New Kennett District No. 39 board members, from left, Randy Haman, Chris Wake, and Eules Hively, take the oath of office at Monday's board meeting. [Click to enlarge]

Matt Shetley was elected board president. Matthew Poole was elected board vice-president. Donna Haman was elected board secretary. Phyllis Palmer was elected treasurer.

Two particular items of business were the focus of much of the discussion at the meeting Tuesday. One of those items of business was a topic of much discussion at the board's March meeting also. The topic was weighted classes.

At the board's March meeting, Superintendent Jerry Noble recommended that the board approve the graduating class of 2010 being allowed to take all seven weighted classes offered by the district, if a student wished to do so, but that the number of classes which would be weighted would be limited to six.

Noble made the same recommendation at Monday's meeting. Both times, Noble's recommendation failed to receive a motion or a second.

Noble offered the recommendation a second time because, after he had investigated allegations of certain students being permitted to take weighted classes earlier than is suggested by the district while others were denied that opportunity, he and his administration thought the recommendation would be the most appropriate way to attempt to rectify the situation with all parents concerned.

Kennett resident Paul T. Combs addressed the board concerning the weighted classes issue and encouraged the board to take no action regarding weighted classes and to let stand earlier decisions by school administrators.

No one with an opposing point of view presented it.

The second topic receiving considerable discussion at the meeting was cell phones. The administration brought to the board a recommendation to ban student possession and use of cell phones during regular school hours.

High School Principal Ed Siebenhuener and Middle School Principal Ward Billings both addressed the recommendation from the administration's point of view, along with Noble.

Siebenhuener noted for board members that during the first semester there were 74 cell phone violations and during the second semester, so far, there have been 92 violations. Siebenhuener commented that the board's present policies are not effective.

Billings also noted that issues the board should consider regarding the use of cell phones by students were theft of cell phones, academic credibility and the fact that, in his opinion, it is only a matter of time before a more serious issue develops over the students' ability to seemingly at will disregard the school's current policy regarding the use of cell phones during regular school hours.

Noble commented that his administration at least wanted to bring areas of concern to the board's attention so that, if more serious issues arise, at least the board has been made aware of the potential of those issues.

At the suggestion of board president Matt Shetley, the board agreed to appoint a committee to examine the school's policy regarding cell phones and to return to the board with recommendations. That motion carried.

Noble discussed with the board the fact that the district's health insurance premiums increased by 10.5 percent. He told the board that he is gathering information from various companies to share with the board regarding options available for addressing the increase in cost.

The board also approved moving the location of the district's alternative school to the high school campus beginning next school year.

In other business:

Accepted the resignation of Rick Bell as the KHS soccer coach,

Accepted the resignations of Debra Garrett and Donna Winston, who will be retiring at the end of this school year,

Accepted the resignations of Deb Cleveland, Jennifer Farmer, April Franks, and Missy Harris, effective at the end of this school year, because they have accepted positions elsewhere,

Accepted employing the following new teachers: Tammy Neel, third grade teacher, Megan Leist, KMS counselor secretary, Debra Lyons, half-time KMS communication arts teacher, Larry Bond, part-time KHS assistant band instructor, Melanie Dickenson, KHS communication arts/Spanish instructor, Robert Gill, part-time KHS science teacher, Dena Johnson, KHS Spanish teacher, Nicole Imel, first grade teacher, Holly Jo Wallace, first grade teacher, Mary Wyatt, business education teacher, and all classified personnel who plan to return for the next school year,

Approved a recommendation to count non-resident students participating in the Summer School Program as resident rather than charging tuition,

Approved a recommendation to credit summer school course offerings at the secondary level,

Approved a recommendation to elect a Kennett 39 board member to serve on the Kennett Educational Foundation Board of Trustees,

Approved a recommendation to appoint a Kennett 39 board member to serve as the liaison to the Professional Development Committee,

Approved the firm of Robertson, Scherer and Collins, LLP, to conduct the audit of the Kennett School District financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2008,

Approved designating the date, time and place for the April 2008, through April 2009, regular monthly meetings of the Kennett 39 Board of Education to meet at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Kennett High School Media Center,

Approved a Missouri School Board Association delegate and alternate for the 2008-2009 school year,

Approved continued cooperation with Lawrence E. Smith and Associates in allowing them to participate in the district's student insurance program at the same rate and coverage levels as 2007-2008,

Approved granting permission to Assistant Superintendent Chris Wilson to accept bids for the district to purchase two school buses for the 2008-2009 school year, one 72-passenger bus and one 28-passenger bus,

Approved an amendment to the 2007-2008 budget relating to CA Purchased Services/Equipment/CA Supplies submitted by Brandon Burke, technology coordinator,

Approved adding Vickie Ratliff to the Travel Expense List for Certified Personnel to receive travel reimbursement,

Approved presenting board commendations to the following per the request of Kim Lowry, South Elementary Principal: Jennifer Nigut, MAP testing, Mika Pellham, school yearbook [volunteer], and Bea Wallace, custodial work performance,

Approved a direct deposit agreement for the issuance of bonds as required by law,

Approved the Control Technology and Solutions Agreement, which provides details and responsibilities of CTS and Kennett District No. 39 regarding the renovations of the high school.

The board also congratulated Jessica Greenway, a KHS senior, on being selected as the regional winner of the John T. Belcher Memorial Scholarship offered by the Missouri School Boards' Association.

The board ended the open portion of the monthly meeting and met in executive session.