Scott City board joins in opposition to Amendment 3

The Scott City board of education joined several other area panels Wednesday night in passing a resolution opposing Amendment 3.

The initiative on the Nov. 4 general election ballot would, among other things, tie teacher evaluations to student performance.

In other business, the board heard from Ron Pratt, chairman of Scott City Prop Kids, who gave an update on the no-tax-increase bond issue set for a vote Nov. 4.

He told the board the committee has encouraged people to vote "yes" on the bond issue, dubbed Proposition Kids, through the use of a Facebook page and attending community organization meetings.

If passed, the bond would not change the district's current tax levy of 49 cents per $100 valuation. The bond issue would be for $1.75 million, and funds would go toward constructing and renovating entrances of existing school buildings, enhancing security, renovating the cafeteria area and completing some roof repairs.

The board also:

* Listened to a presentation by curriculum coordinator Keisha Panagos, and saw the math curriculum created by district teachers. The rewriting of the math curriculum has developed over the past couple of years to align with the Missouri Learning Standards. The spring 2015 Missouri Assessment Program and end-of-course testing are based on the learning standards. Board members last month were given usernames and passwords to review the online curriculum and voted to adopt it.

* Approved the 2013-2014 audit as presented. It was conducted by Stanley, Dirnberger, Hopper and Associates LLC.

* Superintendent Diann Ulmer distributed the most recent field report on the performing arts theater/Federal Emergency Management Agency safe room. The project is 56 percent complete and on schedule.

* With the resignation of Commissioner of Education Chris Nicastro, Ulmer encouraged the board to contact members of the State Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and legislature to request an open selection process of the new commissioner to involve interested parties across the state.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639