New Jackson superintendent seeks more 'lines of communication'

At the Jackson School Board meeting Tuesday, the district's new superintendent, John Link, said officials are working to open "lines of communication" between the schools and community.

"We'll soon have a district-level Facebook page and Twitter page, and we're going to try to push our coaches and our staff to do us well," he said. "We want to get good things out there, and we have to meet the people where they're at, and right now they're on social media."

The district also will begin sending weekly electronic letters to board members and the community to give an update on what is happening at the schools, Link said.

"The coordination is going to be a little tougher because of all the activities we have going on, but I think we're good for the chore," he said.

Link replaced Ron Anderson, who retired as superintendent in June after 16 years with the district. Link was superintendent of the Fair Grove School District, about 10 miles northeast of Springfield, Missouri, for nine years.

At the meeting, the board also made changes to several board policies, after recommendations made by the Missouri School Boards Association because of legislation passed or for clarification.

Beth Emmendorfer, associate superintendent of student services, said some of the updated policies included only one changed word.

In the district wellness program explanation, it was clarified only food sold, not served, to students must meet the nutrition standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The board also approved minor changes to the professional and support staff sick-leave pools, as well as revised and adopted its board member conflict of interest and financial disclosure policy.

The board approved a new policy that was recommended by the MSBA after the passage of legislation. The policy was written to be applicable to all invited speakers and to include the required provisions of House Bill 1303, which requires school districts to adopt a policy that:

• Establishes a "limited public forum for student speakers at all school events at which a student is to publicly speak."
• Requires the district to "provide a method, based on neutral criteria, for the selection of student speakers at school events and graduation ceremonies."
• Requires the district to "ensure that a student speaker does not engage in obscene, vulgar, offensively lewd or indecent speech."
• Requires the district to "state, in writing, orally or both that the student's speech does not reflect the endorsement, sponsorship, position or expressions of the district."

The board then approved the addition of Link's name to the district's bank account.

Board members also recognized Jackson High School's industrial technology department, which earned the Missouri State Industrial Technology Championship award, along with several individual student awards earlier this year.

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

614 E. Adams St., Jackson, Mo.