TIGER TIMES
District news to community, parents, staff, and students!
Doors installed on campus through safety grant
CAMPUS SAFETY: As the district continues to focus on safety, a brand new door has been installed for additional egress at the Piney River Technical Center (PRTC). The effort was supported by a Safety Grant. We have installed nine new doors this year at various locations on campus. Our administration, in cooperation with the district Safety Team, will continue to assess and prioritize safety needs in the district.
Proposition Track & Field informational page
On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, voters in the Houston R-1 School District will be asked to consider a $3 million No-Levy-Increase Bond Issue. If passed, the bond would provide funds for the renovation, construction, equipping and furnishing of an athletic complex to include a new track and associated event areas. It would also, to the extent funds are available, construct, equip and furnish an outdoor storage facility, install a turf field, prepay principal on existing lease financings and complete other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the district.
Please visit this webpage - PROPOSITION TRACK & FIELD - for voter registration information, ballot language and frequently asked questions
Help us host After Prom 2024
We're looking for community partners to help us with facilitating a safe and fun 2024 After Prom. Whether it be money, gift cards, raffle prizes or donations, any donations will be used toward Prom and After Prom, which will be held at Fun City in Mountain Grove.
To assist or for more information, please contact Sadie Gill at sgill@houston.k12.mo.us or 417-967-3024 ext. 2407 or Erin Johnston at ejohnstion@houston.k12.mo.us.
Summary of March School Board Meeting
Here is a summary from the March 12 Board of Education meeting:
- Recognized Middle School Student of the Month Robert Easley, Art Teacher Haydee Raymond, and our Houston R-I Board of Education.
- Received a verbal report by Coach Jeff Richardson on the Tiger Development Academy (TDA).
- Approved the Intergovernmental Agreement regarding facility usage by the City of Houston.
- Approved MSBA Policy BBFA. Policy BBFA is the Board Member Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure policy. This policy has to be adopted every other year.
- Information was provided regarding insurance rates for next year. Our current consortium, MET, has seen a 3.6% increase to rates overall. During the 23-24 school year, the BOE elected to fully pay employee benefits at $636 per employee, per month. If we elect to fully pay the same plan that would be an increase of $23 per employee, per month. This would be an annual increase of approximately $55,200. This information will be reviewed by the Climate & Culture, Compensation, and Calendar (CCC) Team. There will be a recommendation at the next board meeting.
- Approved the MSBA Full Maintenance Service Agreement. This agreement is an annual agreement between the BOE and the district regarding purpose and conditions, services, fee and fee payment schedule, and special terms.
- Approved the Hudl TV proposal as presented by Mr. McNiell and Coach Hall. Hudl is a platform that will capture all athletic contests held on the football field or inside The Tiger Fieldhouse through online streaming. This includes middle school and junior varsity games, which are not currently streamed. The district will partner with the Houston Herald to use the streaming software.
- The PRTC Director and the Assistant Superintendent Position considerations were tabled for future discussion and decision-making.
- Reports by building administrators were presented.
- Superintendent report was presented as included the following:
- Update on Proposition Track & Field to include Custards with Copley on March 25, from 4-6 hosted at The Corner; Ministerial Alliance Visit on March 13, at noon; Request for Proposals have been sent out to companies and will be executed through TIPS cooperative purchasing; proposals are due on March 21. A special Board of Education meeting will take place on March 22 to review proposals. The contingency to the bid process and movement forward will be the successful passing of our April 2, bond measure; discussion regarding the current reality of our proposal as it relates to turf and natural fields.
- Update on PRTC roof and active leaks. West Plains Roofing has been notified.
- Update on football field damage. Investigation is ongoing.
- Update on PRTC: Ramp installation is expected to take place next week; South egress door has been installed; Continued work with Dake Wells Architecture regarding long-range planning design work for the PRTC.
- Update on the Houston Alternative Learning Opportunities (HALO) Building: Receiving bids on control access; Other quotes will be presented for approval during the April BOE meeting.
- Update on water/lead testing and recent results. Please click here for recent results: https://www.houston.k12.mo.us/page/water-act
- Important Dates: Board Candidate Forum, March 26, 5:30-6:30; Special Board Meeting , March 22, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
- Approved the resignation of Sadie Gill (Family & Consumer ScienceTeacher, FCCLA & Junior Class Sponsor) at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
- Extended contracts to all probationary teachers on the list presented to the Board for Elementary, Middle School, and High School for the 2024-2025 school year.
- Heard from Mr. Jim Moore, assistant elementary principal and boys' basketball and softball head coach.
- Received Non-Certified evaluations and Extra Duty evaluations from the administrative team.
- Were updated on legal matters from Dr. Copley.
Click here to read school board minutes from any meeting, anytime.
COLLEGE PREP SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS
Juniors & Families - The application is now open for the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program! Awards include full scholarships to college summer programs, essay workshops, $1,000 awards, and more. See the information below or visit questbridge.org to learn more.
