December 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting

Discussion:  Notice of the meeting was given in advance by publication to the public and to all members of the Board of Education. Availability of the agenda was communicated in advance. The Open Meetings Act was available for review. 

Discussion:  Jack Mole, Executive Director of NRCSA presented NRCSA's involvement in the connections with members, the legislature and school boards.  Goals include involvement at the state level, state funding to rural school districts, maintaining local control, promote and protect ESUs, and improving rural teacher shortage problems.  A number of membership benefits were discussed, including advocacy, workshops and conferences, scholarship opportunities for teachers and students, awards, teletherapy tools, and more.  NRCSA emphasizes the importance of local control when it comes to legislative bills.  An overview of the upcoming 2025 legislative sessions was discussed, including new senators, property tax relief, sports & species, parental rights, option enrollment and SPED, class sizes and consolidation.

Discussion:  Dr. McDonald presented the 2024-25 annual report, which will be posted on the school website.

Discussion: 

Knott-  One-Act did a great job.  Additionally, Mr. Curry, who was awarded the Middle School Principal of the Year. Thank you for representing us well.  A shout-out to all the active student athletes and participants.

Roberts- The teachers who are involved in negotiations, Mr. Volker, Mr. Coakes and Mr. Vandenberg.  The process ran very smoothly with open communication.

Frey- Mrs. Wiese and all the kids who participate in the One-Act.  They were conference champs this year and spend a lot of hours practicing.  It’s fun to watch, they put a lot of time and effort into it.

Stuhr- FFA, they do a great job.

Fogleman- I want to thank all staff and students who helped with the superintendent interviews.  I feel that it went well and greatly appreciated everyone's assistance and feedback in making the decision.

Rolf- Mrs. Thome puts on a wonderful winter concert, it gets better every year.  What she can get out of the kids is wonderful.  

McDonald-  I would like to express my appreciation for the Boone Central Education Association and the Board of Education Negotiations Committee for their dedication and commitment to maintaining the negotiation process. Their efforts in negotiating in good faith and creating a constructive framework serve as a model for all school districts statewide. Having participated in the negotiations process for twenty years, I can confidently say this is the most effective approach for reaching informed decisions by both committees. Thank you.  I also want to recognize Mr. Curry on his accomplishment and for everyone’s efforts in the AQUEST scores.

Larsen- I would like to recognize the Boone Central High School Culinary Class along with Mrs. Dederman and Mr. Korte for their efforts to help support the hospitality room for the Superintendent Interviews. These Culinary students accepted the challenge to make some hors d’oeuvres for those involved in the process. The kiddos did a great job! Another detail they also chose to highlight as a group were the cutting boards that are made under the direction of Mr. Korte in the Wood Shop. Compliments were shared on all accounts throughout the afternoon for their hard work. Thanks again to the Culinary Students, Mrs. Dederman, and Mr. Korte.  

Curry-  Dawna Nelson is gearing up for middle school speech.  Currently, about half of the HS Varsity Speech Team are freshmen.  She does a great job getting MS kids to speak in front of their peers.  She is a big part of our HS success!

Kayton- I would like to recognize Mrs. Thome for another fabulous winter program.  But I would also like to recognize the whole elementary school staff for being flexible with their schedules when adding in music rehearsals.  Staff were sitting in on practice, running the lights, decorating, and so on.  It was a group effort but none of it would have been possible without Mrs. Thome.  

Perone- Ken Henn, our head custodian.  I appreciate the teamwork, Ken has been easy to work with, and he gets the job done when asked to do something.

Discussion: 

Kayton - We are using our AQUEST data to guide our decision making as a School Improvement team.  We are anxious to see our winter testing scores and see the progress we have made in math since putting an emphasis on Number Sense at the beginning of the year.  At the elementary level, I am very excited to look at math scores since implementing 30 minutes of math interventions into our master schedule and switching to FastBridge which allows us to benchmark and progress monitor students.  This is the most math data that we have ever had access to.

Discussion:  Facilities Committee - stage curtains have been replaced with a bit more expense due to some additional hardware.  A maintenance meeting with Lowell and Ken will take place in the near future.
Finance Committee - Classifies staff wages and benefits to be discussed in the coming months.
Policy Committee - Adding nicotine to the drug testing policy was discussed.
Preschool Advisory Committee - upcoming meeting to update the policy.

Discussion:  Dr. McDonald - NRCSA spring conference is coming up.  Discussed the current year to date budget, including the receipts and expenditures.  Boardsmanship event is coming up in January.  The insurance claim check for the 2022 storm damage has been received and repairs are scheduled.

Discussion: 

Larsen - Community Coffee was hosted by the HS last month, where the media production students shared details about how they make all the graphics that are showcased on our school social media accounts.  I attended the State Principals Conference last week, which provided lot of learning.  Topics will be coming down the pipe here for next year.  Model Dress Code Policy - we already have one, but will have to review to make sure all is compliant for next school year.  Thinking about the impact of medicinal marijuana, specifically to our Random Drug Test Policy.  Topic of Vaping from Last Month discussion.  Clarity on Compulsory Attendance Policy

Curry - AQUEST scores are in and the kids tested very well.  A press release has been sent out, which is a great recognition to the district and validates the fact that we are doing things well.  Curriculum adoption cycle was presented, showing that our cycle aligns with the state’s standard revision timeline for all content areas.

Kayton - In November, Boone Central Elementary students and staff were privileged to see an inspirational, engaging, and meaningful performance from the NED Show. The NED Show® produced by All for KIDZ®, Inc., that uses humor, storytelling, audience participation, and amazing object lessons including yo-yos and magic tricks, students learn through the adventures of NED, a character kids (and adults) can relate to. His name is an acronym for: Never Give Up, Encourage Others, Do Your Best®. The NED Program encouraged the students to be champions of school and life! The program was provided through the Pay it Forward initiative (yo-yo sales from another school’s performance). Our BCE students have also have the opportunity to purchase these amazing yo-yos and "Pay it Forward" to another schools.  Upcoming Events: December 10: Community Coffee showcasing 4th grade writing and Hour Of Code students, December Benchmark Testing: Currently In Progress, December 19: PBIS Rally and movie at the movie theater (PTO donates the pop and popcorn for all students), December 20: Rockin’ Rally/4th Grade Activity.

Perone - Discussed the basketball, wrestling and bowling numbers for the winter season as well as participation in all winter activities.

Discussion:  9.1 Certified Staff Negotiated Agreement - a few changes include adding an extra duty junior high wrestling coach, adding close-up to the extra duty schedule, teacher stipend for grad classes for the first 10, base increased by $650.
9.2 Superintendent Contract - $158,000 salary.  Term is a three year contract.  Relocation stipend.
9.3 2025-26 Master Calendar - Teachers will report for the choral clinic in January and an extra no school day in March was added.

Discussion:  January 13, 2025 at 6:30 pm.

Discussion:  Adjourned 7:40 pm