The Bobcat Brief 3rd Edition

Welcome to the 3rd Edition of the Bobcat Brief!

Happy Friday, Bobcat Family!

Below you will find our first performance metrics report, a recap of the October 20th Board of Education meeting, our 2026-2027 inclement weather plan, a public notice of surplus equipment, Bowling Green Brightspots, and a look at what is ahead. But before we dive into those updates, I want to share a little information on the upcoming A-F state rating system and the current financial realities facing our district.

Over the next few weeks, Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be releasing new A-F school ratings based on pilot data from the 2024-2025 school year. I want to be entirely upfront with you: we believe strongly in accountability, transparency, and most of all, learning. That is exactly why we are including our performance-level metrics reports right here in our newsletters—so you can see up close exactly where we are and where we need to be.

While academic data is a critical tool for our continuous improvement, my biggest concern with the new state system is simple: How do you measure the true value of a school community with a single letter?

A letter grade doesn't capture the teacher who stays late to help a struggling student. It doesn’t measure the pride a child feels in the marching band, the leadership learned through Bobcat athletics, or the passion discovered through FFA. I have had the privilege of sending my own son to Bowling Green High School, and the experience has been nothing short of amazing. We live in a close-knit community that genuinely cares about the success of every single child, and that simply cannot be quantified by a state-assigned letter.

On top of navigating this new rating system, we are also facing significant financial headwinds. In our commitment to complete transparency, I need to share the reality of our current funding situation. We are currently navigating increased operational costs alongside a reduction in state funding. To fully fund schools, the State Adequacy Target is set at $7,145 per student. However, we are currently only being funded at $6,750 per student. This gap alone creates a $524,903 shortfall for our district. It is worth noting that the same state board that approved this new pilot rating system also recently did not recommend for schools to be fully funded.

Furthermore, we have recently been informed that we are 8th on the waiting list for Missouri Quality Pre-Kindergarten (MOQPK) funding, which has historically funded our Pre-K program and brought in $266,973 last year. Combined, we are looking at a total revenue shortfall of $791,876. To put that into perspective, this loss is equivalent to approximately 13 teachers' salaries.

To address this, we are currently working on a long-range financial plan. Our priority is to manage these shortfalls responsibly in order to maintain our tax levy, ensuring it remains one of the lowest in the area. However, navigating these obstacles is not something we can do alone. We, and all the other public schools, need your support now more than ever.

That being said, we will never use concerns about a state rating system or financial hurdles as an excuse to ignore areas where we need to grow, nor will we let it compromise our students' education. We have work to do, and we own it. We will use this data, along with our Strategic Plan, Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP), Annual Performance Review (APR), performance level metrics, and all of our audit reports, to strengthen our classrooms, support our teachers, and make informed, fiscally responsible decisions that protect our core programs.

We are not chasing a letter grade, and we will not let funding challenges break our spirit. We are committed to moving forward and improving every day to fulfill our mission: As a collaborative district of schools in a large rural setting, BGR-1 develops the whole child by providing experiences that require critical thinking, creativity, integrity, and empathy to equip graduates to become leaders in a changing society.

Thank you for your continued support, for believing in our schools, and for being part of the Bobcat Family. Please enjoy this edition of the Bobcat Brief, and have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeff Jennewein

Superintendent of Schools

Bowling Green R-1 School District

30- to 60-minute evaluations given three or more times a year to measure student learning. Teachers use these results to create customized learning groups and targeted support strategies tailored to students' specific needs. Results will be shared throughout the course of the year to show student growth.

All motions and recommendations presented during last night's meeting were officially approved by the Board of Education:

• Personnel Actions Approved:
  • Resignations & Retirements: Approved the resignations of Betsie Betts (Nurse) and Angela Eckler (Early Childhood Center), alongside the retirement of Candace Norton (Bowling Green Elementary Teacher). We thank them for their dedicated service to our district.
  • New Hires & Work Agreements:
    • Melissa Pitzer: Approved working agreement as Paraprofessional for the 2026–2027 school year.
    • Jamie Baker: Hired as Substitute Nurse at the designated substitute pay rate.
    • Tina Keller: Approved work agreement as Evening Custodian for the 2026–2027 school year.
    • Emily Bates: Approved request to rescind her resignation and rehired as Bowling Green Elementary Secretary.
  • Staffing Reclassification (Interim SPED Teacher): Approved converting two vacant paraprofessional positions into one full-time Interim Special Education Teacher position for the remainder of the 2026–2027 school year. This budget-neutral reclassification injects high-level behavioral expertise and direct instruction into our Functional Foundations setting.
• Facilities, Bids & Operational Contracts:
  • High School Hot Water Heater Replacement: Approved the bid from Mike Ingram Plumbing for $12,989.02 to completely replace the high school's hot water heater.
  • Snow Removal Services (2026–2027): Approved snow removal contract awards to Kent Landscaping for Frankford campus locations and Kerns Snow Removal for Bowling Green campus locations.
  • Surplus Equipment Disposal: Declared a Kubota SVL65-2 track loader and associated attachments (pallet forks, smooth bucket, tooth bucket) as surplus district property, authorizing administration to initiate a sealed bid sale with a minimum bid requirement of $39,000.00.
• Consent Agenda & Special Reports:
  • Student Mental Health Counseling MOU: Approved the Memorandum of Understanding with Southern Light Counseling, LLC for student mental health counseling services for the 2026–2027 school year.
  • Long-Range Facilities & Finance Presentations: District leadership presented updates on the Long-Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) and Long-Range Financial Plan, reviewing our 3-Tier capital structure and operating fund balance target.
  • Student Showcase: High School Student Council (STUCO) leaders Kaelyn Dixon, Avery Eskew, and Sadie Barnes briefed the Board on Homecoming festivities and their campus landscaping service project.
  • District Program Evaluations: Program evaluation reviews were conducted for Instructional Effectiveness/Curriculum and Federal Programs.

This procedure outlines the protocols, schedules, communication channels, instructional expectations, and practice test schedules for inclement weather disruptions during the 2026–2027 school year.

1. Inclement Weather Protocols, Schedule Modifications & Dismissals

• Checking Roads Before School: Jeff Jennewein, Beth Holland, Eric St. Clair and Matt Chance evaluate road conditions prior to making delay or closure decisions.

• Same-Day Closure Notification: If the district decides not to have school on a given day, families and staff will be notified by 6:00 a.m. on the day of the closure.

• Snow Routes Only:

• Buses have a Snow Routes Only option.

• If your home is on a designated snow route, our Transportation Director, Beth Holland, will reach out to you with specific details.

• Note: This option will only be utilized if announced/notified the night before.

• Late Start Options (1-Hour, 2-Hour, 3-Hour):

• The district may utilize a 1-hour, 2-hour, or 3-hour late start to allow road conditions or visibility to improve.

• Note: Late start options will only be utilized if announced/notified the night before.

• Early Dismissal Plan: If weather conditions deteriorate during the school day, students may be sent home early.

• Every family must have an active, updated Early Dismissal Plan on file with their child’s teacher or main office at all times.

• Parents are required to provide specific transportation instructions in advance for early dismissal scenarios.

• Our transportation director, Beth Holland, will be in contact with you if your address is considered a snow route.

2. Official Communication Channels & Staff Responsibilities

When severe weather is forecasted, parents and staff are urged to monitor official sources.

Media & Communication Assignments:

• Radio & Television: Steve Hunter and Jeff Jennewein will contact radio and television stations.

• Digital, Social Media, & Direct Messaging: Courtney Young and Jeff Jennewein will manage updates for digital platforms and social media channels.

Communication Type

Radio

Television

Digital & Social Media

Direct Messaging

3. Alternative Method of Instruction (AMI) vs. Snow Days

The district utilizes an Alternative Method of Instruction (AMI) plan to preserve instructional time and eliminate the need for make-up days.

Decision Guidelines:

• Prior-Day Decision (AMI Day): If a closure is decided the day prior, the district will utilize an AMI Day. This ensures teachers have preparation time to get AMI materials ready.

• Same-Day Decision (Snow Day): If school is called off the day of (notified by 6:00 a.m.) due to overnight conditions, standard Snow Days will be used to preserve AMI day allocations.

• AMI Limit: The district is permitted to use up to 5 AMI days. Once all 5 AMI days are exhausted, any additional missed school days will proceed as standard snow days.

