Key News
Harrisonville Schools E-newsletter - January 29, 2020
Board of Education places two issues on April 7 ballot
Last week, the Board of Education approved resolutions to place a bond issue and levy issue on the April 7th ballot.
In brief, the bond issue is a no tax rate increase issue for $22,700,000 for providing funds to improve safety & security, replace roofs, HVAC units, and boilers; improve technology and playgrounds, and other repairs & improvements as identified in the Hollis+Miller (architect) facilities needs assessment. This issue requires a 4/7 majority to pass and would result in a 10 cent debt service levy rollback. The district’s debt service levy would decrease from $1.1772 to $1.0772. This is Prop N on the ballot.
The levy proposal seeks a 50 cent operating levy increase for the purpose of attracting and retaining quality staff through salary increases. This issue requires a simple majority to pass and it will be Prop I on the ballot. If passed, the district’s operating levy would increase from $3.9000 to $4.4000.
If both measures pass, the net levy would increase from $5.0772 to $5.4772 per $100 assessed valuation.
Over the next two months, the district will be providing information in the form of emails, a webpage, community presentations and more. Any questions you have throughout the next two months can be emailed to Superintendent Paul Mensching at paul.mensching@harrisonvilleschools.org or Jill Filer at jill.filer@harrisonvilleschools.org.
You can view the Board meeting minutes here - https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/hcass/Board.nsf/Public and the ballot language is below.
Carter wins district spelling bee
Harrisonville Middle School seventh grader Quincy Carter will represent the Harrisonville School District at the Cass County Spelling Bee. Carter won the district spelling bee on January 27 to advance to the county competition.
The spelling bee is open to students in grades fourth-eighth. Each Communication Arts class at HMS participated in a class spelling bee and those winners advanced to the district spelling bee. Also advancing to the district bee were the winners of the McEowen Elementary School spelling bee.
Carter won the event in 14 rounds by correctly spelling the word “contemplate.”
Eighth grader Kayla Mason was the runner-up and will compete at the Cass County Spelling Bee if Carter is unable to participate.
Other students competing at the district spelling bee were Ashlynn Adams, Lyra Johnson, Isaac Lake, Brecken Sullivan, Cowan Raubs, Seth Estes, Haylie Forrest, Logan Boyle, Ethan Hiser, Ethan Stone, Brierly Hasek, Steven Overbay, Gavin Sartain, Adysen Eng, Isabelle Roepke, Kallie Lemons, Cameron Gray, Warren Highley, Dominic Jackson, Emma Bagby, Drew Droege, Summer Williams, Ben Costner, Brayden Fields, Ayden Little, Samantha Young, and Zayda Jones.
The Cass County Spelling Bee will be hosted by the Raymore-Peculiar School District on March 11. The winner of the county bee will participate in the 2020 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May in Washington, D.C.
Culpepper to return as HMS assistant principal
Harrisonville Schools is pleased to announce that Mr. Chad Culpepper will return to the district as the new Harrisonville Middle School assistant principal.
Mr. Culpepper is currently the head administrator at Harrisonville Christian School where he’s worked for three years. Prior to that, he was a teacher at HMS for five and a half years.
Mr. Culpepper earned his master’s degree from the University of Central Missouri and he earned his bachelor’s degree from Evangel University. He is also a Harrisonville High School graduate.
He was the Harrisonville Schools Educator of the Year in 2016.
He is married to Emma and they have two children with a baby boy due soon; Eleanor (4), Orvis (3), and Lincoln.
Mr. Culpepper will begin in July. He takes over for Mrs. Chrystal Mayfield who is leaving to be the superintendent in Strasburg.
Reece selected for Distinguished Wall of Fame induction
A Harrisonville High School graduate will become the fifty-third alum inducted into the HHS Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame during Courtwarming activities at HHS on February 14.
Stuart Reece, HHS Class of 1990, has 24 years of teaching and coaching experience. He has been recognized in both areas with numerous awards and honors, however, it is the lessons he teaches beyond the classroom and court that make Reece stand out.
Reece has been the boys and girls tennis coach for Lee’s Summit North since 2003. As part of the program, he created Fun Fridays inviting any youth to enjoy tennis lessons provided free of charge by his players on Friday afternoons. From that, he developed a program through which LSN tennis players traveled to courts near Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School in Kansas City to provide free lessons for children in the inner city. His players also provide morning clinics in the winter at a Lee’s Summit middle school.
