3 honored at Kennett School Board meeting

Three individuals associated with the Kennett School District were presented with honored during the opening minutes of the Kennett Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Coaches Aaron Bidewell and Laura Ort were presented with board commendations.

Bidewell was presented with a commendation in recognition of "exemplary character while coaching a basketball game at South Pemiscot."

Ort was presented with a commendation for being named the Bootheel Conference Volleyball Coach of the Year." Ort was unable to attend the opening of the meeting due to a scheduling conflict. She picked up her commendation after the meeting.

Board Member Linda S. Kelley was presented with a plaque in recognition of her six years of service on the Kennett School District No. 39 Board of Education. Kelley opted not to run for re-election on the upcoming ballot.

After the commendations were presented, Assistant Superintendent Chris Wilson gave his report to the board, commending the boys and girls basketball teams on a "great season."

Wilson said the players were very successful and represented the community well. He said he was also proud of the amount of support the community gave both teams.

Board Member Randy Haman said he had nothing but praise for the district for what Wilson and Coach Aaron New did in putting on the District Tournament, as the district looked outstanding and the players represented the district "fantastically." Wilson said they had an "awful lot of help."

Following Wilson, Noble informed the board that the district currently had an enrollment of 1,946 students, with an average daily attendance of 1,742.

In other matters, the board:

* Approved the Extended Contract list for the 2010-2011 school year;

* Approved appointing three members of the Kennett Board of Education -- Matthew Shetley, Chris Brannan, and Randy Haman -- to serve on the 2009-2010 Trovillion Scholarship Committee;

* Approved the future presentation of a board commendation to Jennifer Nigut for being named SEMO Elementary Counselor of the Year;

* Approved the future presentation of board commendations to student who placed at the February 19, 2010 FBLA District Competition and qualified for the state competition in April, including Meredith Combs, Ethan Seats, Jason Holsten, Steven Keho, and Randy Crawford;

* Approved the future presentation of board commendations to faculty members for their part in the students placing at the FBLA competition, including Mary Beth Carter, Mary Wyatt, and Lynette Timmons;

* Approved the future presentation of board commendations to students who placed at the recent Missouri Art Education Association Art Show and the 32nd Annual High School Art Exhibit, including Chelsea Hargrave, Brittney Williams, and Charles Gage;

* Approved three amendments to the 2009-2010 budget as requested by Cindy Carroll, bookkeeper, and;

* Approved July 31 through Aug. 8, 2010 as the summertime dead period for all Missouri State High School Activities Association sponsored activities with the first possible date for practice being Aug. 9.

The board closed the meeting by adjourning to executive session. The details of the executive session were unavailable at press time.