Board of Education Meeting, March 19, 2026
The Mt. Vernon R-V School District Board of Education met in regular session on March 19, 2026.
What an exciting board meeting we had at Mt. Vernon this month! We had students and staff representing several activities across the district! What a way to showcase all of the great things happening at MV Schools!
Celebrations & Student Spotlights
- MV-MVP Recognition: The board recognized the MVP for March, Mrs. Trish Johnston. Thank you Mrs. Johnston for your service to MV Schools. You have truly made a positive impact on those around you!
Mrs. Johnston is the epitome of an MV MVP. Her room is the hub of our school; each and every student can walk into the media center and feel welcome. While her retirement is in the near future, Mrs. J took on the task of completely renovating and re-shelving the books for a new, fresh take on her library.
I think every staff member and MVHS would agree that Trish is the go-to resource for at least one aspect of their teaching. She has a helping hand in so many of the goings-on within our school and her willingness to help others is always done with a tone of friendliness and a servant attitude.
Mrs. Johnston has been the constant in our building for over 20 years; she's seen many new heads of leadership and has served each and every one of them diligently and unwaveringly. If there is a task that needs to be done, she is ready to serve our school, our teachers, and our administration without hesitation.
Through her role as the Student Council sponsor, she has helped raise money for Children's Emergency Services during countless Snowball Dances, honored our treasured custodian, Don Tillman, through our Tillman Classic Junior/Senior games and been an aide to the intermediate school during Track Day, using her incredible Student Council students to assist with the execution on the day of the event.
There is simply no one more deserving of the Mt. Vernon MVP than Mrs. J; a true pillar of our school.
- Student Advisory Presentation: Members of the Student Advisory Committee presented information regarding the High School Library makeover and circulation numbers.
- National JAG Qualifier: Congratulations to Carson Atwood, who qualified for the National JAG (Jobs for America's Graduates) competition! He will travel to Salt Lake City in late April to represent Mt. Vernon on the national stage.
Superintendent’s Report
- Attendance Update: February attendance stood at 92.75%. While the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) of 1,277.60 is nearly identical to last year, it showed a slight decrease.
- Legislative Watch (Senate Bill 3): Information was given regarding a 0% tax freeze proposal on the April ballot. If passed, primary residence taxes would not rise due to property values (though voter-approved levies still apply). The district is coordinating a united message with other Lawrence County organizations, as this could impact school funding by over $1.8 million over five years, and $362,462 yearly starting in 2027.
- School Grade Cards: New state legislation is refining an "A-F" rating system for schools based on achievement and graduation rates. The committee is still working on criteria to be able to communicate with all stakeholders, but are recommending only about 10% of schools qualify for an "A."
Departmental & Program Reports
The board received updates from several elective and extracurricular programs:
- Fine Arts & Drama: Reports were provided on the Instrumental Music (Band), Vocal Music (Choir), and Drama programs. Students from each program were here to discuss the events and celebrations in each program. Mr. Weinzerl, Mrs. McBaine, and Ms. Hazleton all were here or had students here to provide information on how students are participating in each program.
- Agriculture & FFA: Leadership from the Ag department updated the board on recent FFA activities, awards, and achievements. Mr. Dennis, Mrs. Johnston, and Mr. Shepherd were with the leadership team. FFA and the Ag Department both have students in multiple activities and competitions. This program and its individuals have seen great success this year, and they are continuing on with many other activities year round.
- Athletics: Spring coaches attended to preview the upcoming seasons for our student-athletes.
Business & Operations
- Health Insurance Renewal: The board reviewed a continuation with the Show-Me Benefit Consortium. While rates will see a modest increase (6.8% for individuals and 8% for families ), the district will see a 3.96% increase and continue to provide fully paid insurance options. Mercy PPO or Cox HSA fully paid, with only an $11 fee monthly for employees that choose the Cox PPO instead. There is also an option for an employee to choose both Cox and Mercy on a plan for an additional cost.
- This will be $577 per employee, $6,924 annually.
- The district currently provides fully paid insurance to 202 employees.
- Food Service: The annual renewal of the Food Service Management Contract was reviewed; this marks the fourth of a four-year agreement to provide student meals.
Academic Innovations
- New Science Courses: To promote Real World Learning, the board reviewed proposals for two new High School courses: Applied Hydroponics and Principles of Biomedical Sciences. Mrs. Amelia Ballock and Mr. Khelon Hayes were here to present the new course of studies and how they will incorporate those into the curriculum. This is an exciting opportunity for our students. There are several opportunities in other areas, and with the help of a RWL committee, staff members have taken the initiative to find and expand on new opportunities.
- Strategic Planning: Liz Elsey provided an update on the CSIP (Continuous School Improvement Plan). Stakeholders from all aspects of the the school community, including business owners, parents, and community members all met for the Spring CSIP meeting on March 9. Portrait of a MT’NEER will be communicated once finalized.
As we prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, we are pleased to announce several internal transitions and new additions to our district team. These changes reflect our commitment to placing experienced educators where they can best serve our students.
Internal Transitions
Several familiar faces will be moving into new roles across the district:
- Mike Koenig: Transitioning from 6th Grade Social Studies to 6th Grade Science.
- Amanda Boettler: Moving from Early Childhood Special Education to High School English, Speech, and Debate.
- Anna Vandever: Transitioning from Elementary Special Education to 6th Grade Math.
- Jeff Piepenbrink: Moving from Middle School Social Studies to lead the Weights program.
- Rachel Zerby: Will transition to the High School Media Center next year.
New Hires
We are excited to welcome the following individuals to our district.
- Lacy Wiehe (6th Grade Social Studies): A former Mt. Vernon para-professional, Mrs. Wiehe returns to the district after teaching in Greenfield for the last four years.
- Taylor Ezell (Kindergarten): A Mt. Vernon graduate, Mrs. Ezell joins us from Pierce City Schools to fill the vacancy in our Kindergarten department.
- Maddie Roberts (Elementary Special Education): Joins the Elementary team to fill a vacancy in the Sped department.
- Michael Hare (High School Custodian): After serving as a long-term substitute, Mr. Hare has been recommended for the permanent custodial position.
- Ethan Johnston (Volunteer Assistant Baseball): Returns to be an assistant part time to support our High School baseball program.
The next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 7:00 in the Mt. Vernon R-V Boardroom.