Mexico 59 Board of Education Update

• Beck Balsamo is the Assistant Principal at Hawthorne Elementary and has been with the district for two years.
• Charlotte Iman is the Cafeteria Manager at Eugene Field Elementary and has been with the district for 23 years.

February 15, 2024 was National School Resource Officer Day. The board recognized our SRO's Corporal Kevin Patrick and Corporal Patrick Carey.

• Approval of the Pitney Bowes NASPO ValuePoint FMV Lease Agreement. The district leases a postage machine from PitneyBowes. This lease is for a new postage machine as our current machine will be outdated soon and a new machine will be needed.
• Approval of the Tractor Supply TSC Business Account Application. With Tractor Supply Company purchasing the local Orschlen Farm and Home, the district needs to open a business account with Tractor Supply for supplies like it had at Orschlen.
• Approval of the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services Program Services Contract for the Get the lead out of school drinking water reimbursement. Districts are eligible to receive reimbursement for expenses spent on sampling, remediation, filtration, and other costs associated with complying with the Act.
• Approve the Project Lead The Way Grant Agreement for Engineering. The district was awarded a $16,000 grant for Project Lead The Way Engineering participation fees and training.
• Approve the Project Lead The Way Grant Agreement for Computer Science. The district was awarded a $14,000 grant for Project Lead The Way Computer Science participation fees and training.
• Approval of the Brightly Software Inc. order form. Brightly supplies us with our work order program for our Maintenance Department. This order form is for 3 years and it will save the district over $1,000.00.

Mexico CTA offered the annual presentation to the board. The report included recent survey results and certified and support staff comparisons.

Bulldog staff are encouraged to read their Individual Building Reports as well:

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

Selection of Board Members for the Committee Interview Group

The board selected Michelle Stephens and Matt Pilger to serve on the interview committee for superintendent interviews. Michelle Stephens was chosen to be the committee chair for the interview committee.

Superintendent Leadership Priorities Survey Results

The results from the early February school and community survey were offered to the board. The survey results were considered during the selection of the interview questions for the committee and board interviews. The survey results will also be given to the Interview Committee for consideration.

Discussion of Interview Process

A list of possible superintendent interview questions were given to the board for discussion. The board chose questions for the board interviews.

The process will move forward as follows:

• February 21: The Interview Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. to discuss interview questions and review the superintendent applications. The committee will determine who will be called for an interview. The committee is made up of six teachers (Amber Graziano, Alex Stuckenschneider, Stacey Ellison, Dale Schenewerk, Donna Butts, and one TBD), one support staff individual (Kris Fecht), two administrators (Anne Billington, Brad Ellebracht), and two board members (Michelle Stephens, Matt Pilger).
• February 24: The Interview Committee will convene and interview a determined amount of candidates (from the Feb 21 discussions). The committee will choose two candidates to move forward to interviews with the Board of Education.
• February 27 and 28: The Board of Education will interview two candidates. The candidates will first meet faculty and staff at 4:00 p.m. at Mexico High School . Then, the candidate's superintendent interview will follow. The same process will take place on the following day for a second candidate.
• February 28: The Board will make a decision regarding a candidate for superintendent. A candidate will accept the position, communicate with his/her home district, and participate in contract negotiations prior to a public release of the chosen candidate. This may take a few days.

The board approved the hiring of several individuals, including administrators.

Informational personnel items were also offered to the Board.

The 2023-2024 Budget has been amended to contain updated values closer to actual annualized figures. Revenue has been updated to include known variables where projections are made, such as Property Taxes and DESE payments. Federal Grant amounts were not finalized when the Final Budget was completed. These values have been amended as well.

Expenses have been modified to exhibit amounts that are going to be closer to actual numbers by the end of the fiscal year. Modifications represent changes from previous years, such as the cost of our Liability and Property Insurance and the fact that we did not purchase buses this year.

See the budget revision document here.

The May 21, 2024 Board Meeting falls on the same day as 8th Grade Promotion. The board voted to move the May Board of Education Meeting to Monday, May 20, 2024.