His and his players’ outreach work was recognized with the NAIA Team of Character Award and the WDAF/Fox4 Reaching for Excellence Award in 2016. Reece was also selected as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIS) Coach of Character.
Reece also created a “no-cut” tennis program at Lee’s Summit North. This philosophy encourages all to participate to learn and enjoy a “lifelong sport.” In its first year, the no-cut program brought in 60 girls to the program (compared to 25). He developed a novice tournament so that all have the opportunity to compete. He was named a USTA National All-Star No-Cut Coach in 2016.
Finally, Reece adopted a “code” for LSN tennis which his players and parents receive at the start of the season and which are posted at the courts. The “code” states that “playing tennis by the code when you are on the court helps you make your match a positive experience for everyone. Living the code while you are off the court has the same effect.” An example of the code is making a call accurately on the court and in life this translates to living with integrity so that no one ever questions your judgement or decisions.
Reece currently teaches health at Bernard Campbell Middle School in the Lee’s Summit School District. He has received the Lee’s Summit R-7 Teacher of Distinction Award (2017), and the Lee’s Summit R-7 Excellence in Education Award (2016). He was also a Lee’s Summit Teacher of the Year finalist in 2016.
As a coach, he was the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Missouri Tennis Coach of the Year in 2014. He was also the United States Tennis Association (USTA)/Heart of America High School Coach of the Year in 2016. In 2013, he lead the girls’ team to become Kansas City’s only public school in MSHSAA tennis history to win a boys or girls’ state championship. He’s also served as a varsity assistant girls’ basketball coach at Lee’s Summit West and Lee’s Summit High School
Reece earned his undergraduate degree in secondary education/physical education from William Jewell College and his master’s in athletic administration, health and physical education from Northwest Missouri State University. In addition to Lee’s Summit, he’s taught and coached in the Hillsboro R-3, Northwest, and Macks Creek R-V school districts.
During high school, he was involved in math club, Spanish club, vocal music, scholar bowl, basketball and tennis at HHS.
Reece has been married to Rebekah for 23 years and have two daughters, Julia and Katie. Reece serves as a Deacon in the First Baptist Church of Lee's Summit and he helps sponsor Club-121 at Campbell Middle School.
The public is invited to a reception to honor Reece from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 in the Harrisonville High School library. He will be introduced to the community between the JV and varsity boys’ basketball games that night at approximately 6:45 p.m. in the gym.
Inductees are selected based on their significant contribution to their community or their field of work. Nominations are accepted continuously with the deadline for consideration each year on October 31.
For more information, contact the Harrisonville Public School Foundation at 380-2727, ext. 1224.
Foundation announces new program
The Harrisonville Public School Foundation recently announced the creation of a new program benefiting Harrisonville Schools and honoring a long-time Foundation board member.
The new Bill Mills Leaving A Legacy Grant will be an addition to the Foundation’s Excellence in Academics program which honors students who complete the year in the top 15% of their class. For the past 12 years, seniors who earn this honor for four years have received a $500 scholarship from the Foundation. The Foundation has presented 314 scholarships totaling $157,000.
Through the new Leaving a Legacy initiative, each four-year Excellence in Academics recipient will also now have the opportunity to choose a school-sponsored program, department or extracurricular activity to receive a $250 mini grant from the Foundation. The program creates an opportunity for four-year Excellence in Academics recipients to pay it forward within the school district.
Leaving a Legacy aligns with the Foundation’s goal to enhance, supplement, support and expand student- and school-based learning activities and initiatives. The Foundation created this initiative in honor of Mr. Mills because of his desire to invest in Harrisonville Schools programs and activities that benefit students throughout the district and to provide a small thank you for all he’s given to the Foundation over the years.
Mr. Mills served on the Foundation board for more than 25 years and retired from the board last June. He is a past president and a Founding Donor at the Platinum Level. He is a 1972 graduate of Harrisonville High School and a 2014 inductee into the Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame.
The announcement was made at the January 15 Harrisonville Rotary Club meeting with Foundation trustees surprising Mr. Mills in front of friends and family.
District seeks retiree information
Did you retire from Harrisonville Schools?
The district is looking to "catch-up" with all our #WildcatFamily retirees & develop an accurate database of our retirees near & far.
If you retired as a Harrisonville Wildcat, please fill out the form at the link below.
If you know of retirees, please share this information with them.
Harrisonville Schools Retiree Contact Form
The Spring Retiree Luncheon will be March 2 at 11:30 a.m. at the Administrative Offices.
