West Central School Board Discusses Hope Squad Program

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West Central School Board Discusses Hope Squad Program

At the Wednesday, October 20, 2021, meeting of the West Central C.U.S.D. #235 Board of Education heard a presentation from School Psychologist Mallory Nelson regarding the implementation of a Hope Squad Program at West Central Middle School and West Central High School. Hope Squad is a peer to peer Suicide Prevention Program supervised by trained staff within the school district. In the 2020-2021 school year, West Central received a $10,000 donation from the Jamie Robbins Foundation. A portion of these funds would be used to implement this program and train staff. The board approved the implementation of a Hope Squad Suicide Prevention Program as presented.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the West Central Elementary School cafeteria by Board President Brendan Schaley, with all board members present at roll call. Also present were Nancy Clark, Board Secretary; Superintendent Markey; WCHS Principal Jason Kirby; WCHS Assistant Principal Joel Zaiser; WCMS Principal Joe Peters; WCES Principal Kathy Lafary; WCES Assistant Principal Sara Ryner; School Psychologist Mallory Nelson; IT Wade Alexander; Music Teacher Matt Stewart; Parents Brian Kelly and Stephanie Evans; and Students Brooklynn Miller and Ryleigh Harris.

Under Good News Items the following items were highlighted:

West Central Elementary School 5th grade students attended Safety Day sponsored by the Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau.
West Central Elementary School students participated in Ag Day. A big thanks was given to the West Central High School FFA members and the local presenters for making this a wonderful learning experience for our students.
West Central Middle School placed 3rd place at State!
ŞMr. Peters acknowledged and thanked Amy Olson for all her work with West Central Middle School softball team going to state as well as Kathy Lafary and Paula Markey for chaperoning the fan bus.
West Central Elementary School 5th grade students had a great experience attending Biz Town.
West Central C.U.S.D. #235 received $63,478.32 in Emergency Connectivity Funds (ECF). These funds will be used to purchase Chromebooks and hot spots.

The board approved the consent agenda which included the following:

The minutes of the September 22, 2021 FY22 District Budget Hearing
he minutes of the September 22, 2021, Regular Meeting and Closed Session
The September 2021 bills, September 2021 Building Activity Account Reports, the September 2021 Treasurer's Report, and review of the District Financial Report. We are 25% into the FY22 fiscal year. We have received 64.9% of our anticipated revenue and have expended 20.1% of our budgeted expenditures.

Superintendent Markey updated the board regarding potential wrap designs for the West Central High School press box in memory of Mr. Dick Goff.

In other business the board:

reviewed and heard reports from the building principals as well as a Technology Report from Mrs. Frakes and Mr. Alexander, School Psychologist and Special Education Coordinator Mallory Nelson and an Athletic Report from Joel Zaiser.
heard a presentation from Mr. Zaiser and some WCHS students requesting approval to create a WCHS Varsity Club. The Board approved their request as presented.
approved the FY21 District audit report as presented. West Central C.U.S.D. #235 received a Total Profile Score of heard a presentation from Mr. Zaiser and some WCHS students requesting approval to create a WCHS Varsity Club. The Board approved their request as presented.
approved the FY21 District audit report as presented. West Central C.U.S.D. #235 received a Total Profile Score of 4.00 out of 4.00 and a Financial Profile Designation of RECOGNITION. The following was thanked, the District office staff Nancy Clark, Shelly Nelson, and Jaime Shultz and the building secretaries and administration for their outstanding work to ensure accurate record keeping.
approved the WCMS School-wide Title I plan as presented.
approved increasing the rate of pay for substitute cooks, substitute custodians, and substitute paraprofessionals to coincide with the CBA base pay for those respective positions for each current fiscal year as presented.
approved increasing the rate of pay for substitute teachers to $110 per day as presented.
approved establishing a Special Education Bus Monitor position to receive the same benefits and be compensated the same as a paraprofessional as presented.

The board entered closed session at 6:52 p.m. to discuss the following topics:

A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.

B. Collective negotiating matters between the school board and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

C. The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.

The board exited closed session at 7:25 p.m. and took the following action in regards to personnel:

approved the maternity leave request from Jennifer Johnson as presented,
approved the leave request from Mary Parsons as presented,
accepted the resignation of Sebeth Dolph as a District Custodian as presented and with thanks for her service to the District,
accepted the resignation of Erin (White) McCannon as a District Associate as presented,
accepted the resignation of Rhonda Blender as a WCES Part-time Title I Associate as presented,
approved the employment of Laura Lewis as a Homebound Instructor as presented,
approved the employment of Cindy Nesbitt as a Substitute Cook as presented, pending completion of all pre-employment requirements,
approved the employment of Brenda (Pollock) Lox as a Substitute Cook as presented, pending completion of all pre-employment requirements,
approved the employment of Makayla Mabe as a Substitute Custodian as presented, pending completion of all pre-employment requirements,
approved the employment of Amy Nigh as a Special Education Bus Monitor as presented, pending completion of all pre-employment requirements,
accepted the resignation of Tyler Klossing as the WCHS Assistant Boys' Basketball Coach as presented and with thanks for his service to the District,
accepted the resignation of Emilee Roarke as the WCMS 7th Grade Girls' Basketball Coach as presented and with thanks for her service to the District,
approved the employment of Tyler Jones as the WCHS Assistant Boys' Basketball Coach as presented, pending completion of all pre-employment and coaching requirements,
approved the employment of Joel Zaiser as the WCMS 7th Grade Girls' Basketball Coach as presented, pending completion of all coaching requirements,
approved the employment of Dustin Parker as the WCMS 7th Grade Boys' Basketball Coach as presented, pending completion of all coaching requirements,
approved the employment of Brian Kane as the WCMS 8th Grade Boys' Basketball Coach as presented, pending completion of all pre-employment and coaching requirements,
approved the employment of Tyler Klossing as the 6th Grade Girls' Basketball Coach as presented, pending completion of all coaching requirements, and
approved a one-year administrative contract for Sara Ryner as presented.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the West Central Elementary cafeteria.

The board entered closed session at 7:37 p.m. to discuss the following topics:

B. Collective negotiating matters between the school board and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

The board exited closed session at 8:00 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.