Nodaway-Holt

The Nodaway-Holt R-VII School Board met on February 15 to approve personnel and conduct the following business:

Shawn Emerson was hired to be the new high school principal following the resignation of High School Principal Ethan Sickles.

Resignations were also accepted from Autumn Steinhardt, English, and Hannah Haffecke, first grade.

Physical education teacher Clay James will retire at the end of the school year.

Crystal Welsh was reassigned as the band and vocal music director.

Superintendent Karma Coleman gave an update on federal and state policies and bills concerning education that could be passed.

The school district will need to raise lunch prices next year due to count numbers. No action was taken.

There was no health insurance rate increase this year.

Northwest Cell is placing a sign that says “Do not text and drive” in the school parking lot.

Stacy Calfee, teacher, gave a report on the school’s ACT prep class program. Students have been meeting before and after school and throughout the summer. In August, every junior in the school took the ACT. This was the first year that it was required for all juniors. The school placed above the state average in all areas.

The 2017-2018 school calendar was approved.

Senior Carey Volner was the recipient of the MUSIC scholarship.

Due to the need of having maintenance personnel at the school during the school day, it was decided to keep a separate van driver position and not combine the jobs.

Senior class president Ali Shewey presented the itinerary and budget for the senior class trip. The board approved the trip to Branson for May 3-5.

Two students, Maggie Fuhrman and Miranda Partridge, reported to the board about their experiences while FCCLA job shadowing state representatives.

Tillie Stanton placed third in the FBLA contest and will advance to state in April.

Sidney Leeper and Katie Brashears earned gold in the FCCLA star events and will advance to state.

Three different companies looked over the Graham building’s boiler and all of them agreed the boiler should be able to make it through another school year without a major issue. The board will spend the year researching alternative permanent heating options.