TOMAHAWK TRIBUNE

The Meramec Valley R-III School Board is committed to excellence in governance and leadership. The Board of Education meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Find Board News at www.mvr3.k12.mo.us.

At the April 16 Board of Education meeting, incumbents Dianna Meyer, Amanda Nemeth, and Matt Trower were sworn in to new three-year terms.

Following the swearing-in, the board selected its officers for the year. Dianna Meyer was elected Board President, and Amanda Nemeth was elected Board Vice President.

Thank you for your continued service to the MVR-III community!

Mrs. Laura Riegler, has completed all requirements for Advanced Board Member Certification!

Ongoing professional development for school board members is vital to maximize their contribution to the school board and superintendent governance team. There are three levels of certification beyond the required Essential Certification. The additional levels are Advanced, Master, and Distinguished Certification. The additional certification levels require numerous hours of credits, reading of books, and writing of reflection papers all in a particular study strand, attendance at multiple Missouri School Boards' Association (MSBA) core meetings, and completion of a minimum of eight activities in at least two of the categories of Leadership, Advocacy or Presentation.

Board of Education members Mrs. Dianna Meyer and Mrs. Amanda Nemeth represented MVR-III at the Missouri State Capitol, advocating for public education during the Missouri School Boards’ Association Advocacy Day in Jefferson City.

MVR-III Superintendent Dr. Schwierjohn, along with PHS student representatives Grant Orris and McKenna Lay, joined in learning more about current legislative initiatives and meeting with local legislator Representative Brad Banderman.

Dear MVR-III Families,

As we enter the final month of the school year, we are filled with pride reflecting on the daily successes of our students and staff. There is much to celebrate, and we are excited to finish the year strong!

We are thrilled to announce two prestigious honors within our district. Please join us in congratulating:

• Coleman Elementary: Named a 2026 Missouri State School of Character

• Robertsville Elementary: Recipient of the 2026 National School of Character

These designations speak to the tireless efforts of our school communities to provide a positive, values-driven learning environment. We couldn’t be prouder of these outstanding achievements!

As we look toward the future of our school facilities, the District is committed to engaging with all stakeholders. We want to listen and work together to prioritize critical improvements across our schools. We will be launching a community survey in the near future to gather your feedback and valued input. We truly appreciate your time and consideration as we chart a path forward for our district’s facilities.

Finally, we want to wish the best of luck to our students as they dive into end-of-year spring testing, sports competitions, and culminating activities. Our staff and students have worked hard all year long for these moments, and we are excited to cheer them on through the finish line.

Thank you for your continued support and for making a difference in the lives of our MVR-III students!

Sincerely,

Dr. Carrie Schwierjohn

Thank you to all community members who took the time to participate in the April 7th election. While Prop S did not pass, we are incredibly appreciative of the strong community support demonstrated by the 56.53% of voters who cast their ballots in favor of the measure.

The Board of Education and district administration will continue to evaluate the district’s facility needs and explore potential solutions. Ongoing engagement with community members will remain a priority as the district determines next steps.

Each month, Chief Financial Officer Al Kirchoffer presents a detailed report on School District Finances to the Board of Education. This report provides updates on:

• Financial statements

• Public gifts

For stakeholders seeking further financial details, annual budgets, audit information, and quarterly finance reports are available on the district website under the Finance Department: https://www.mvr3.k12.mo.us/page/finance

The Board of Education approved $151,000 of the 2020 Prop 1 Bond Funds to be used for a track at Riverbend Middle!

The track project was created by the Facility Steering Committee, a group of parents, staff, students, and community members representing each of our schools.

The district would like to thank community members for supporting the passage of Prop 1. As a reminder, bond issues allow school districts to complete large facility improvement projects that positively impact our students.

Pacific High School is proud to share that ten DECA students qualified to compete at the State Career Development Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, held on March 23 and 24!

Students presented their business ideas to judges across a variety of events, including the Sports and Entertainment Team Event, Entrepreneurship Team Event, Restaurant and Food Service Individual Event, Principles of Hospitality Individual Event, Marketing Management Team Event, while also participating in leadership academy experiences.

Grant Orris and Parker Thomas have advanced to the International Career Development Conference, where they will compete in the Sports and Entertainment Team event in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 25.

Gabriella Guenzler will also attend the International Career Development Conference as a voting delegate, representing Missouri and helping shape the future of DECA through leadership, advocacy, and service. Her work this year as District 8 Vice President included supporting district-wide initiatives, charitable efforts for MDA, and participation in the Career and Technical Student Organization Legislative Day in Jefferson City, Missouri.

In addition, PHS DECA was recognized with the Chapter Campaign Thrive Level Award at the State Career Development Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 24. This honor highlights outstanding chapter engagement within the school, community, and alumni network. Only three schools in Missouri received this distinction!

The Meramec Valley R-III School District invites parents, staff members, and community members to take part in the Advocacy Task Force focused on efforts that directly impact MVR-III schools and students.

Participants will review and discuss education-related bills currently under consideration during the 2026 Missouri legislative session and examine how those proposals will shape public education for years to come. Participants will be emailed meeting dates after they have signed up.

Why is this group needed? Decisions made at the state level directly influence our public education funding, instructional requirements, student services, and operations in MVR-III.

Individuals who are interested in joining the Superintendent Advocacy Task Force, please complete our online interest form. For additional information about the district’s advocacy efforts, contact the Central Office.

The Meramec Valley R-III School District has named Jordan Garlik, special education teacher at Pacific High School, as the 2026 Teacher of the Year!

Garlik has served the district for 10 years, teaching in multiple buildings and across a range of grade levels. She is recognized for her positive and inclusive attitude that creates an environment where students and staff feel safe and welcomed.

