Board members honored for School Board Recognition Month

By Jessica Breger Special to the Monett Monthly

Facility improvements and expansions at the Monett school district took center stage at the March board meeting, as well as the recognition of board members in honor of School Board Recognition Month.

The Monett Intermediate School brick project is nearly complete, with all bricks being placed and sorting and cleaning to be performed in the near future. 

An old storage space dubbed “the Yellow Barn” has been cleared to provide parking space for large school vehicles. 

The art display for the central office is complete and exhibiting student pieces for the public to visit.

Attention was focused on an ongoing project to better unify the district as the board discussed work on a new Family Center. The district is currently working toward establishing the facility at Monett R-1 Administrative Offices.

The goal for the facility is streamline registration and parent support by providing a centralized location where parents and students can access essential services, support and community resources.

The center will provide help with online registration and enrollment, district protocols, language support, counseling services and coordination for resources such as foster care, free and reduced meals and language development. 

The facility is also planned to have a display for parents to easily be able to review the services offered at the facility for each school. 

The school board revealed a new flyer that had been sent out to student parents highlighting services and resources for parents. 

The board is hoping to further expand the flyer to become an informational pamphlet in future renditions. Members discussed getting student involvement in the project each year. 

The hope for the future is to have students engaged in information collection and development to engage and inform both students and parents. 

Board members also reviewed student progress as they discussed benchmark assessments for the third quarter period for the Student Training for Advancing Research (STAR) program at Monett Elementary School. 

With screening for the program soon approaching, Early Childhood Development Principal Kayla Roderman reported there are 67 Pre-K students and 112 Kindergarteners signed up to be screened. 

Screenings will be performed on Mondays throughout April. Roderman also reported on services being provided to students.

“We are very excited because we had the Care Mobile come through,” Roderman said.  

She reported more than 150 students received some form of care from Care Mobile, and the Tooth Truck provided dental care to 40 students.

The board also heard student presentations from MECC students displaying new literacy exercises, as well as MIS students being recognized for progress in art, reading and communication. 

Students in the GO CAPS also addressed the board to explain how the program has helped them select career paths and build their confidence and skills to obtain their desired careers.

The program provides high school students hands-on learning within the career fields they choose.  This is meant to give students not only training in their chosen fields, but also a realistic view of the careers chosen. Monett’s GO CAPS program is currently ranked in the top 3% of the nation.

Upcoming dates to note included the Annual CTA Appreciation Dinner at SRTC on April 5 and the reorganizational school board meeting on April 22.

Summer school forms have been sent out for the 2025 Summer session. At least 14 students had already signed up by the meeting.

Monett School Board members were also honored at the meeting for School Board Recognition Month. Along with a small gift bag for each member, Superintendent Mark Drake shared with the room how the board impacts the schools and children they serve.

“It goes without saying that a school district thrives or doesn’t thrive based on seven members that are working towards a common mission of supporting students” Drake said. “These seven members put students first and are student focused. We’re always going to make decisions of what’s best for students.”

Drake emphasized that a strong school board not only strengthens the school but the community as a whole. 

“When we have good schools, we have a good community,” he said. “People want to move to Monett. People want to be part of Monett school system.”

Drake said other school districts send employees to Monett for ideas and training to improve their own districts. 

Drake also recognized board member Mathew Batson for completing his 18 hours of school board training. 

The Monett School Board meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Board Administrative Meeting Room located at the District Office.