The Excelsior Springs Board of Education convened on July 9, 2024, for a brief meeting. Key discussion items included administrative updates and upcoming events.
Dr. Tomlinson announced an administrative retreat scheduled for July 31. This retreat will focus on procedures, legal changes, and an emphasis on increased teacher evaluations and regular feedback.
Board members were invited to attend the annual convocation on August 16, which will feature a retired principal as a guest speaker. The featured speaker, who was not named at the meeting, is an expert on “the use of space” and the hope is that they will be able to provide teachers and administrators with insights into effective learning spaces. After the morning convocation they will tour district building with principals providing feedback and ideas.
Board members were also invited to attend the new teacher breakfast, which will be held on August 13 at the Montgomery and will welcome approximately 30 new hires.
Construction at the Excelsior Springs Area Career Center is progressing well, funded by a grant secured by Mr. Rubey. Improvements include a secure entryway, new bathrooms, and updates to flooring and lighting. The project is reportedly ahead of schedule and under budget.
Lewis Elementary is also ahead of schedule and under budget, prompting plans for multiple open houses to showcase the progress to the community, parents, and students.
A community survey will be conducted in the fall, both online and by phone, to gather feedback from the community. The survey’s focus will be questions about potential tax increases to support staff salary raises. The board will use this data to inform decisions on potential tax increases to be used for salary adjustments.
Before adjourning the meeting, Board members were reminded of the MSBA conference, which will be held from September 17-19. The conference offers opportunities for professional development and training completion and board members were highly encouraged to attend if possible.
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