Job openings in our district
Looking to make a difference in education? Want to join an amazing team? Desire to be part of a special community? We may have the opportunity for you! Houston Schools has positions available. They include:
- Middle School Science
- Elementary Teacher
- Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
- H.A.L.O. Paraprofessional/Behavior Techniian
- Speech Language Pathologist
- HS Mathematics Teacher
- Paraprofessional
- School Social Worker
READ MORE AND APPLY https://bit.ly/3HXhdX3
Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act
In order to be compliant with the Missouri law known as the "Get the Lead out of School Drinking Water Act," the Houston District will conduct sampling and testing of all potential drinking water sources in the school. The results of the water testing, including any corrective actions and retesting needed, will be posted on our school website (www.houston.k12.mo.us) and placed in the districtwide and community newsletter, Tiger Times. The results are typically available 7-14 days after the water samples have been submitted to the lab.
READ THE LATEST RESULTS SUBMITTED 3/8/24: Get the Lead Out of Drinking Water Index.
Additional information and resources on the health effects of lead contamination are available here: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water#health
School Board DRAFT Policies
The most recent draft school polices for consideration can be found by clicking the link below. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to direct those to Dr. Copley at jcopley@houston.k12.mo.us or communications@houston.k12.mo.us.
Bond refinancing will save taxpayers about $375,000
Houston Schools recently refinanced its general obligation bonds to save the district just over $375,000 in future expenses. Dr. Justin Copley, superintendent, expressed enthusiasm and support for the refunding option selected by the board of education in cooperation with the district’s municipal bond underwriter.
“This plan achieves significant savings and allows the district to capture better conditions in the municipal bond market for the benefit of our taxpayers,” Copley said. “It also preserves considerable flexibility for the district in the future for building improvements with no-tax rate increase opportunities.”
Close The Gap offers up to $1,500 for families
Missouri’s "Close the Gap Grant" has opened to families to receive financial assistance for educational services and products. If you have a K-12 student, you're eligible to receive a one-time grant of up to $1,500 for each eligible student for items such as internet connectivity, educational programs, and more!
📋 Visit this link to apply and learn more ->missouri.withodyssey.com!
🔗 Learn more at missouri.withodyssey.com. Or for assistance, contact Mrs. Stephanie Barbagiovanni at sbarbagiovanni@houston.k12.mo.us.
Safety Team Update
The District's Safety Team meets weekly to address needs, issues and concerns on campus. Here are highlights from a recent meeting:
- Discussed new cameras for the campus as well as new video/intercom installation.
- Reviewed displays in office areas to view security cameras on campus.
- Plan to establish Building Level Security Teams as part of our CSIP goal with the intention to begin in the 2024-25 school year.
- Talked about propped open doors on campus, especially lately, and the safety concern doing so.
- Reviewed spending and funds available for the Safety Grant, specifically related to lighting on campus.
- Heard from Dr. Copley the latest test results from the "Get the Lead out of School Drinking Water Act."
We have a new official address
206 West Spruce Street
Houston, MO 65483
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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Information
Last week, Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has launched a new website: www.missouri988.org. The site provides information for anyone who may be experiencing a mental health, suicide, or substance use crisis.
The newly designated 988 phone number went live nationwide on July 16, 2022. Since that time, it has routed thousands of individuals to local, trained crisis specialists at Missouri’s 988 centers. The 988 crisis line connects anyone experiencing a mental health, suicide, or substance use crisis to compassionate, accessible care and support, available 24/7. Support is free and confidential.
Programs and Resources for Homeless Students
Eligibility for Services
Homeless students are individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and include the following:- Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals.
- Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
- Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings.
- Migratory children who meet one of the above-described circumstances.
What's going on with our CSIP... (Update: 1/9/24)
Celebrations:
- Our CSIP was approved and amended on 10/10/23 by the local Board of Education. The amendment included some required literacy language/goals.
- We successfully submitted the plan to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
- The plan was approved. We received our scoring guide from the DESE State Supervisor on January 5, with positive feedback. We earned 30 out of 30 points possible in this area of our Annual Performance Report (APR). Great job team! For your reference, I have included the guide below.
General Information:
- Next meetings:
- March 6, 3:30-5:30, MS/HS Library
- May 1, 3:30-5:30, MS/HS Library
- Click here for the current/approved CSIP (2023-2026).
- As you all know, the CSIP is a living-working document. As the year and years proceed, there may be areas that we need to omit, add, adjust, etc. We have provided the following guidance for those requesting a change: CSIP Proposal for Change. This form can be used by internal and external stakeholders.
- As you may or may not be aware, our district Annual Performance Report (APR) was released recently. Below you will find the links for a district/building breakdowns:
- As an ongoing process, if you are team leader of a specific strategy and have an update on any of your action steps listed in the CSIP, please let me know. The document listed above reflects the last quarterly presentation to the Board of Education. Each quarter I will update the master prior to presentation.
Join our team! Click below for active openings.
Dr. Justin Copley
#houstonfutureready I #thebestwillbe I #thetigerway
Email: jcopley@houston.k12.mo.us
Website: www.houston.k12.mo.us
Location: 423 West Pine Street, Houston, MO, USA
Phone: (417)967-3024
Facebook: facebook.com/houstonmotigers
Twitter: @houstonmotigers