School board hears reports on testing, handling inclement weather 

By Jessica Breger cassvilleads@gmail.com

A Monett sophomore recently showed the Monett School Board how an education project can assist communication between adults and the youth with whom they interact.

Zurich Zahn, Monett High School sophomore, presented a new device to help students and bus drivers communicate — Monett School Bus Communication Boards — which allows students to point out on the board emotions and information they want to convey to their bus driver. 

“Students with difficulties in communication, English, verbal or have fear or anxiety about speaking can communicate with bus drivers by pointing to a picture,” Zahn said.

Zahn, with the help of his Scout Troop No. 38, worked with school staff and local businesses to develop and print 100 boards to be placed on 31 buses across Monett, Verona and the Oakview State Schools. 

Zahn also presented the boards to Monett Special Education teachers and trained them on the boards so they can familiarize their students the new communication tool.

Students from Monett’s Gifted Program also spoke to board members at the meeting about the program. 

Board members were shown projects done by students in the program ranging from foil boats to a wheel made of Pringles.

Students explained how the skills they learn participating in the gifted program transfer to other aspects of their lives, such as social skills and critical thinking. 

During the curriculum update at the Jan. 16 Monett School Board meeting, Assistant Superintendent Melissa Huff said the district is struggling to increase numbers in the program this year, as there is no local examiner to perform the IQ testing required. 

Currently, students are monitored and evaluated each semester for other aspects contributing to the program’s membership while the search for a local examiner is underway.

It was also noted while waiting to have students examined for the program is not preferred, examiners are more easily available in the summer. 

Huff also reported on the school year’s state required benchmark assessment testing with STAR Data. The STAR Reading and STAR Math tests are given throughout the school year to assess students’ growth in these areas.

“I think we have a lot of things to celebrate,” Huff said. 

She explained there has been significant growth in the reading tests with kindergarten, first grade and seventh grade all showing between a 40- and 50-point increase in scores overall.

All grade levels showed improvement in math. Huff said the improvements in math scores are not where they would like them, but they are also not a cause for concern, as students and staff have been actively working to improve in the area.

Board members also heard facilities updates for the district. Director of Operations Steve Garner said over the holiday break, floors in the Middle School restrooms and locker-rooms were re-laid due to bubbling and peeling.

Garner said they have experienced these issues since the floor was originally laid and better quality material was used in the upgrade to prevent further issues.

Garner also took time to praise his staff on the handling of the snowy conditions the area faced as school started back up in January.

“We have a great maintenance crew and custodial crew that came in and cleared the snow,” Garner said. 

Giving credit the bus drivers, Garner also shared an example of the kind of communication that allows school to safely run during inclement weather. Garner said that there was one road on the district’s route that was “iffy” and posed potential danger. There are two busses that normally stop on the road, however the drivers coordinated so that only one bus would pick up all students on the road. 

“The secondary bus went ahead and picked up the elementary students so we didn’t have to send a second bus down that road,” Garner sasid.

Middle School Principal Jonathan Apostol also commented on the handling of the inclement weather. During his report, Apostol said the school only had to take one AMI Day (Alternative Methods of Instruction) which went smoothly.

Apostol credits the staff’s preparation for the successful AMI day.

“I know our teachers did a really good job [getting materials online for students],” he said. 

During the meeting, the school board also approved the 2025 Graduation date to be set for May 7, with school releasing approximately on May 20.

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.