Mexico 59 Board of Education Update

This monthly update will be sent prior to noon the day after the board meeting. These are the highlights. If there is something not mentioned for which you need more information, please email communications@mexico.k12.mo.us.

Congratulations to Taylor Alexander and Ed Costley for being selected as the September Employees of the Month. Taylor is a paraprofessional at MELC and has been with the district for two years. Ed is a PE teacher at MHS and has been with the district for 21 years.

The Mexico CTA reported to the Board about their role for the 2023-24 school year. Jennifer Barnett is the CTA President.

The purpose of CTA is to build positive community amongst each other and to support each other as educational professionals. Barnett introduced CTA Officers and CTA members in attendance at the meeting last night as well as naming each building's reps for this school year.

She shared the purpose and goals for upcoming year:

• Bring staff members together to celebrate each others' successes
• Provide opportunities to collaborate
• Offer solutions to resolve issues that may occur with staff members
• Build comraderies among staff members

CTA continues to work on the goals above and incorporate new things.

• Provide breakfast for New Teacher Institute
• Led a fun all-staff game on the District day and gave away gift cards
• Host monthly challenges for staff in the CTA Facebook Group
• Provide appreciation gifts for staff members
• Hold quarterly executive team meetings for open comms between teachers and Co
• Offer mini grants for staff members
• Offer senior scholarships for students going into education
• Host and plan the annual Turkey Turnover Dinner (since 1967!)

CTA has two committees that work with CO and admin to ensure alignment when the board receives proposals. There is a focus from CTA and CO on getting support staff involved in these committee and proposals.

• Calendar Committee
• Salary and Welfare Committee

If you have questions for CTA, please reach out to your building reps or contact Jennifer Barnett.

Chris Jerden, with Facility Solutions Group (FSG), presented to the Board of Education on the projects for a future bond. The information provided by Mr. Jerden is informational at this time. The Board will vote at a future date on the ballot language and projects.

The board hired FSG last school year to be the design and construction administration team. FSG reps walked through all school buildings with the maintenance department between December 2021 and February of 2022, reviewing existing deficiencies in buildings and visiting with school principals about what is needed. Rough cost estimates and reports were made at that time, also referring to projects on the district long-range plans. A punch list from these items was created; a few have already been completed by the maintenance department, such as the intercoms.

Some projects are cycle maintenance projects, looked at due to age. Safety and security projects and building renovations are also on the list. Projects will be prioritized and organized by need, timing of school schedules, and bids to construction companies and would likely take a few years to complete.

Bond monies can only be used on the scope of projects listed in ballot language. The district is working with FSG on project management and with L.J. Hart on the finance management and bond language. You may see representatives from FSG in or around your buildings in the coming months.

More information will be forthcoming as we move through the bond process. A draft timeline was also offered to the board.

Individual building reports were offered to the Board. These are the first reports for this school year. Staff members are encouraged to read their building-level reports.

• MELC
• EF
• HAW
• MMS
• MHS
• MEC
• HCC

An annual update of the food service program by Mrs. Joyce Fenner, Food Service Director, was offered for board review. Our food services department served a total of 222,938 meals in 2022-23, which incerased by over 1400 meals from the previous year. View the annual participation data here.

Personnel was approved as submitted. Extra duty contracts and substitutes were also approved.

New hires include:

• Alison Clifton, Title I Teacher
• Kimberly Walden, Nurse
• Yvonne Hettel, Paraprofessional
• Alexis Cornell, Paraprofessional
• Anna Richardson, Director of Technology
• John Gaug, Computer Technician

View the full listing here.

The 2023C Policy Updates were presented for a first reading and all information is listed in the board agenda, item 8d. Policies include:

• Policy AC: Prohibition against illegal discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
• Policy BBF: School Board Member Ethics
• Policy BBBA-1: Board Member Qualifications
• Policy EF: Food Service Management