 The Holden R-III School District received a $250,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Division to provide safer biking and walking accommodations for the school district as part of the Safe Routes to School program.
Grants were awarded by MoDOT June 29 for 21 infrastructure projects and 25 non-infrastructure activities. The Holden R-III School District was awarded an infrastructure project grant in the amount of $250,000 as well as a non-infrastructure activities grant in the amount of $7,020. A complete list of projects awarded is available at www.modot.mo.gov/safety/SafeRoutestoSchool.htm .
With the infrastructure grant funds, the school district and the city of Holden plan to add accessible sidewalks along roadways to provide a safe route to school for children in the following areas: sidewalks along the south side of Eagle Drive connecting to Main Street with sidewalk running along the west side of Main Street from 19th Street to 9th Street, as well as along the east side of Market Street from 19th to 9th Street and sidewalks connecting Market Street and Main Street at 19th Street, 16th Street, 12th Street and 9th Street. The proposed sidewalks will be added along the south sides of 9th Street, 12th Street and 16th Street and along the north side of 19th Street as well as along a portion of the south side of 19th Street between Market Street and Main Street. These proposed sidewalks will be connected to the existing sidewalks at the elementary, intermediate and middle schools. Some additional sidewalks will be added along the west side of the middle school parking lot and the north and east side of the existing elementary asphalt circle drive. In the areas of 19th Street and Main Street and along Eagle Drive, four school crossing markings will be added. School zone signage will be replaced with more visible, updated signage which follows MUTCD rules.
With the non-infrastructure grant funds, the school district will partner with others in the community to promote walking and bicycling to school. The Holden Police Department, in conjunction with the district school resource officer, will conduct bicycle safety rodeos, give out bicycle safety helmets, and conduct biking and walking safety classes in grades K-12. The district will initiate various activities to encourage students to walk to school like presentations given by health professionals, providing students with pedometers and celebrating Walk to School Day in October.
Grant recipients were chosen by a committee made up of law enforcement, state, regional and local agencies, as well as schools and bicycle advocacy groups. The committee reviewed 99 grant applications and awarded 46 grants that will impact 96 Missouri schools.
Infrastructure projects must be completed within four years and non-infrastructure activities must be completed within 18 months.
Runners interested in being a part of the 2007 Holden High School or Holden Middle School cross country teams are scheduled for a camp July 16-20.
According to head cross country coach Dale Wescott, students should meet at the dam at the Holden City Lake on July 16 at 7:30 a.m. There is no cost for the camp.
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt announced last week his intention to appoint Nancy Jo Jennings of Holden as the new Johnson County public administrator.
Jennings has spent 20 years working in state and county government and most recently served as a victims’ advocate in the Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Prior to working in the prosecuting attorney’s office, she worked as a legal asistant for the Missouri State Public Defender System.
She will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Elaine Marsh.
Johnson County prosecuting attorney Lynn Stoppy Brackin had high praise for the appointment. “I’m sad for me personally and my office but I’m absolutely thrilled for Nancy and the citizens of Johnson County. She is without a doubt the best choice for the job.”
Jennings and her husband George have three children, Jasen, 28, who lives in Chilhowee with wife Mylissa and daughters Mallory, 2, and Layne, 11 months; Cody, 15, who will be a sophomore at Holden high School; and Marie, 11, who will be in sixth grade at Holden Middle School.
Personnel made up the bulk of the agenda at the recent executive session of the Holden R-III School District’s board meeting.
Resignations were accepted, and certificated and support staff positions filled. The board also set the coaching agenda for the 2007-2008 school year.
The board accepted the resignations of Linda Schnakenberg as high school play sponsor and Tasoula Scire, sixth-grade language arts teacher.
Certificated staff hires for next school year include Brandon Shanks, sixth-grade language arts teacher; Sally Burnett, high school social studies teacher; Janet Houx, middle school 1/2 time reading teacher; and Lisa Mendoza, high school English teacher.
