David Miller, principal of Aurora High School presented information to the Aurora R-8 School Board during the July 5 meeting regarding a graduation recognition program.
Through the Laude system, all high school students pursuing a diploma will be eligible to earn a special designation. Based on the final, weighted grades, graduates may be recognized during commencement (and on their diplomas and transcripts) as having earned one of the following designations:
• summa cum laude (“with highest praise”) with an 11-point or higher grade point average
• magna cum laude (“with great praise”) with a 10.3125 to 10.9999 GPA
• cum laude (“with praise”) with a 9.6250 to 10.3124 GPA
Among the benefits of this system, which Miller proposed to start with the Class of 2011, is that the highest honors in a graduating class will no longer be limited to a valedictorian and salutatorian.
“Every student who excels academically will be appropriately recognized,” reported Miller.
While the former designations of valedictorian and salutatorian will no longer be used for the commencement ceremonies, class rank will continue to be calculated based on a weighted grade point average system for college and scholarship purposes.
After hearing the proposal, Carolyn Swartz made a motion to approve the change; Mark McCully provided a second. They and remaining members, Charles Foltz; Mark McCully; Michele Parbury and Scott Welch voted in favor of the change. Board member Don Sparks was absent.
Other Matters
Among other matters, the board:
• set the tax levy hearing date for 6:30 p.m., August 9
• heard an update regarding Sodexo taking over maintenance operations effective June 28. Officials spent the week of June 21-25 on site working with the custodians to get the paperwork process completed, walk the facilities and answer individual questions the custodians had. Steve Smith of Nixa is serving as the on-site business manager.
“Each of the custodians I have talked with so far seems very pleased with Sodexo and the transition process,” said Dan Decker, school superintendent.
• signed a 10-year lease with OACAC for the use of Lowell School at the annual fee of $1
• approved the proposal for bus routes for the 2010-11 school year. The proposal will eliminate three routes and will utilize pick-up points at block corners. Transportation of after school activities such as athletic practices are still being finalized.
• heard Decker’s proposed driver salary schedule and recommended that drivers be grandfathered in at their current salaries if they are above the last step on the pay scale and with the understanding that they will not receive yearly increases in pay. If they are above their proposed step, they will remain on that salary until they catch up with the schedule. Board members approved the proposed salary schedule following the Big 8 month/year scale as presented and grandfathered in drivers as Decker recommended.
• heard proposals from George Schmidt, bus mechanic, regarding bus fleet products bids. The board approved the following: tires from B & I Tire Company; tire repairs from Grande Tire; oil from Allied Oil and Supply; fuel from Jim Carr Oil Company; and propane from MFA Oil and Propane.
• decided to leave meal prizes the same as last year
• set tuition at $7,500 per student, per year
• approved conducting an auction for surplus items
• learned the assessed valuations for the district. Decker reported the total for Lawrence County for 2009 was $96,180,890, while 2010 is $95,152,180, which is a decrease of $957,710. New construction in 2009 was $973,640 compared to $530,540 in 2010, which is a decrease of $443,100.
The news from Barry County is better. Assessed valuation in 2009 was $9,748,999, while the valuation for 2010 is $9,703,299, a decrease of only $45,700. New construction for Barry County decreased $95,714.
“Basically, what this means is we will lose another one percent in local monies, which I have reflected in the 2010-11 budget. I have not received the tax levy information worksheet from the state auditor yet. When I do I will plug in the numbers to see if there is anything we can do levy wise to help us in this area,” said Decker.
• approved (upon the attorney’s and school nurse’s approval of the contract) working with Flu Busters a company which works with school districts to make sure all students can be immunized for the flu. Vaccines are provided by Flu Busters at no charge and representatives will come to school facilities for the immunizations. Students are not required to be vaccinated but all will have the opportunity.
• heard from Dr. Brenda Lakin, director of special education, that the department received a silver plaque for its level of transition planning with students in special education from TOPS, an initiative through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Executive Session
The board conducted an executive session prior to the open session. Results of the meeting include
• employed Angela Literski as the high school cheerleading coach
• authorized Decker and Kanin Rook, athletic director, to employ a junior high school cheerleading coach
• heard an update on an out of home investigation from Decker
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David Miller, principal of Aurora High School presented information to the Aurora R-8 School Board during the July 5 meeting regarding a graduation recognition program.