District announces January Kudos to Cats recipients
Harrisonville Schools recently recognized the monthly Kudos to Cats recipients. The new Kudos to Cats program is a way for anyone to express gratitude to any Harrisonville Schools staff member who goes above and beyond what is expected.
The January recipients are listed below.
Nominations for Kudos to Cats recognition are open on an ongoing basis and staff will be honored monthly. To nominate a staff member, go to this link - https://forms.gle/MkaXH7CAwnNzDTfz9.
Courtwarming shirts now on sale; orders due 1/31
Bright Futures News
- Know a young lady in need of a prom dress? The HHS Bright Futures Council will once again host 30 girls for their Prom Closet event. The group will travel to Woods Chapel Methodist Church in Lee's Summit on March 3 for the Prom Boutique event. Students should see Nurse Hipp at HHS for more info.
- Station 42 - our clothing, shoes, & hygiene resource area - is open twice a month. The open dates are the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Tuesday of the month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The event is open to any families in need.
- A big thank you to Tim and Karen Soulis, owners of Golden Classics Jewelers, who presented Bright Futures Harrisonville with checks totaling $1,100. The donation included contributions from Shivers Ice House, the Heartland RoadRunners, and Willard Yoder. The donation will be used for the Food 4 Thought Backpack program which provides two days of child-friendly, nutritious food over the weekend for students in need. The backpack program is made possible entirely through community donations. For more information on supporting this program, call 380-2727, ext. 1224 or donations can be mailed to 503 S. Lexington, Harrisonville, MO 64701.
- Thank you to those who attended the Winter Market in January at Mill-Walk Mall and participated in the raffle. We received $100 from the event.
Points of Pride
- Congratulations to the January Students of the Month - Karley Reynolds & Austen Cesonis. Read more about them here.
- Congratulations to Harrisonville High School band director Ben Johnson who was inducted into the national Phi Beta Mu band director's honor fraternity-Missouri Lamba Chapter. He was nominated for this honor by retired Harrisonville band director Ed Roberts. To become a member, a band director must be placed in nomination through a letter of recommendation. A selection committee reviews the nominees for placement on a ballot and then, the current membership of the fraternity votes. A nominee must receive 95% of the vote to be initiated. Over 20 candidates were nominated this year, eight were moved forward by the selection committee; and six band directors were selected for membership in the class of 2020.
- Congrats to Hannah Dinges (far left) who placed 4th at the State FFA Quarter Horse Public Speaking Contest on Saturday, January 18th in Columbia.
- Congrats to the HHS show choirs who came home with top places from their first competition (Forefront won their division and Music Makers took 2nd in Class 4, Best Ballad, Best Band, and 2nd Runner-up).
- Congrats to the HHS band students who performed with the All-District Band on Jan. 18 -Mary O'Reilly, Michael Dahn, Landen Laizure, and Alex Sheldrake.
- Congratulations to the HHS wrestlers who brought home medals from the conference wrestling tournament (Trevor Campbell-1st Place, Brayden Talley-1st Place, Carson Miller-3rd Place, Nick Ripperger-4th Place, and Austen Cesonis-4th Place).
Congrats to the seven HHS volleyball players who made Academic All-State. The requirements include a 3.6 cumulative GPA or higher and 75% varsity. The honorees are Arden Middaugh, Kaylee Turner, Rylee Smalley, Chloe Shepard, Elizabeth Bostic, Kennedy Smalley, and Erison Maxwell.
Congrats to the Wildcat basketball team on winning the Stockton Tournament this weekend! The Cats beat Sarcoxie, 46-26 to bring home the trophy!
Congratulations to the Wildcat swim team on earning 4th at the Belton Invitational.
Congratulations to Harrisonville High School junior George Frees who finished in the top 5 of the annual Society for Neuroscience Kansas City’s Brain Bee on Jan. 25 at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS.
- Each week, HHS students and coaches/sponsors are featured on the Sonic Locker Room Radio Show. The show airs on Mondays at 4:45 p.m. on 1030 AM or you can listen to archived shows online at www.soniclockerroom.com. This week's show features the HHS December & January Students of the Month.
- The district's Art in our Community program seeks to recognize our students for outstanding work in the visual arts. Several area businesses are participating in this program including Country Club Bank (S. Commercial location), the Cass County Public Library, Community Bank of Harrisonville (291 Hwy), Commerce Bank, Brick House Coffee Bar & Eatery, Schroeder Chiropractic, the Chamber of Commerce, and the District’s Administrative Office Lobby and Board of Education Room (503 S. Lexington). Artwork is rotated monthly and is posted on the district Facebook page - www.facebook.com/HarrisonvilleSchools.