4. Practice Test Notification Schedule

To ensure all families and staff receive emergency broadcasts, two practice system test notifications will be conducted in November:

• Test #1: Monday, November 2, 2026 at approximately 4:00 p.m.

• Test #2: Monday, November 9, 2026 at approximately 4:00 p.m.

Troubleshooting & Action Steps for Parents & Guardians:

1. If you do not receive the Nov. 2 test alert, contact your student's building secretary during school hours to verify and double-check your contact information in Infinite Campus:

School Building

Bowling Green Early Childhood Center (ECC)

Bowling Green Elementary

Frankford Elementary

Bowling Green Middle School

Bowling Green High School

1. If you updated your contact details after the first test but still do not receive the Nov. 9 test notification, contact the Superintendent’s Office directly at (573) 324-5441.

Public Notice of Surplus Equipment Sale

The Bowling Green R-1 School District is accepting sealed bids for the sale of district surplus equipment. To ensure fair market value and strict compliance with property disposal procedures, the sale will be conducted under the terms outlined below.

Equipment Overview & Condition

• Equipment Model: Kubota SVL65-2 Track Loader

  
  

• Current Location: Central Office, Bowling Green R-1 School District

  
  

• Operating Hours: 702.3 hours

  
  

• Overall Condition: Good (Track Condition: Fair)

  
  

• Included Attachments: Pallet Forks, Smooth Bucket, and Tooth Bucket

  
  

Disposal & Bidding Process

• Submission Method: Sealed bids only.

  
  

• Minimum Reserve Bid: $39,000.00

  
  

• Bid Opening Date & Time: Thursday, November 12th at 1:00 p.m.

  
  

• Bid Opening Location: Board Office (Central Office), Bowling Green R-1 School District

  
  

• Awarding Process: Bids will be publicly opened and recorded at the scheduled time. The item will be awarded to the highest qualified bidder meeting or exceeding the minimum bid threshold, subject to final administrative verification.

  
  

Contact Information For any questions regarding the equipment or the bidding process, please contact Eric St. Clair at 573-324-5441.

2024–25 Growth Award in ELA
2024–25 Rural Growth Award in ELA
3-Year Rural Growth Award in ELA (2022–23 through 2024–25)

Here is a look at the numbers behind this remarkable achievement:

2024–25 Growth Award in ELA: Ranked 4th highest for one-year growth statewide out of 1,005 elementary schools!

2024–25 Rural Growth Award in ELA: Ranked 3rd highest for one-year growth out of 251 rural elementary schools across Missouri!

3-Year Rural Growth Award in ELA (2022–23 through 2024–25): Ranked 4th highest for 3-year growth average out of 251 rural elementary schools!

Placed in the top 20 statewide for Rural School English Language Arts Growth (2022–23 through 2024–25)!

This phenomenal accomplishment speaks volumes about the commitment and talent of our entire team. It takes incredible dedication from our teachers, staff, students, and community to reach this level of academic excellence.

Please join us in the comments in congratulating our amazing BGE Bobcats on this incredible achievement! 🐾❤️🖤

We are thrilled to announce that Frankford Elementary has been recognized by the PRiME Center at Saint Louis University for promoting outstanding student growth!

Frankford Elementary earned the PRiME Center Rural School Growth Award:


English Language Arts (3-Year Average, 2022–23 through 2024–25)

Highlighting the Achievement:

Out of 251 eligible rural elementary schools across the state of Missouri, Frankford Elementary ranked 9th highest for 3-year average ELA growth!

This award highlights the exceptional academic progress happening in our classrooms and speaks to the hard work, talent, and dedication of our entire Frankford team, students, and school community.

Please join us in celebrating this wonderful accomplishment for our Frankford Elementary staff and students ! 👏🎉

During last night’s Board of Education meeting, our monthly Student Spotlight highlighted the exceptional leadership, school spirit, and civic responsibility of our High School Student Council (STUCO) leaders. Representatives Queenie Jiang, Kaelyn Dixon, and Sadie Barnes were selected unanimously by our district AC/DC administrative team following a recommendation from STUCO Sponsor Amber McMillen to brief the Board on their recent work. The student presenters delivered an engaging recap of Homecoming 2026 festivities, sharing how student-led spirit days, pep assemblies, and school-wide events boosted student participation, fostered peer engagement, and strengthened overall school culture.

