The School Board hired a new high school principal, approved a construction management firm and heard an update on middle school happenings during its meeting Thursday night.
The board voted to hire Justin Bogart as high school principal for the 2023-2024 school year. Bogart is currently an associate principal at Shawnee Mission South. He taught for five years at De Soto High School at the beginning of his career before teaching at Mill Valley for 15 years, according to Shawnee Mission South.
Current Principal Ron Abel announced his retirement from the district after 27 years.
The board also voted to have Newkirk Novak Construction Partners complete future growth projects relating to the bond issue. The board interviewed five firms at its previous special meeting.
In other news, the board recognized state qualified wrestlers, choir and band students.
Principal Jeremy Thomas and Assistant Principal Ty Pattison gave an update on the middle school’s extracurriculars.
Thomas said the school hopes for every student to be involved in an after–school activity. About 94% of sixth and seventh graders, and 85% of eighth graders are involved in an activity in or outside of school. Although the percentages are high, Thomas said staff are still looking to raise these numbers to 100%.
“But also, what would [students] want to be involved in? Our teachers really took that and started to think ahead to next year for enrichment programs. What programs could we maybe offer to get kids to participate?” Thomas said.
After the introduction of the hunter safety class, Pattison said all 43 students who participated passed the final exam and received their hunter education certification.
“It was just cool to see some of these kids, some of them had never shot a firearm before, just being able to get the different shots that they had was not your normal field day for hunter safety,” Pattison said.
During Superintendent Stu Moeckel’s report, he discussed the city’s application for the RAISE Grant and how it could affect the district traffic. The district signed a letter of support for the grant, which would widen Church Street near the schools.
The grant could potentially give a new entrance to the high school, which would lessen the amount of traffic on the main entrance.
“I don’t know if it would alleviate Church Street, but it may give some other options for leaving the high school,” Moeckel said. “This project is very extensive and it’s a big ask, but we should know, the mayor thought, by June this year.”
The board also opened a request for proposals for their yearly Chromebook purchases. Proposals must be submitted to the board by April 4. The board will review the bids before the April board meeting. The new Chromebooks will go to fifth and ninth graders.
The board also approved a new four–year lease of 220 MacBooks for staff, totaling to $201,069. The current Apple lease will end after this year.
In other news, the board approved the retirement of two other district employees, elementary teacher Dick Powers and data specialist Becky White.
The board also approved the resignations of eight district employees, and the employment of a new high school volleyball coach, Brooke Hopper.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected]
