by Johannes Brann

At its regular but brief meeting on January 18, the Northeast Vernon County R-1 School Board (NEVC) reviewed bills and payments as well as heard reports from the district’s two principals and the Superintendent; there was no “new business” on the agenda.

After the 25-minute meeting, it was learned the board has set early February as a time for interviewing candidates for the position of district superintendent. Chris Holcomb will finish out two years as superintendent in June before moving on.

In an interview prior to the meeting Holcomb said, “Well, to be honest, for too long I’ve put my job ahead of my family and it’s way past time that I change some things so I’m there for them.” Holcomb plans to assist his father and help manage the family farm.

The outgoing superintendent indicated that four people have applied for the position of superintendent with one having since taken a position elsewhere.

Said board member Mike Newman, “We’re pleased that we have a number of candidates and maybe by the time we start interviews we might have more.”

It is appropriate that such a comment came from Newman for although he is about to go off the board following the April election, he has served on the board since the district was formed in 1996. Indeed, Newman was on the school board of the Walker R-4 Pirates when they were annexed by the Schell City R-1 Bears.

“Well as I like to say, NEVC is the youngest district in Vernon County—this is our 28th year—but we’ve got the two oldest buildings. Both the elementary school in Schell City and the high school in Walker are about to turn 95, having both been built in 1929.”

All board members were on hand—David Bruce, Heather Brown, Heath Brown, Deland Prough, Connie Gerster, Scott Pritchett and Mike Newman—as well as Board Secretary Janice Graves, Elementary Principal Eric Rhodes, High School Principal Dr. John Lawrence as well as the superintendent.

Also prior to the meeting, Holcomb indicated the regular annual audit for the 2022-23 school year as well as the required audit of federal funds passed onto schools during COVID, would most likely be presented in March.

Enrollment in the elementary school stood at 95 with 94.77 percent attendance rate while the high school enrollment was reported at 98 with 92.79 percent attendance. Said Lawrence, “Senioritis has set in way too early and we are addressing it.”