The board rehired all present support staff and in addition employed Cindy Cruwell, cook; Una Eissler, cook; Tammy Heider-Moore, maintenance; Audra Francis, bus driver; Sheila Stout, town bus driver; and Donna VanVleck, bus driver.
The board members also approved the 2007-2008 slate of coaches and sponsors. They are:
Football - Rich Johnson, head coach; Spencer Gudde, John Jones and Charlie Castle, high school assistant coaches. Middle school - David riley, head coach; and Chris Hung, assistant.
Volleyball - Julie Carver, head coach; Debbie Riley, assistant; and Anita Anderson, freshmen coach. Middle school - Lisa Mendoza, head coach; and Christi Wade, assistant.
Wrestling - John Jones, head coach; Chris Hunt, assistant. Middle School - position still vacant.
Cross Country - Dale Wescott, head coach.
Boys’ Basketball -Dale Wescott, head coach; Ben Kiger, assistant coach; and freshman coach still vacant. Middle school - Amy Morrison, head coach; and Shawn Callahan, assistant coach.
Girls’ Basketball - Travis Fleming, head coach; Bryan Lawson, assistant; Christi Wade, freshman coach. Middle school - head coach position is vacant, and Kim Thompson will be the assistant.
Track - Anita Anderson, head coach; and Spencer Gudde, Jim Harvey and Rich Johnson, assistant coaches. Middle school - Amy Morrison, head coach; and Steve Garnier, assistant coach.
Baseball - David Riley, head coach; and Charlie Castle, assistant coach. Second assistant coach is vacant.
Spring Softball - Head coaching position is vacant and Allison Edwards will be the assistant coach.
Game Supervision - Jim Harvey.
Cheerleading - Tracy Ewens, head coach; and Colby Snodgrass, assistant.
Weightroom - Rich Johnson.
Other teachers and sponsors include: Joan Stout, HMS student council; Travis Williams, band and marching band; Jon West, HMS and HHS choirs; Jamie Barbour, flag corps; Sheryl Book, HHS yearbook; Morgan Parrish, HMS yearbook; Andrea Evans and Tammy Vogler, HHS student council; Nancy Yankee and Andrea Evans, senior class sponsors; Shawna Gard and Stephanie Stewart, junior class sponsors; Rusty Kephart and Tammy Vogler, FFA sponsor and assistant sponsor; Debbie Southard, FCCLA sponsor; Sheryl Book, National Honor Society; Ginger Jones, FBLA; Steve Garnier, academic bowl; David Iott, HHS science olympiad; Stacey McCune, HMS science olympiad; Laurelyn Roberts, speech; Ken Harding, Penny Turner and Janine Slava, HMS math relays; Andrea Evans, HHS math relays; Stacey McCune and Sheryl Book, HSTW co-coordinators; Gerry Pierce, coordinator GED, Virtuals Schools and Summer Bridge; and Debi Hertzog, E-MINTS trainer.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
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R. L. Phillips Construction job superintendent Gene Hagan told Holden R-III School District superintendent Scott Slava and members of the school board that he was hopeful of the high school’s administrative offices being ready for occupancy by August 10.
At a walk-through of the HHS construction project Thursday night, he told the gathering that they had experienced some dirt issues but that they had been resolved. He stated that if they didn’t encounter other problems the offices should be ready by deadline.
Hagan answered questions while the board toured the project looking at progress especially in the administrative office, library/media center, music room and new hallways that will lead to the new wing.
Construction will continue through next school year, but according to Hagan, much of it will be outside the walls and shouldn’t unduly bother students.
After the walk-through, the board met in the superintendent’s conference room to pass the 2007-2008 budget for the school district.
Prior to the budget discussion, Slava informed the board that the district had been named a recipient of a $250,000 grant to provide sidewalks to the city of Holden. He stated that the city would do the construction and the school district would reimburse the cost out of the grant. The grant came from the Missouri Department of Transportation.
The budget was unanimously passed with little fanfare at the short special meeting conducted by board president Jeff Miller.
It calls for projected revenue of $13,240,512 and expected expenditures of $18,161,388. With a present balance of $7,822,100, the district should have an ending balance of $2,901,224.
