Board appreciation at Northeast Vernon County

by Johannes Brann

As far as parents and students are concerned, a school year runs from late August into May. In terms of school finances and sports, a given school year in Missouri runs from July 1 through 30. However, for members of this state’s school boards, the year runs from April through March. Thus the March 20 meeting of the Northeast Vernon County R-I School Board was preceded by an appreciation dinner and the distribution of recognition certificates as organized by District Superintendent Christy Jones. On hand were board members David Bruce, Heather Brown, Heath Brown, Connie Gerster, Scott Pritchett and Tisha Bailey; Deland Prough was unable to attend.

Said Jones, “I know at times, some of you have to field a number of phone calls dealing with everything from an issue with sports or buses to classes and staff and sometimes folks forget you’re not paid for the many hours you put in. So with this dinner and certificate I wanted to stop and make sure you know just how much your leadership and help means to me and really, this district. Thank you so much!”

The March board meeting saw the setting of next year’s teacher salary schedule and the monthly insurance contribution for staff, issuance of requests for proposal (RFP) for the district’s financial audit and banking services along with an update on recruiting and reports from the principals.

As approved by the board on a resolution receiving a 6-0 vote, the salary schedule in the 2025-2026 school year for certified teachers holding a bachelor’s degree begins at $40,000 and tops out at $42,500 for those with at least 28 years of experience. A new state law mandates that beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, those with a master’s degree and ten years teaching experience shall have a base salary of $46,000 with the top of the range at NEVC being teachers with 28 years earning $47,500.

The board also set next year’s monthly amount the district would contribute to staff participating in a district offered health insurance plan. On a resolution receiving a 6-0 vote, the board advanced the amount to be contributed from this year’s $450 per month to $500.

After awarding bids for mowing and pest control, the board authorized Jones to issue a request for proposal (RFP) to firms interested in performing the district’s required annual financial audit and a separate RFP to banks wanting to hold and process district funds.

Elementary Principal Eric Rhodes was on hand to give a report which noted enrollment of 99 and a lot of end of year activities coming in April. While not present, Dr. Lawrence reported enrollment of 96 pupils and beginning April 7, the annual required Missouri Assessment Program battery of tests.

Said Jones, “We’re required to promote child nutrition and I thought that to change things up we would empower our students.”

She has set aside days in April for each grade to determine the breakfast and lunch menu which will be served in both schools on a given day.

As could be expected, there will be multiple days of biscuits and gravy for breakfast as well as pizza for lunch. But she also noted requests for spaghetti, General Tso’s chicken, chili crispitos, corn on the cob, raw carrots, “plain red jello” and sherbet desert cups. Said Jones, “While most schools in our conference utilize a food service, almost everything we serve is prepared from scratch. Knowing our cooks, students will feel empowered and this will be a great month to eat at our schools at Schell City and Walker.”