Beyond organizing social activities, the STUCO officers showcased their hands-on commitment to stewardship through a comprehensive campus landscaping initiative completed in conjunction with Homecoming week. Student council members planned and executed the beautification project surrounding Bowling Green High School to enhance campus grounds and instill a sense of pride across the student body. The presentation formally recognized STUCO Sponsor Amber McMillen for her leadership guidance, as well as community partner Todd Crane for his generous donation and delivery of the mulch required to complete the project.

Deputy Barton led our safety team in our third meeting of the year to conduct the "Earthquake Table Top Activity". This critical exercise, titled "The Ground Shifts," allowed our staff to evaluate the transition from immediate self-preservation, like "Drop, Cover, and Hold On," to campus-wide triage and assessment. During the session, the team worked through realistic, high-pressure scenarios designed to test our emergency response capabilities: Testing communication protocols when power, Wi-Fi, and primary cellular networks are down. Establishing alternative triage areas and accessing backup medical supplies in the event the main clinic is inaccessible due to shifted door frames. Managing a prolonged, chaotic parent reunification process when mass-notification systems fail and local emergency services are overwhelmed. Determining how to safely extract students from structurally compromised areas, like partially collapsed gym bleachers, while the rest of the school evacuates. Preparedness is an ongoing process. Following the exercise, our team reviewed actionable items, including our structural readiness and the need for offline communication tools to keep our campus secure during a communications blackout. Thank you to Deputy Barton for leading this vital discussion and to our entire team for prioritizing student safety!

Our Dual Credit Statistics students recently stepped into the role of lead researchers—and the results were nothing short of impressive! A huge thank you to teacher **Amber McMillen** for inviting a guest panel of district administrators, teachers, and our Curriculum Director into her classroom today to evaluate her students' observational study presentations. For this high-impact project, Mrs. McMillen challenged student groups to gather authentic sample data on topics directly impacting our school—such as student perspectives on block vs. 8-period scheduling—and defend their work before real school stakeholders. To complete the study, students were required to: 🔹 Gather qualitative and numerical sample data (sample sizes of 30 or more) 🔹 Synthesize feedback into frequency charts, pie charts, skew analysis, and histograms 🔹 Present and defend their research methodologies live using SMART board technology. By connecting high-level statistical analysis to real-world school data with an authentic audience, Mrs. McMillen created a learning environment where students truly took ownership—demonstrating fluent mastery of statistical terms, high-level critical thinking, and genuine confidence. Thank you, Mrs. McMillen, for designing such a rigorous and engaging learning experience, and thank you to our guest panel for supporting our student researchers!

Our very first Instructional Leadership session led by DCI, and it was an incredible day of collaboration and growth! 💡📚 Here is a quick look at what our team tackled during Session 1: 📌 Navigating State Changes: We discussed the new A-F grading framework being introduced at the state level. 📌 "Jot Thought" Activity: DCI modeled the "Jot Thought" sticky note brainstorming activity for our administrative team to bring back to our teachers—and for teachers to take straight to their classrooms! 📝 📌 Data Deep-Dive: We analyzed our MAP and EOC test results, benchmark data, and classroom grades to see how our internal grading correlates with standardized test performance. We’re energized by this strong start and look forward to our upcoming sessions as we continue to empower and grow our instructional leaders! 🌟✨

We are delighted that Emma Jarrett, Music Teacher at Bowling Green High School, has been selected to participate in a very special opportunity with musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

• Extra Credit Choral at Powell Hall: Emma will rehearse and perform in a live concert alongside SLSO musicians and resident chorus members under the direction of renowned Conductors Erin Freeman and Kevin McBeth.
• Free Public Event: The concert is free and open to the public, with complimentary tickets available online. We hope many students, parents, teachers, and administrators from Bowling Green R-I will join us at Powell Hall to celebrate Emma’s performance! We also encourage staff to download the promotional flyer and share it across our school community.
• Celebrating Music Education: The benefits of music education in our schools are numerous and well documented. Extra Credit Choral at Powell Hall provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the educators who inspire the effort required by their students to study music and perform successfully in an ensemble. Congratulations, Ms. Jarrett!