Slava explained to the board that the expenditures include $4,000,000 of bond monies for the HHS building project. In his budget message, he said, “So in a comparative sense of comparing revenue to expense, we are deficit spending $920,876.”
He also stated that another approximate $600,000 will be paid to the building project in 2008-2009 which will leave a real number of roughly $2.3 million in reserves.
Some items of interest included in the budget are:
Preschool - With a $75,000 state grant, the preschool is basically self-sustaining. This situation allows the district to institute a sliding scale to allow for lower-income access.
Elem/Intermediate Schools - Class sizes will be in the low to mid-20s range with five rooms at each grade level. Slava informed the board that there were no available classrooms in either of the buildings for growth. The e-mints program continues to be fully-maintained in all five fourth-grade classrooms.
Middle School - Additional materials for restructuring science classrooms/curriculums have been added. Also, an additional half-time reading support will be added. Some carpeting and general classroom furniture is being replaced.
High School - Although the school has completed the final year of the High School That Works federal grant of $75,000 per year, the school will continue to implement the program. There is still a state grant of $25,000 for the next two years. Additions include a new language arts position and even without grant funding, the SOAR program to assist in the recovery of potential dropouts will be started.
In an executive session after the budget meeting, the board acknowledged the retirement of paraprofessional Neva Hobbs and hired Bryan Lawson, paraprofessional; Dennis Ridenhour, maintenance; Edie Ogan, middle school counselor; and Deanna Newsome, paraprofessional.
The July regular meeting will be held July 16 instead of July 9.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
Obituaries
MARGARET M. GOULD
Margare
t M. Gould, 80, of Holden, MO passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2007.
Services were held 1 p.m. Saturday, June 16 at Park Lawn Chapel, 8251 Hillcrest Road where visitation began at 12:30 p.m. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Margaret was born August 9, 1926 in Oswego, KS. She retired from USDA as a key-punch operator.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence G. Gould; son, Bruce Lee Gould, her parents and a sister.
She leaves a daughter, Donna Kay Wright and husband, Ron; son, C. Russell Gould and wife, Cathy; four grandchildren, Jennifer Turner, husband Justin; Julie McRay, husband Keaton; C.J. Gould; Kimberly Gould; six great grand-children; sister, Irene Denney.
Arrangements were made by Park Lawn Chapel (816) 523-1234.
HORACE JAY RAMSEY
Horace Jay Ramsey, 85, passed away quietly at his home in Independence, MO, June 25, 2007. Services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 30, 2007 at Speaks Suburban Chapel, Independence, MO. Burial was in Floral Hills Cemetery, Raytown, MO. Visitation preceded the services from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Chapel.
Mr. Ramsey was born December 24, 1921 in Plainview, TX to Jesse and Jessie (Jennings) Ramsey. He was the third of five children. The family moved back to rural Higginsville, MO, shortly afterwards. He lived in Independence, MO since he married in 1941. He worked for Sunflower Ordinance, Sheffield Steel and Bendix-Honeywell. He was employed as a machinist, tool and die maker, mold maker and machinist. He made speciality parts for local auto makers. He retired from Honeywell in 1986. He worked on cars for relatives and friends in his spare time. He built his own home and loved to travel
He was very proud when he got his GED at age 79. He was a member of the Noland Road Baptist Church. Mr. Ramsey was preceded in death by his wife Mary (Ryan) Ramsey in 1991 and a daughter Alma Nichelson Mhoon in 2006. Also, two brothers, Ralph Ramsey in 1977 and Earl Ramsey in May 2007.
He is survived by three daughters, Patricia Wheeler and husband Joe, Bates City, MO; Beverly Buchan, Independence, MO; and Brenda Singleton and husband Mitch of Independence, MO; and sisters, Ethel Cleveland, Lee’s Summit, MO; and Mary Faulkenberry, Lone Jack, MO. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.speakschapel.com.
Arranges by Speaks Suburban Chapel (816) 373-3600.
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