HHS January Students of the Month
Johnson honored
Academic All-State Volleyball
Photos from Around the District
HHS presents A Midsummer Night's Dream
Principals about town
CCC hosts open house
Students participate in community group
Board of Education
Four file for seats on Board
Four candidates have filed for the three (3) three-year positions on the Harrisonville Schools Board of Education. The candidates, pictured from L to R, in order of filing and as their names will appear on the ballot, are:
Nancy L. Shelton
Bing Schimmelpfenning
Cameron Chenoweth
Chris R. Bell
The election will be held Tuesday, April 7. The voter registration deadline for this election is March 11.
January Board of Education Meeting
The Board will held its regular January meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at the district's Administrative Offices, 503 S. Lexington. Agenda items included:
- Recognition of HHS Students of the Month for January
- Recognition of Cass Career Center students
- PTO partner organization report
- Recognition of Board members as part of School Board Recognition Week (see photos below)
In addition, the board held a special meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23 for consideration of placing two items on the April 7 ballot (see above).
The agenda for monthly meetings are posted the Friday before and full minutes from each meeting are available here.
Videos of past meetings are available at this link - https://www.harrisonvilleschools.org/Page/940.
Supporting Our Own
Jan. 29 - Cass Career Center National Technical Honor Society Induction
Jan. 30 - Parents As Teachers Playgroup, 9:15 a.m., ECC
Jan. 31 - Preschool Preview Day, ECC
Jan. 31 - McEowen Positive Action Assembly, 9:15 a.m.
Jan. 31 - ECC Terrific Kids Assembly, 3 p.m.
Feb. 3 - 100th Day of School
Feb. 3-7 - National School Counseling Week
Feb. 4 - FBLA District Contest
Feb. 6 - Parents As Teachers Playgroup, 9:15 a.m., ECC
Feb. 7 - District hosts Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee, 7:30 a.m., HHS
Feb. 7 - HES Awards Assembly, 3 p..m.
Feb. 8 - HHS Show Choir Invitational, All Day, HHS
Feb. 11 - Parents As Teachers Storybook Cooks, 6 p.m., ECC
Feb. 13 - Parents As Teachers Playgroup, 9:15 a.m., ECC
Feb. 14 - HHS Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame reception, 5:30-6:30 p.m., HHS library
Feb. 14 - HHS Courtwarming
Feb. 14 - ECC, HES, & McEowen Valentine's parties
Community Events & Flyers
Check out our Community Flyers page on the website - click here. This page is updated regularly and current flyers are linked below.
Cass County Essay Contest -Submission Deadline April 3. $500 cash grand prize!!
Sweet Sounds Dessert Concert Fundraiser - HHS/HMS Bands HMS gym Feb. 6th at 6pm
Cass County 4H - Card Making Spin Club. Feb. 10th, 17th and 24th. Ages 10-14. 5:30-7:30
Harrisonville Branch CCPL February Book Club Information.
Internet Basics Class. Tue. Feb. 11th at 1pm. CCPL
Underground Readers- Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda. Feb. 13th at 3pm. Teen Program CCPL
Mask Making Craft Project. Teen Program (6th-12th) Grade. Thurs. Feb. 20th. 3pm. CCPL
Book Signing- Robin Xanders Holloway. Sat. Feb. 22nd 10am- 1pm. CCPL
Harrisonville Band Mattress Sale Fundraiser. Sat. March 7th 10am-5pm.
Teen Advisory Board. 6th - 12th Grades. 1st Thursday of the Month at 3:30pm. CCPL
Anime Club. Every Monday- EXCEPT the first Monday of the month. Grades 6-12. 3:30-5pm CCPL
HES- WInter/Spring Young Rembrandts. Tuesdays Feb. 4- April 28 4:10-5:10pm
McEowen-Winter Young Rembrandts Art Classes Tuesdays Feb. 4- April 28 4:00-5:00pm
About Us
Email: jill.filer@harrisonvilleschools.org
Website: www.harrisonvilleschools.org
Location: 503 South Lexington Street, Harrisonville, MO, USA
Phone: 8163802727
Facebook: facebook.com/HarrisonvilleSchools
Twitter: @HvilleSchools