Rocket Review
Monthly Newsletter Update - January 2024
Happy New Year!
Greetings All,
I hope this writing finds you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after the Holiday Season. I want to encourage you to be involved in the happenings of the School District. Our next Board meeting is on January the 10th. We will present the calendar for the 24-25 school year. The proposal is to continue the four-day week. If you have comments you would like to make in regard to the calendar, please let me know as we do two readings of the calendar before the Board approves it.
There were two seats open for the Board election in April this year. The two incumbents were the only ones to file for the two open seats. Therefore, we will not have a Board election in April. The two incumbents will be sworn in at the April meeting and continue their terms. I would like to thank the present members of the Board for their service and dedication to the success and safety of West Nodaway students.
The district has received its annual APR (Annual Performance Report) from the State. While we have some room for improvement we are in a solid position. See the table below for a comparison of conference and local districts of the overall score.
The Board has determined it is necessary to place a Bond issue on the April ballot. The language on the ballot will be as follows: Shall the Board of Education of the West Nodaway County R-I School District, Missouri, without an estimated increase in the current debt service property tax levy, borrow money in the amount of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) for the purpose of providing funds to replace roofs and improve insulation; to repair and/or replace sewer lines; to upgrade the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at the High School; to the extent funds are available, complete other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the District; and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof?
If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the School District is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.6542 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
For explanation purposes, I would tell you that the districts levy is made up of two parts. A levy and a Bond. The levy is permanent, if not renewed the Bond goes away. When you look at the West Nodaway tax rates by fund the permanent levy is listed as Incidental and the Bond is listed as Debt Service. When the Board has the tax rate hearing every year they really set two levies. They set an Incidental and a Debt Service levy. These two make up the total levy.
I have used the phrase with you before “Bonds are for Building and Levies are for Learning.” This is a good explanation because the Incidental levy pays for salaries and all things learning, while the Debt Service levy pays for building projects. This is why Bonds are usually passed for a specific time period. They are allowed to be added to and to extend or may expire.
History and wisdom tell us that a district never really wants to let a bond expire because if you have a major construction issue you will struggle to have the funds to pay for it without a bond. Therefore, just as West Nodaway has continually done, the patrons of the district have voted to renew their bond every so many years. Historically for West Nodaway this appears to happen on the average of about every 5 years.
If a district has a bond for construction purposes and they wish to add to it or extend the time, these items are put on the ballot and ran as a no tax increase item. For example, the West Nodaway R-I district has 0.6542 cents in debt service. If patrons voted to extend this for a period of years to pay for a project the total levy would stay the same. The time to pay the 0.6542 cents would just be extended rather than expiring.
As the time for April election approaches, more information will be provided in regard to this Bond issue and the need for it. If you have any questions, please stop by the district office or see a Board Member.
Respectfully,
Dr. Barnes
Happy New Year Rockets! I hope everyone had an eventful holiday season. I am very excited to get the 2nd semester of the school year started.
I would like to thank the elementary PTO who helped with our formal Christmas dinner and who helped support Santa Clause who gave every student and pair of Christmas Socks. I would also like to give a special shout out to our elementary student council that did several fun events in December. These events included a coloring contest, dress up days, and ornaments for all our student body. Great job Elementary STUCO!
Please remember to make sure students are dressed appropriately for the weather. I wish it wasn’t the case, but our coldest days are still ahead of us. We will be taking students outside for recess anytime the wind chill is 25 degrees or above. Please make sure that students have coats, hats, gloves, long pants, and are prepared for cold weather.
I would also like to remind everyone to please notify the office when your student is sick or missing
school. When you have a doctor’s note for absences it’s important to turn in a copy of the note to the office upon returning to school. If your child has missed several days, please make sure the doctor’s note signifies all time frames in which school was missed.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 9th - 3rd grade breakfast.
Tuesday, January 23rd - 4th grade breakfast.
Lastly, I would like to talk about our focus on literacy and helping our student become great readers. All of our Elementary teachers have been attending LTRS training. LTRS is training and professional development for teachers focusing on the science of reading and best practices to effectively teach students to read. Along with these trainings we have screened students and have developed Reading Success Plans (RSP) for any student who is one grade level behind. RSP’s are individualized and they have goals and targets as well as action steps to help each student meet their goals. Every parent of a student who is on a Reading Success Plan has been contacted by the teacher. The plan and steps have been shared, and I encourage you as parents to ask questions and dive deep into the details of the RSP. I have no doubt that if we work together we can improve literacy for all our students and collectively we can make a big difference. Those students who are not on an RSP can always work to improve as well. Please encourage your child to read whenever possible. Have your child check out books from the library, take AR tests, and read, read, read!
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the classroom teacher or the office and we will gladly help in any way we can.
Thank you,
Mr. Conn
Happy New Year!
We’re hoping the new year brings us some healthy students. The last week of December was rough on our elementary illness and students being absent. Strep throat continues to hang around, a little stomach bug came and went, and Influenza hit some classrooms hard.
*Strep throat-sore throat and some have had vomiting with it.
*Stomach bug- nausea and vomiting with a quick recovery.
*Influenza- high fever and body aches lasting a week.
Feel free to reach out with any illness questions!
Welcome to 2024 and second semester here at West Nodaway.
Elementary students will be working on the character word of “perseverance” this month as well as goal setting. Students are showing engagement in the Character Strong curriculum and have done well with the individual, partner, and group components of various lessons. The upper elementary have become quite familiar with creating scenario skits, role playing, and being a good audience member. The lower elementary have done several team tasks or cooperative learning activities which is a step in moving from “I” to “we” thinking.
Junior High and High School will continue with their Character Strong lessons on Tuesdays during 8th Hour. Those students who are taking the material seriously are understanding several key qualities of leadership and citizenship. These characteristics are showing up more and more in their interaction with peers and teachers.
College and Career Mondays will continue this semester. January 22 will be a trip to North Central
Missouri College where we will visit both Savannah and Trenton campuses and learn about the various types of programs offered and how the A+ program is of benefit. February 12 will be a trip to St Joseph Beauty College as well as area businesses to learn about cosmetology, massage therapy, and other related careers. Please encourage your child to attend these trips and come speak with me if there is a specific career they would like to explore.
ASVAB testing will be January 25 th for all juniors and any senior who did not take it last year. While this test is sponsored by the military, the feedback report is a great tool for students to use whether they are thinking about the military or not. Students who take the test seriously are able to find out their career strengths and weaknesses which in turn helps them plan for after high school.
Last but not least, there is one home basketball game remaining here at West Nodaway. This happens to be January 19th which is also Courtwarming. We will have a MAP/EOC recognition ceremony BEFORE the games start. Students being honored will have free admission to the games and receive a bag of popcorn. More information will be sent home with students in the next two weeks.
Please let me know if there are any concerns or questions you may have.
Mrs. Clayton
District Information
Email: mbarnes@wnrockets.com
Website: wnrockets.com
Location: 17665 US Hwy 136, Burlington Junction, MO 64428, USA
Phone: 660-725-4613
Twitter: @WNrockets