Sweet Springs Board of Education reorganized

The Sweet Springs Board of Education was reorganized at its meeting Wednesday evening, April 15.

The board accepted the unofficial results of the election April 7.

Board member John Dohrman left the board with kind words. Among other things, he thanked community members for their overwhelming support of the Kids First initiative, which passed with 76 percent of the vote.

Darla Reid was then administered the oath of office and took Dohrman's place. Board member Rodney Heaper was also sworn back in.

The board voted to appoint board members Robert Fuehring as board president, Rodney Heaper as board vice president, Doug Vogelsmeier as board treasurer and Troy Schroeder as the board's representative to Missouri School Boards' Association. Cindy Sims was voted to be board secretary.

The board accepted the resignations of Mary Vacek as art instructor, Donovan Hibbs as bus driver/para-professional, Leigh Jones as junior high school cheerleader sponsor, Tim Smith as assistant track coach, Ben Hays as varsity basketball coach and Stephanie Malter as junior high school cheerleader sponsor.

The board accepted the employment of Mandy Caldwell as elementary teacher, Shandra Miller as FACS instructor and Hollie Heaper, Kyle Hollrah, Kristin Jones, Scott Thomas, Kyle Fuehring and David Hall as summer part-time custodians.

Donna Wright, elementary school principal, listed upcoming events for the elementary school.

Progress reports will be sent home with students Friday, April 17.

Preschool registration will be held Thursday, April 23, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. in the preschool building.

Kindergarten registration will be held Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 1. Parents must call the elementary school to make an appointment.

No preschool will be held May 1 due to parent/teacher conferences.

The Elementary Spring Music Program will be held Tuesday, May 12, at 7 p.m.

Kindergarten graduation ceremonies will be held Thursday, May 14, at 1 p.m. The ceremony for eighth-grade graduation will be held Monday, May 11, at 7 p.m.

Friday, May 15, will be the last day of school. School will only be held for 1/2 of the day.

Summer school will begin Tuesday, May 26.

High School Principal Mike Smith listed upcoming events for the high school.

Prom will be held Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m.

Seniors will be on their senior trip Friday, May 1, through Wednesday, May 6.

High school graduation will be held Friday, May 8. The baccalaureate will be at 6:30 p.m. and the graduation ceremony will be held at 7:30 p.m.

The board voted to allow Superintendant Boyd Jones to choose the school's health insurance provider after information from both companies contacted is available.

The board voted to increase the base salary for teachers with a bachelor's degree by $900 and to increase the base salary for teachers with a master's degree by $1,200.

Kathy Dohrman, representing Sweet Springs Revitalization, spoke to the board and requested the sale of the still-in-use elementary school to SSR and the Sweet Springs Fair Board for use as a not-for-profit community building.

"We'd like to do it as a (one)-dollar deal," she said.

Fuehring said the board would take the request under consideration. Dohrman responded that her group would "like to have an answer."

Board members expressed their hesitancy to make any such decision so quickly.

Dohrman asked if board members had been approached by any other groups interested in purchasing the building. Heaper replied that he had.

Doug Vogelsmeier said he felt "uncomfortable" making any decision, but that the board and Dohrman could "sit down in 90 days, and we'll know more information."

"We're not looking to sell the property to a non-civic organization," said Jones.

Fuehring added, "We're not soliciting bids."

The board went into closed session for discussion of personnel.

All board members were present for the meeting.

The board's next meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at the Sweet Springs Elementary School.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net