Skip Vandelicht and Matt Hudson were re-elected as President and Vice-President, respectively, of the Fayette R-III Board of Education at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 20. This will be Vandelicht’s second term as President and Hudson’s third term as Vice-President.

Along with the assignment of President and Vice-President, other roles were distributed. Hudson and John Stroupe were sworn in as returning board members. Both men were unopposed in their bids for second terms on the board. Jackie Besgrove was appointed as the acting treasurer, and Trish Elliott was sworn in as the board secretary.

There were also some changes made to the board committee assignments—Aaron Bentley moved to policy, Vandelicht moved to finance, and Hudson moved to facilities.

Superintendent Jill Wiseman presented the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) report. A CSIP is defined by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as “the tool districts utilize to prioritize improvement needs in order for students to graduate ready for success.”

She reported that while the school has not yet received student achievement data, it did receive its ACT average composite score from 2019-2020. The score showed improvement, going from a 20.90 in 2018-2019 to a 22 in 2019-2020. 

College and career readiness scores were all categorized as either reaching the district goal or advancing it. For example, the graduation rate for 2019-2020 was 97.06%.

Survey results showed that student engagement and satisfaction remained high as well—all numbers were either reaching the goal or nearing it. The CSIP report also displayed adequate attendance levels, and generally satisfied parents and staff.

“Overall, I’m pleased with how this works out. I think it gives us a good, quick snapshot of how we’re progressing towards our overall goals,” Wiseman said.

The Building Administration report stated that as of April 21, 2021, high school enrollment is at 183 students and that 82.51% of the students have been counted present at least 90% of the time.

Wiseman’s Superintendent Report included information about the Bayer Fund, which is issuing $2,500 to the Agriculture Department. The report also informed the board that Wiseman had applied for ESSER II funds in the amount of $560,573. The school plans on using that money to pay for salary costs originally budgeted to come out of Fund 1 this year. The ESSER II fund will also free up money to go toward the upgrading of the school’s HVAC systems. Wiseman predicts that the legislature should appropriate those funds by May.

The board approved a quote of $48,355.25 from Christensen Construction of Columbia for a new asphalt overlay in the Daly/Clark back parking lot. That money would repair, stripe, and overlay the entire lot.

“I think it’ll be great to get that redone,” Vandelicht said.

The board gave approval for the pursuit of a grant from the Fayette Area Community Trust (FACT) for $3,775. If awarded it will pay for five mobile tables and 20 chairs for the high school library. Members also approved an application for $4,000 to the Dollar General Grant. If awarded it will go toward Level 1 books for the first-grade level library.

The Fayette R-III School Board of Education will meet again for its regular monthly meeting on May 19. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and the public is invited.