As the MVR-III School District Teacher of the Year, Garlik will advance as a candidate for the Missouri Regional Teacher of the Year program.

The PHS incoming 9-12 enrollment campaign is currently underway. High school students have the opportunity to enroll in summer courses such as:

• Health

• Personal finance

• Credit recovery courses

• Band

Enrollment for the PHS summer program may be done by filling out the 2026 PHS Summer School Request Form.

The Meramec Valley R-III Board of Education and Choir Director, Ms. Rachel Dake, recognize the following student music achievements:

Middle School

• All-District Choir: Lilliana Bacon, Jackson Bennett, Grace Byrne, Bergen Church, Ava Fiorini, Aliea Moody, Aleea Moore, Zooey Moore.

• Middle School Music Festival 1-Ratings: Lilliana Bacon, Claire Ball, Adalyn Bennett, Grace Byrne, Chelsea Castle, Bergen Church, Ava Fiorini, Lily Freeman, Heather Hassler, Bentley Jenkins, Haidyn Means, Aliea Moody, Aleea Moore, Zoey Moore.

• Soloists: Lilliana Bacon, Jackson Bennett, Bergen Church, Zoey Moore.

• Quartet: Lilliana Bacon, Grace Byrne, Aleea Moore, Zoey Moore.

• Mixed Ensemble: Lilliana Bacon, Claire Ball, Jackson Bennett, Chelsea Castle, Bergen Church, Bentley Jenkins, Haidyn Means, Zoey Moore.

• Treble Ensemble: Claire Ball, Adalyn Bennett, Ava Fiorini, Lily Freeman, Heather Hassler, Haidyn Means, Aliea Moody, Aleea Moore.

High School

• State Music Festival Qualifiers: Aiden Ashe, Isabella Babb, Evan Brown, Ellie Burd, Khloe Dekker, Christian Everhart, Joshua Ferrario, Isbella Goebel, Mackenzie Greer, Madalyn Huff, Ruby Jones, Keira King, Taylin Linenweber, Alexis Nixon, Kylee Myers, Samantha Raftery, Rylee Ruessing, Allana Short, Kennedy Stelmar.

• All-District Choir: Evan Brown, Khloe Dekker, Madalyn Huff, Samantha Raftery, Allana Short.

• Conference Choir: Isabella Babb, Evan Brown, Ellie Burd, Khloe Dekker, Christian Everhart, Ella Goebel, Madalyn Huff, Keira King, Kylee Myers, Alexis Nixon, Samantha Raftery, Allana Short, Kennedy Stelmar.

Middle School Band Honors

The Meramec Valley R-III Board of Education proudly acknowledges the following Riverbend Middle School band members for their outstanding performances at the Union Music Festival, where they earned a "1" Superior rating for their solos or small ensembles.

Earning an Exemplary Rating:

• Clarinet Solo: Bergen Church

• Tenor Sax Solo: Sebastian Salazar

• Bass Clarinet Solo: Jayden Keeney

• Alto Sax Solo: Daisy Fearn

• Tuba Solo: Mason Whitlock

• Woodwind Duet: Sebastian Salazar, Jayden Keeney

• Flute Duet: Addison Thurman, Katelynn Mays

• Mixed Brass Trio: Mason Whitlock, Tyler Whitlock, Jesse Fee

• Vibraphone Solo: Dax Short

• Percussion Ensemble: Dax Short, Cooper Mayfield, Andrew Alt, Anthony Leon Ruiz, Alex Liwapattanapichit, Jackson Bennett, Grant Sudduth

Earning an Outstanding Rating:

• Clarinet Trio: Bergen Church, Morgan Cochran, Zoey Ward

Congratulations to all the students and to Mr. Joey Musterman and Ms. Emma Bushery, Band Teachers!

Pacific High School's Student Council has been recognized with the Gold Award from the Honor Council Committee of the Missouri Association of Student Council. This prestigious 2026 award was earned by only 81 student councils across the entire state of Missouri!

Pacific Intermediate 6th graders joined the world’s largest online mathematics competition on March 25, competing alongside more than 10 million students from over 150 countries through Mathletics!

Students tested their speed and accuracy in 20 fast-paced 60-second rounds, earning points for each correct answer.

Congratulations to the top performers:

• Declan: 579 correct answers

• Kyson: 474 correct answers

Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center is getting ready for summer preschool, and enrollment is now open for June and July! Families can choose from several tuition-based options designed to fit different schedules.

• 5 full days: 8:15am-4:00pm for $180.00 per week

• 5 half-days: 8:15am-11:15am for $110.00 per week

• 3 full days: 8:15am-4:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for $108.00 per week

• 2 full days: 8:15am-4:00pm on Tuesday and Thursday for $72.00 per week

Breakfast is included for all students, and lunch is included for full-day programs. There is a $25 registration fee when enrolling.

Please note the program will be closed June 19 and July 3.

Families interested in learning more or registering can email kbibb@mvr3.k12.mo.us or call 636-271-1464.

May 1 is School Lunch Hero Day!

May 4-8 is MVR-III Staff Appreciation Week and National Teacher Appreciation Week!

May 6 is National School Nurses Day!

Pacific High School Graduation will be held on Sunday, May 17. Congratulations, Class of 2026!

May 21 is the last day of school! Students will have a half-day of school.

We are hiring for a variety of teaching and staff positions—both for this school year and for 2026-27.

Help us make a difference in the lives of our over 3,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students. Start the process of finding your home in #MVNation today!

Learn more about these opportunities and apply today at http://bit.ly/JOINMVR3.