Rebecca Bolen

The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance. Key segments included recognitions for Junior Beta national competition winners, specifically Elijah Ellis for spelling and Seth Doyle for color photography. The board also congratulated the Rolla Technical Institute engineering team for achieving fifth place at the National Senior Beta Club Convention. Furthermore, the board secretary, Amy Lubert, was recognized for earning her basic certification through the MSBA certified board secretary academy. During public comment, several attendees discussed concerns regarding book challenges and potential bans, specifically addressing the books "Lawnboy" and "Identical," emphasizing the importance of resource accessibility, parental guidance policies, and established review processes for content.

The board is asked to approve the 2019-2020 course description book, with Mr. Hanson commenting on the changes. The revisions include swapping out physical science for biology 2, and trading conceptual statistics for conceptual algebra in the math department. Introduction to architecture will be offered at RTI for ninth and 10th graders, and information about launch online courses will be included. If approved, over a thousand copies will be printed and distributed to students, and the scheduling process will begin.

The student advisor presented information about the high school, including student perspectives on what constitutes a good school. Students mentioned factors like better parking, fantastic teachers, a great Board of Education, and a safe environment. The advisor emphasized the importance of willing students and caring individuals within the school community. The advisor thanked the board for their dedication and the opportunity to participate, highlighting the valuable learning experience gained.

The board clip discusses a program called the Parents of Recent Alumni Program, which aims to maintain relationships with parents after their children graduate. The program involves regular communication, videos, surveys, and opportunities for parents to stay involved and volunteer. The goal is to keep parents engaged, gather their input, and recognize their value to the school district. There is also a discussion about conducting a small survey to assess whether the district has fulfilled promises associated with a bond issue.

The discussion centered on future transportation updates, including a proposed reduction in transportation funding at the state level and its potential impact on the district. The comprehensive nature of the transportation program, the number of buses in the fleet, annual miles driven, and the number of students transported were reviewed. The impact of state funding changes on local funding for transportation costs was also discussed, along with potential strategies for managing budget constraints while continuing to provide transportation services to students.