The Richards School Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. today in the school boardroom.
The brief agenda, following approval of consent agenda items, includes three items in open session: administrative reports from Superintendent Dr. Melonie Bunn and Executive Administrator Jerry Premer, setting of breakfast and lunch prices for the 2024-25 school year and setting the date for the June board meeting.
A closed executive session will be held before adjournment to discuss legal and personnel matters.
During the April school board meeting, board members unanimously voted to approve financing through L.J. Hart for the purchase of a 2025 Blue Bird Vision 77-passenger school bus, with a cost of $121,435, minus show.
A Title I program evaluation scheduled for the April 16 meeting was tabled for the May meeting; it is not shown on the May agenda. Bunn presented Health Services and Health and Wellness Services program evaluation by school nurse Jordan Hughes, which was approved by the board.
Board members also approved the student handbook for the next school year, with the exception of changes to one item not specified in the minutes.
Following closed executive session held to discuss legal and personnel matters, board members voted to hire or retain the following aides: Darlene Morrison, with Dr. Brian Morrison abstaining; Elizabeth Chowning; Ashley Smith; Montanna Forcum; Stephanie Jeckstadt; Michelle Haney; Wendy Dixon; Kristy Frealy; Madeline Taylor; and Shelly Dawson.
Approval was also given to keep on the payroll Jennifer James as bookkeeper and criminal background check liaison; Amy Stowers, Whitney McGinnis and Melissa Mitchell as secretaries; Adam Wiggs as head custodian and bus driver; Clint Spivey, Kelly Marsh and Becky Burgess as custodians; Bill Nichols as part-time custodian; Rhonda Smith as head cook and summer custodian; and Sandra Smith, Amee Minge and Sam Sell as cooks.
Bus drivers approved by the board for next school year are Steve Kennedy, Tracy Jones, Lexie Williams, Kim Wilson and Zach Cox. Richard Forshee was approved to remain as head coach for boys basketball, cross country and track teams.
Meetings are typically held on the fourth Thursday of each month. The public is welcome. To see previous meeting minutes visit www.richardsschool.k12.mo.us/domain, hover over “School Board” in the menu across the top of the page and choose “Board Minutes” from the drop-down menu.
