The Sedalia School District 200 met last night and established the filing dates for the upcoming April election.
Individuals who are interested in running for one of the two seats on the board may file from Dec. 5 through Jan. 19. The hours for filing are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The board offices will be closed at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 18 through Jan. 3. The offices will be closed for filing Jan. 18.
January 19, the board offices will open at 8 a.m. to noon and will re-open at 3:30 to 5 p.m., when the filing period ends.
The terms of current board secretary David Wolf and board member Diana Nichols are both set to expire in April.
Both Wolfe and Nichols plan to file for re-election.
“Even though both my children have graduated from the district, I think I will go for another round,” Wolfe said. “I’ve had a great time serving on the board and want to continue our work.”
Nichols said she has also enjoyed her time on the board.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the past three years on the board,” Nichols said. “Seeing the progress we have made is a good feeling to have and I really want to continue to serve the community and the district any way I can.
State Statutes require that candidates for the board must be citizens of the United States and resident taxpayers of the district, who have resided in Missouri for one year preceding their election or appointment. They must also be 24 years old.
Board members were given information by Superintendent of Sedalia School District 200 about a potential increase in substitute pay.
“This is something that has been on my mind for some time now,” Pollitt said. “It is something we feel we need to address.”
Three years ago, the district had 120 individuals on their sub list. For the current school year, the number has decreased to 61.
“A dollar may or may not help the situation,” Pollittt said. “We have trouble filling all positions across the board whether it is for a teacher or a cook or any position and part of the problem may be that we are on the low end of the pay scale.”
The board is scheduled to vote on the measure at the next board meeting.
Members heard two reports from the Pettis County Early Childhood Cooperative Principal, Grace Kendrick.
The Parents as Teachers Program has seen an increase in state funding by 25 percent according to Kendrick.
“We have hired two additional staff members to meet the needs of the program,” Kendrick said. “The focus of the program has changed somewhat.
“We have now been asked to serve fewer families, but to see and work with them more often,” she added.
Kendrick explained to the board members that they might have requests for additional staff members for the Early Childhood Program as well.
Two years ago, the district completed 88 evaluations for the program. In 2014-15, the number had risen to 96.
“We have already completed 18 evaluations this year and have 28 more in the cycle,” Kendrick said. “We serve every child if they meet the criteria because we have to and we believe the program truly helps the child when they start kindergarten according to the parents who we work with.”
In other information, the board was given the graduate follow-up survey results.
Last year saw an increase in the number of students who entered the full time work force from 2104. Slightly more than 30 percent of S-C graduates did so.
Military and four-year college admissions were up but enrollment in two-year universities dropped more than 10 percent.
The winner of the John T. Belcher scholarship was also announced.
This year the board received seven applications from S-C seniors. Bailey Curry was awarded a $250 scholarship as the district’s winner.
“We want to thank the Foundation for awarding the money for the local scholarship,” Pollitt said. “It increased interest in the number of students who applied and the board and I enjoyed reading the applications.”
Curry will now compete for a regional Belcher scholarship valued at $750. The winner of the regional awards will compete for a state scholarship of $1,500.