We are so proud of high school student Lilly McMillen for her outstanding presentation to the Rotary Club on Tuesday following her participation in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program!
During her talk, Lilly shared how RYLA helped build her confidence in public speaking, expressing her ideas, and stepping into leadership roles whenever needed. She also discussed key lessons in teamwork, highlighting how working with new people taught her to adapt to diverse communication styles and support others effectively.
Key takeaways from Lilly’s presentation include:
* Leadership & Confidence: Gaining confidence in presenting ideas, expressing herself, and stepping up to take the lead when needed.
* Teamwork & Adaptability: Learning that while working with unfamiliar peers can be challenging, understanding different personalities builds stronger collaboration.
* Lasting Connections: Forming meaningful relationships during the program, such as staying in close touch with her RYLA roommate.
* Community Service Project: Presenting a team concept for a year-round Community Garden designed to provide free fresh produce to community members in need. The proposal includes lessons on planting, food preservation, and baking.
Thank you to Rotary for sponsoring youth leadership opportunities that empower students like Lilly to make a difference in our community!

Students across several of Mrs. Julie Bowen’s English Language Arts classes brought learning to life earlier this month with an incredible display of creativity and critical thinking! 📚✨Mrs. Bowen brought in guest judges—including several teachers and administrators—to examine and evaluate multi-artifact marketing pitches centered around historic contexts. Student groups had a specific challenge: For example, one class had to pitch their plan to be the marketing company Captain John Smith would hire for his 'New World' venture! Using innovative strategies, students defended their real-world campaigns with: 🎬 Original commercials 🎵 Music videos 📄 Detailed brochures 💻 Interactive SMART board technology. By combining deep historical and textual analysis with modern marketing, and presenting before faculty and administrative judges, these students demonstrated high-level rigor, top-tier communication skills, and 100% active engagement! 💡👏📸 Check out the photos below featuring all of the student groups that won! 🏆🎉A huge shoutout to Mrs. Julie Bowen for her outstanding instruction and structured guidance, to our teachers and administrators for serving as guest judges, and to all our talented students for their incredible professionalism, preparation, and energy. Keep up the amazing work! 🏆👏The creativity and level of preparation in these classes was incredible—it’s clear whom we’d hire!

Frankford Elementary had the pleasure of hosting the Frankford/Ashburn Rural Fire & Rescue team for a fun and educational fire safety presentation! Our students gathered outside to watch a firefighter demonstrate full protective turnout gear and enjoyed a special visit from Smokey Bear! 🎨 Fire Safety Poster Contest: To help reinforce these important safety lessons, our students participated in a school-wide Fire Safety Poster Contest! Excitement was in the air Friday morning as prizes were handed out to our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Congratulations to our award winners and to all the creative students who submitted artwork! 📱 Key Safety Focus: Cell Phones & Laptops During Friday’s presentation, firefighters placed a strong emphasis on modern technology hazards, specifically cell phones, laptops, and battery safety: * Safe Charging Surfaces: Always charge cell phones, laptops, and tablets on hard, flat surfaces like desks or tables. Never leave devices charging on beds, blankets, couches, or under pillows, as trapped heat can easily spark a fire. * Recognizing Danger Signs: If a device feels excessively hot, starts to swell or bulge, or emits an unusual odor, step away immediately and alert an adult. * Electronic Fire Response: Never pour water on an electronic or battery fire. If a device smokes or catches fire, teach children to step away safely, inform an adult right away, exit the building, and call 911. A huge thank you to the Frankford/Ashburn Rural Fire & Rescue crew and Smokey Bear for spending Friday morning with us and keeping our school community safe and prepared! Parents, as you enjoy the weekend, take a moment to review safe device charging habits at home with your students!

Anticipated November Board Agenda Topics: Consideration of the Long-Range Finance Plan (Action Item), Operating Fund Balance Target (Action Item), Technology evaluation (Informational Item), upcoming A-F state grade card (Informational Item), Performance Level Metrics Report

#2 (Informational Item), Long Range Facility Plan Update (Informational Item), and Board candidate filing notices (Informational Item).