Mexico 59 Board of Education Update

(The meeting was not livestreamed due to technical difficulties.)

Kris Fecht was appointed Board Secretary.

Board President Jessica Ekern thanked the teachers and staff who retired in May for their service. She also celebrated Bethany Collins for her 20+ years of service to the district. She offered thanks to Mrs. Chastain and Dr Miles for their time and contributions to the district. Dr. Lentz, Mrs. Lower, and Mrs. Fecht were thanked for stepping in immediately to help with the leadership transition and helping make positive impact for the school.

Mr. Pilger congratulated the MHS Academic Team for their performance on national level and bringing recognition to MHS and Mexico as a whole.

Kerri Ferrari, Executive Director, provided an update and overview of C2C. Also in attendance were C2C teammates Randy Gooch, Courtney Constable, Tad Dobyns, and Regina Johnson.

C2C is an initiative led by Tyronn Lue and the community to revive Mexico and ensure all residents have access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive and succeed.

In July of 2023, Tyronn Lue announced an initial five-year commitment that will bring a multi-million-dollar investment to support ongoing efforts to accelerate educational achievement and community development in his hometown of Mexico, Missouri. This initiative, called "C2C," represents Lue's "Commitment to Community" and "Cradle to Career" programming.

C2C recently hosted community meetings and a survey. The information gathered will determine next steps for the program. Public and private funds have been raised to implement major initiatives. Key focus areas include:

• Transportation: Addressing community-identified needs to ensure access for marginalized groups.
• Support for Targeted Youth: Funding initiatives like Black Leadership programs, YMCA scholarships, and college visits.
• Community Barbershop: Establish a downtown barbershop to foster community unity and promote small business
• Park Supports: Partner with Mexico Parks and Recreation to enhance recreational opportunities
• Family Engagement: Implement strategies to authentically partner with schools.
• Extended Learning: Provide tutoring and extracurricular activities outside school hours.
• Wrap-Around Services: Offer support in housing, transportation, food security, and utility relief.
• Chronic Absenteeism: Collaborative efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism.
• Post-Secondary Support: Guide students in post-secondary planning, dual enrollment, work-based learning/credentials.
• Volunteer Engagement: Strengthen volunteer programs for tutoring, mentoring, and after-school activities.

At this time, C2C is supporting the district through three grants.

Volunteer Generation Partnership

Strengthen volunteer programing in the school and the community

Provides coaching, training, resources and support to school staff and partnering organization.

• Capacity Building
• Link Crew-Connecting incoming freshman with Junior and Senior Mentors
• Mexico District Employee will receive a stipend to assist to student coordinator
• 3 year October 2023-October 2026

Staff: Volunteer Coordinator: DeAnn Gould

Full-Service Community Grant

Community Schools are a wholistic approach to education where educators, local community members, families and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development.

• Family Engagement
• Extended Learning Opportunities
• Holistic and Integrated Supports
• Collaborative Leadership

5 years January 2024-January 2029

Attendance Summit: August 6

Staff: Project Director: Linda Edwards

Site Coordinators

• Mexico High School: Cortney Constable
• Mexico Middle School: Regina Johnson
• Hawthorne Elementary: Thomas Dobyns
• McMillian Early Learning Center: Callie Paige
• Eugene Field Elementary: conducting interviews

Perkins Innovation & Modernization Grant

Strengthens connections between K-12 schools, postsecondary education and workforce development.

• Post Secondary Navigation
• Dual Credit Enrollment
• Work-based Learning
• Industry Recognized Credentials

3-5 years January 2024-January 2029

Grant held by MPSD, was reduced by Federal Government

See the full presentation here.

All items were approved as submitted. See them in detail on the agenda.

• May 20 Meeting Minutes
• Bills
• Treasurer's Report
• Building Usage Fees (CSIP 3 & CSIP 6)
• Bus Bid
• Master Service Agreement with Specialized Education of Missouri Inc.
• Contract with Kara Wieberg, DPT
• Contract with KVC Behavioral Healthcare Missouri, Inc.

The 2024-2025 Salary Protocol was approved as presented; changes to this year's salary protocol are listed on page one. Additionally, Amber Henderson, Director of Human Resources, offered an overview of the human resources onboarding process. She reviewed the onboarding handbook, which lists the entire procedure for notifying stakeholders of an open position, interviewing, and recommendations of hire.

The 2024-2025 Final Budget was approved as presented. The Director of Business Operations, Stephanie Norris, highlighted the final budget update for 2025-26. Mrs. Norris shared the budget is financial policy for the direction of business operations of the district. It provides a detailed outline of the probable expenditures and the anticipated receipts during the fiscal year. The fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30 annually. The budget is one of the most important documents of the district. It is not a static document but rather a working document that changes (through board approved budget amendments) throughout the year as actual financial data changes.

The Personnel Report was approved as presented.

Several contracts were approved and can be viewed individually in the board agenda, including Probationary Teaching Contracts, 550 Contracts, Professional Contracts, an Assistant Principal contract, and Horizontal Level Changes.

Simbli eBOARD Solutions Subscription Renewal. The annual subscription was approved for this computer program that manages board of education information, including a meetings module and an evaluation module. There was a $400 overall increase in price from the 2022-23 year.

Letter of Agreement for Professional Services with Own, Inc. 2024 Facilities Improvement Project from 2024 Bond Issue. These services include the site & topographic surveys for the 2024 Facilities Improvements Project for MHS/MMS bond improvements, including tennis facilities, softball field upgrades, drive access, building/restroom additions.

Goetechnical Engineering Services. A proposal was approved for geotechnical engineering services, including site images for building additions, concession stands, and tennis court locations for Mexico High School.

Dr. Troy Lentz offered superintendent remarks for the board. Items discussed include:

• Central Office Transition. Mrs. Chastain and Dr. Miles were thanked for their service and open communication during the superintendency transition. Dr. Lentz has focused on reviewing the budget and financial documents, the scope of the bond work, open insurance claims, and learning more about the district’s community partners.
• Facilities Updates. There are roofing projects going on in the district. District insurance are handling the claims for the high school, Hawthorne, Pearson/Wade houses, and Hart Career.
• Bond Progress. Facility Solutions Group (FSG) is working through the design process for the bond work. The district will likely receive bond proceeds in September. District admin are working with FSG and LJ Hart, the district's bond company, on the construction design and bond money parts, respectively.
• Annual Audit. The district receives an annual audit from an outside party. Audit field work with Graves and Associates begins in July with document uploads. The first significant date is July 25, 2024.
• Board Planning Sessions. In the past, the district has held board planning sessions over the summer. EGL facilitated the meetings. We are working with EGL to find open dates in July.
• Conference Athletics. On Friday June 14, 2024 NCMC superintendents and athletic directors met to discuss, Fulton’s move to the Tri-County Conference.