Through the Laude system, all high school students pursuing a diploma will be eligible to earn a special designation. Based on the final, weighted grades, graduates may be recognized during commencement (and on their diplomas and transcripts) as having earned one of the following designations:
• summa cum laude (“with highest praise”) with an 11-point or higher grade point average
• magna cum laude (“with great praise”) with a 10.3125 to 10.9999 GPA
• cum laude (“with praise”) with a 9.6250 to 10.3124 GPA
Among the benefits of this system, which Miller proposed to start with the Class of 2011, is that the highest honors in a graduating class will no longer be limited to a valedictorian and salutatorian.
“Every student who excels academically will be appropriately recognized,” reported Miller.
While the former designations of valedictorian and salutatorian will no longer be used for the commencement ceremonies, class rank will continue to be calculated based on a weighted grade point average system for college and scholarship purposes.
After hearing the proposal, Carolyn Swartz made a motion to approve the change; Mark McCully provided a second. They and remaining members, Charles Foltz; Mark McCully; Michele Parbury and Scott Welch voted in favor of the change. Board member Don Sparks was absent.
Other Matters
Among other matters, the board:
• set the tax levy hearing date for 6:30 p.m., August 9
• heard an update regarding Sodexo taking over maintenance operations effective June 28. Officials spent the week of June 21-25 on site working with the custodians to get the paperwork process completed, walk the facilities and answer individual questions the custodians had. Steve Smith of Nixa is serving as the on-site business manager.
“Each of the custodians I have talked with so far seems very pleased with Sodexo and the transition process,” said Dan Decker, school superintendent.
• signed a 10-year lease with OACAC for the use of Lowell School at the annual fee of $1
• approved the proposal for bus routes for the 2010-11 school year. The proposal will eliminate three routes and will utilize pick-up points at block corners. Transportation of after school activities such as athletic practices are still being finalized.
• heard Decker’s proposed driver salary schedule and recommended that drivers be grandfathered in at their current salaries if they are above the last step on the pay scale and with the understanding that they will not receive yearly increases in pay. If they are above their proposed step, they will remain on that salary until they catch up with the schedule. Board members approved the proposed salary schedule following the Big 8 month/year scale as presented and grandfathered in drivers as Decker recommended.
• heard proposals from George Schmidt, bus mechanic, regarding bus fleet products bids. The board approved the following: tires from B & I Tire Company; tire repairs from Grande Tire; oil from Allied Oil and Supply; fuel from Jim Carr Oil Company; and propane from MFA Oil and Propane.
• decided to leave meal prizes the same as last year
• set tuition at $7,500 per student, per year
• approved conducting an auction for surplus items
• learned the assessed valuations for the district. Decker reported the total for Lawrence County for 2009 was $96,180,890, while 2010 is $95,152,180, which is a decrease of $957,710. New construction in 2009 was $973,640 compared to $530,540 in 2010, which is a decrease of $443,100.
The news from Barry County is better. Assessed valuation in 2009 was $9,748,999, while the valuation for 2010 is $9,703,299, a decrease of only $45,700. New construction for Barry County decreased $95,714.
“Basically, what this means is we will lose another one percent in local monies, which I have reflected in the 2010-11 budget. I have not received the tax levy information worksheet from the state auditor yet. When I do I will plug in the numbers to see if there is anything we can do levy wise to help us in this area,” said Decker.
• approved (upon the attorney’s and school nurse’s approval of the contract) working with Flu Busters a company which works with school districts to make sure all students can be immunized for the flu. Vaccines are provided by Flu Busters at no charge and representatives will come to school facilities for the immunizations. Students are not required to be vaccinated but all will have the opportunity.
• heard from Dr. Brenda Lakin, director of special education, that the department received a silver plaque for its level of transition planning with students in special education from TOPS, an initiative through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Executive Session
The board conducted an executive session prior to the open session. Results of the meeting include
• employed Angela Literski as the high school cheerleading coach
• authorized Decker and Kanin Rook, athletic director, to employ a junior high school cheerleading coach
• heard an update on an out of home investigation from Decker
