December BOE Meeting
The Board met on Wednesday, December 20, for their monthly meeting. Here is a recap of the meeting highlights. You can view the complete agenda and supporting documents by clicking the December 2023 BOE Agenda link.
December Board Spotlights: During their recent board meeting, the Lawson BOE has the opportunity to celebrate and recognize outstanding Lawson community members Rich Busby and Jeff Andersen.
The Board first recognized Rich Busby for his recent recognition at the state football championship games in Columbia, MO, by MSHSAA for 25 years of service as an official.
Next, the Board recognized Jeff Andersen. The Missouri Football Coaches Association recently awarded Coach Andersen the "Doug Potts Award" lifetime achievement award for his 29 years of dedication to Lawson students as a teacher, football, and wrestling coach.
Our December spotlights represent the Proud Traditions that make our school community great. #WeAreLawson
Public Comment:
Eric Klintworth – Mr. Klintworth submitted a request to address the Board following District Policy C-140-P. Mr. Klintworth's' public comment to the Board concerned the student handbook and lack of enforcement of the rules within the handbook.
Randy Hartman – Mr. Hartman provided public comment to the Board concerning the April 2, 2024, No-Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue Resolution set for Board discussion during the December meeting. Mr. Hartman asked the Board to ensure accuracy in sharing the bond language with the community.
Items for Discussion:
2022-2023 Fiscal Audit: The Board approved the 2022-2023 fiscal audit by Clevenger and Associates. The audit showed that the School District is in a solid financial position and that all expenditures and revenues are correctly accounted for.
Early Childhood Programming 2024-2005: The Board approved expanding our Early Childhood Programs to include a state-approved preschool for children ages three and four beginning in Fall 2024. The approval of expansion and becoming recognized as a state program allows the district to utilize resources that are otherwise unavailable for such program expansion. The expanded services will allow us to expand our services to meet the needs of approximately 25 additional children ages three and up starting in Fall 2024.
Career Education Expansion 2024-2025: The Board approved the expansion of our career education programming to include Agricultural Education beginning in the Fall of the 2024-2025 school year. Establishing a plan to update curriculum offerings to engage students in career exploration was listed as a priority goal by the Board for the 2023-2024 school year. The Board of Education created the priority goal based on feedback provided through interest surveys connected to a desire by our school community to seek the expansion of career exploration programming to include agricultural education. The new program will require continuous work to meet students' needs and satisfy our school community's wishes. The School District is currently accepting applications for the teaching position connected to the program. Detailed information related to the position can be found on our District website or by clicking the following link: TalentEd.
April 2024 No-Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue Resolution: The Board approved to place a $6,000,000 No-Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue on the April 2, 2024 ballot. The Board set "Preparing for the long-range facility needs of the School District as a priority goal for the 2023-2024 school year. Over the past 12+ months, we have worked on a plan to meet the district's deferred maintenance, safety, and long-range facility needs. We have used the expertise of Incite Design to evaluate current facilities and determine needed maintenance projects. They have also assisted the district with collecting data on areas of concern from staff members, administrators, and the Board. The district has hosted public meetings to gain input from the community regarding needs and goals. The district also utilized a facilities improvement survey with all stakeholders to achieve greater focus on what is needed and wanted in our school district both today and in the future. The proposed resolution and the final ballot language ballot fulfill the needs of the projects determined as a priority through the use of all the above-listed approaches. In the coming weeks and months, we will share information about these projects and how they benefit our school community.
Items for information:
Review of Climate and Culture Survey Data – Fall 2023: Results from our district-wide Fall 2023 Climate and Culture Survey were reviewed with the Board. This is our second year to utilize our survey with parents/guardians, students, and staff. The collected data is a valuable tool for understanding the dynamics within our school community, identifying areas for improvement, and fostering a positive learning environment.
Long-range Financial Planning: The Board was provided with a four-year budget projection starting with our current 2023-2024 school year and running through the 2026-2027 school year. The Board was also provided a written report on how each budget item was projected. All information can be found using the paperless board meeting link. In brief, here is an explanation of what was reported: the next 3+ years will prove to be stable for the overall financial outlook of our school district. However, we will need to continue to assess cost-saving methods to continue providing the required and wanted programs for all students in preK-12 grade. Expanding early childhood and high school career education programs is a priority goal for the districts. It is seen to be necessary to continue providing a high-quality learning environment tailored to our community's needs. These programs will be paid for using state ADA increases, federal early childhood reimbursement programs, and local funding mechanisms. In addition, staff recruitment and retention will continue to be a focus of the school district. The district has and will continue to create a culture that people want to be a part of by providing teachers' support in and out of the classroom as they grow as educators and seek to expand their craft.
Superintendent Update: Dr. Stephenson updated the Board on various topics relevant to the district's overall success, which can be viewed using the provided paperless board meeting link.
Additional Announcements:
January Meeting Date - The next BOE meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17, 2023, at 6pm in the Lawson Library Media Center.
Please contact Dr. Stephenson with questions or concerns regarding any information provided in this recap or other district matters. He can be reached by email at stephensonm@lawsoncardinals.org or by phone at (816)-580-7277.