr, head softball; Amanda Walker, head volleyball; Kim Cooper, assistant softball; Kristi Steelman, middle school volleyball; Travis Sampson, cross country; Nick Frillman, middle school girls’ basketball; Conrad Prugh, head boys’ basketball; Bryan Carty, assistant varsity; Jared Patterson, ninth grade boys basketball; Chris Kamprath, eighth grade boys’ basketball; Rockey Wade, seventh grade boys’ basketball; Jake Reardon, head girls’ basketball; Brian McNamee, head track; Jillian Doddema, assistant track; Bryan Carty, assistant track; Kim Cooper, assistant track; Phil Karr, head baseball; Tony Edwards, assistant baseball; Jake Reardon, assistant baseball; Will Hubbs, tennis; Kyle Anderson, golf; Elizabeth Hogan, winter cheerleading; and Alexis Benowitz, middle school cheerleading.
Also hired were Lane Howard for assistant football and Natalie Sellers for assistant softball and assistant basketball, passing with six votes with Dustin Howard abstaining. Jody Heavin was hired as fall cheerleading coach, passing with six votes with Chris Heavin abstaining.
• William Lynch Elementary principal Kriste Crocker reported that kindergarten registration is May 8, the next Pizza Hut fundraising night is April 26, the First Grade Musical is 6 p.m. May 3 at City Hall, kindergarten graduation will be held at 10 a.m. May 18 at the City Hall Auditorium and preschool enrollment will be May 16-17.
March students of the month for William Lynch include James Coffman, Leah Taylor, Toree Smith, Jerry Chen, Zola Mendenhall, Alesia Reeb, Carter Kissir, Benton Nash, Emma Roberts, Walker Smith, Riley Stites, Bradyn Baker, Alex Johnston and Jaxon Herman.
• Upper Elementary Principal Melanie Wisdom reported that 95.2 percent of enrolled students maintained a 90 percent of better attendance through March. Dates reported by Wisdom included: the Tiger Choir Spring Show at 6 p.m. April 30, Serendipity May 3, the Art Show hosted by Mrs. McColloch from 6:30-8 p.m. April 26 and the Fifth Grade Science Fair 6-7 p.m. May 1.
The March students of the month for Upper Elementary were Morgan Chrismas, Jadan Harvey, Luke Christesen, Maison Sanders, Madison Schwartz, Donna Smith, Aubrey Richardson, Kamryn Simpson, Willy Luebbers, Kaylli Carr, Tori Johnson, Nicholeen Maize, Quincey Steelman, Lillian Watson, Addison Stewart, Colby Welch, Brayden Luebbert, Skylar Foley, Kaeleb Johnson, Maggie Hogon, Cameron Seay, Meagan Crow, Nickoles Callahan, Jaid Morgan, Dusty Sellers, Nevaeh Allen, Jade Rathbun, Zack Wood, Preston McFarland, Nautia Nickles, Ayden Massey and Nicole Clevenger.
• Principal Scott Roberts from the Salem Middle School reported that 84 percent of students were at a 90 percent or better attendance rate. Roberts also congratulated SMS art students Johnny Scott and Cooper Beeson for placing in the Earth Day Contest 2018, as well as the SMS Band for receiving a 1 rating at the St. James Music Contest April 14.
Dates for upcoming middle school activities included Tiger Pride Night in the SMS Cafeteria at 5:30 p.m. May 8, The SMS Talent Show in the SMS gym May 8, the Spring Formal with a Mardi Gras theme May 11 and MAP Reward Day for students May 11.
April students of the month for the middle school were Ayva Callicut, Wyatt Patrick, Avery Bettigrew, Will Christesen, Shanna Hawkin and Kyle Woods. The teacher of the month was sixth and seventh-grade math teacher Jennifer Headrick.
• Marty Anderson, Salem High School principal, stated that 89 percent of enrolled students were at a 90 percent or better attendance during his report. Testing day, held April 3, showed 120 students who tested for the ACT, 50 for Workkeys and 200 remaining students worked on a citywide service project. Anderson also proposed changes to the student handbook sections Lunch/Food and Drink, Late Work and Athletic Probation.
Anderson also announced that dual credit classes from Missouri State University would be offered for the 2018-19 school year with the following selection: Speech 1 and 2, Desktop publishing, Composition 1 and 2, History 1 and 2, Calculus, College Algebra, Greenhouse/Horticulture, Animal Science, Accounting and Introduction to Business.
High school students of the month were Mackenzie Whitaker and Keion Owen.
