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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:

The board approved the consent agenda which included the following:

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:

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:

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:

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.

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

The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.