Board President Ken Gaspar called the meeting to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members present at the start of the meeting were Ken Gaspar, Walter Branch, Matt Batson, Ryan Nestleroad, and Jennifer Lewis. Mike Whannell was absent. Jared Wormington joined the meeting at 6:13 p.m. |
First through third-grade students shared with the Board of Education how the Monett Elementary School encourages positive behavior and recognizes students who demonstrate the five Profile of a Cub traits: Learner, Thinker, Communicator, Collaborator, and Citizen.
Students introduced the five Profile of a Cub traits and shared what each one means. Mrs. Drake highlighted how monthly assemblies recognize Cubs of the Month who demonstrate a selected trait, with Citizen being the first focus of the school year. She also shared how students earn Cub Coins for demonstrating these traits in their daily actions and use them to vote for teachers to participate in fun monthly challenges.
So far this year, students have styled teachers' hair and watched teachers get eggs smashed on their heads! Students are already looking forward to November’s Cub Coin challenge, Slime Time!
Through these activities, MES is making positive behavior recognition fun and engaging while encouraging students to build character, strengthen relationships, and demonstrate what it means to be a Monett Cub!
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Principal Wallace and the Monett Intermediate School team recognized students who successfully exited their Reading Success Plans during the October Board of Education meeting. This achievement reflects the progress students have made in strengthening their reading skills and meeting important literacy goals.
Throughout the school year, these students worked closely with their teachers to develop essential reading skills and build confidence in their abilities. Their progress reflects their determination, consistent effort, and the individualized support provided by MIS educators.
Congratulations to these students on reaching this important academic milestone! Their accomplishments highlight the impact of hard work, dedicated instruction, and a shared commitment to student success.
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Mareena Snarey presented concerns regarding several high school policies and practices, including library access for dual-credit students, checkout procedures for 18-year-old students, Cubs Time, and grading practices related to weighted coursework and grade thresholds. She also raised concerns about potential scholarship implications and requested a community forum to discuss these topics. |
The Board Approved:
- Approve minutes
- Pay bills
- Approve First Semester Ridership List
- Aspire Senior Living Roaring River & SRTC Health Occupations MOU 2026-2027
- Special Services Local Compliance Plan
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Update on Facilities/Grounds by Steve Garner, Director of Operations, included:
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MMS HVAC Update: Six of eight HVAC systems have experienced failures. Testing identified oxidation inside piping, indicating possible installation issues. Contractors and LG are working together to determine necessary repairs, with additional testing and repairs planned.
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Crossing Signal Safety: Concerns remain about drivers failing to stop at the pedestrian crossing despite flashing amber lights. The district is exploring additional safety measures.
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NEW Burl Fowler Scoreboard: Board members recognized GO CAPS students and Coach Goetz for their impressive work on the new scoreboard, highlighting the hands-on learning opportunities and skills students gained through the project.
Update on Academics by Dr. Isaac Sooter, Assistant Superintendent included:
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Staff Recognition: Carrie Smith and Heather Romine were recognized for their work supporting teachers and principals, particularly through New Cub Academy.
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New Cub Academy: The program continues to help new teachers transition into Monett Schools and become familiar with district expectations and practices.
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Curriculum Development: Dedicated curriculum days provide teachers with opportunities to review, strengthen, and align instructional practices.
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A–F Accountability System: The district is awaiting additional guidance from the State Board of Education regarding the new A–F grading system, including the metrics used to determine school and district grades.
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Annual Performance Report (APR): The state has delayed the release of the APR.
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150-Day Calendar Exploration: All design teams are actively collaborating, using a centralized question tracker to review community questions from multiple perspectives.
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Leadership Development: The district is exploring an internal leadership development program to prepare aspiring administrators, with plans to share a proposal next month and potentially launch in the coming months.
The Board unanimously approved the Monthly Program Evaluations (per CSIP) - Continuous School Improvement Plan:
- Success Ready Monitoring
- Communication Report
- Health Services
- Special Education Report
The board discussed approving the MSBA 2026B Update next month.
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- October 26-28 Parent-Teacher Conferences
- October 29: Early Dismissal (Noon Dismissal)
- October 30: No School
- November 19: November Board Meeting
- December 17: December Board Meeting
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The Board approved:
Classified Hires:
- Miriam Minton, MIS SPED Para Functional Room, Start Date: October 13, 2026
- Juana Rodriguez, Sub Custodian, Start Date: October 14, 2026
Classified Resignations:
- Joy Bechtel, Sub Nurse, Resignation Date: 9/21/26
- Lily Womach, MIS SPED Nurse, Resignation Date: 9/28/26
- LeAnna Jackson, MIS SPED Para, Resignation Date: 9/28/26
- Melanie Nash, Food Service Sub, Resignation Date: 9/15/26
- Julie Swanson, Food Service, Resignation Date: 10/15/26
- Ana Garcia Soriano, MES ELD Paraprofessional, Resignation Date: 10/16/26
- Lacy Creed, Cub House Director, Resignation Date: 10/13/26
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