Board rates new superintendent, approves bus bid

GENTRY -- The school board, on Jan. 15, evaluated and rehired Terrie Metz as the school district superintendent for another year and approved a bid for a new school bus.

Following an executive session evaluating Metz' job performance in her first year as the Gentry School District superintendent, the board rated her at achieving 2.5 out of a possibility of 3.0 in achieving board goals for the first six months in her new role as district superintendent.

According to Coye Cripps, board president, a 2.5 reflects progressing toward the proficiency rating of 3.0. The board will set goals for Metz at its February board meeting.

The board approved the low bid of Summit Busses for the purchase of a new school bus for the district. Summit's bid was $92,994.99. Other higher bids were received from Midwest Bus Services and Central States Busses.

Following a presentation by Casey Jones, the high school choir director, the board approved a choir trip to Memphis, Tenn., from April 27-29. Members of the Women's Ensemble and the Varsity Singers will be included in the spring trip. The preliminary itinerary includes possibly singing at St. Jude's Children's Hospital, pairing with a Memphis area high school with the choir directors exchanging choirs and conducting workshops, and a visit to Graceland in Memphis.

The estimated cost of the trip was approximately $8,000, with the money being raised by choir members. The district's only obligation would be to provide use of a bus for the trip.

Christie Toland, the assistant superintendent, reported that the high school conversion charter had achieved six of the 10 goals the conversion charter is required to achieve for its charter-school status. She said the school had four more years to achieve all 10 goals and she believed the school was on course to achieve those goals within that time frame.

The goals involved increasing the numbers of students graduating with college credit; increasing the numbers of those going on to college, a technical school or entering the workforce with a job paying more than the minimum wage; meeting or exceeding the state averages for writing, language and reading; having all juniors (except those with special education or parental accommodations) take the ACT test and meet or exceed the state average composite score; having 60 percent or more graduating seniors meet the ACT college readiness benchmark; increasing the number of seniors graduating with an industry certification; and meeting or exceeding the state average on the state-mandated assessment for math.

The school district goals yet to be met included meeting or exceeding the state average on the math assessment, reaching 60 percent of seniors meeting the ACT college readiness benchmark, meeting or exceeding the state average on the state assessment for writing, and increasing the number of graduating seniors who attend college or technical school or enter the workforce at a wage greater than the minimum wage.

In other business, Jason Barrett, the school district's transportation and maintenance director, reported that the closeout documents were being completed on the Gentry Career and Technical Education Center and that work on the intermediate school classroom facility was on schedule.

Cripps suggested a number of ways to improve the school district's image in the region, including door greeters at the games and people helping anyone with special needs or disabilities. He said it was time to quit making excuses and get onboard in the effort to make the school district the best it can be and to make it known for excellence and for caring.

General News on 01/24/2018