Friday, Nov. 30, 2012
Students honored at Harrisonville school board meeting
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ReprintIt was standing room only at the Nov. 20 Harrisonville School District Board of Education meeting at the central office building as high school students, parents, and coaches filled every chair in the house in support of a student recognition presentation.
Introducing three groups of students to be honored, Andy Campbell, principal of Harrisonville High School, emphasized the significance of their accomplishments.
“Obviously, when you are charged with recognizing students at Harrisonville High School, it is a hard task, because we have so many students who do such great things,” he said. “Thank you so much for being here tonight, and thank you for sharing such great kids with us.”
Head tennis coach James Norman gave a brief overview of the team’s accomplishments. Finishing the season 10-3, the team placed second in conference, became district champions for the first time in school history, and placed eighth at state.
Cassie Long, Mallory Sturdevant, Genevieve Allen, Madison Allen, Madison Hurd, Audrey Marshall, Lexi Eghbali, and Jessica Nichols — all state qualifiers — were recognized at the meeting.
Layne Anderson, head cross country coach, provided an overview of Melissa Watson’s noteworthy year. She finished first and set a new course record at the Missouri River Valley Conference meet as well as set the high school individual women’s course record at Harrisonville. She also finished 43rd at state.
A large group of drama students, including Austin Welhoff, Hanna May, Jacob Davis, Hannah Welhoff, Matt Welhoff, Victoria Liera, Kira Dill, Reagan Holden, Brook Rogers, Tanis Ham, Trish Price, and Emily Moles, were honored for their work on the “Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat” program to collect food for the local food pantry. When speaking about these students’ work, Campbell’s enthusiasm was apparent.
“Every year, our theater and drama kids work on this national program,” he said. “It is something that they have really embraced and made an annual tradition at the high school.”
Working in cooperation with Grain Valley High School, Harrisonville High School managed to collect 10,938 pounds of food (more than 7,000 pounds of which came from Harrisonville) for the pantry, which, according to Campbell, was more than neighboring (and much larger) district Lee’s Summit’s 7,000 pounds.
Deb Welhoff, school board president, who has children in the drama program, added that the group let her tag along during the food collection project. She was blown away by the level of support and generosity garnered from Harrisonville residents.
“The city of Harrisonville just gives,” she said. “All I can say is I was humbled by the experience.”
Following the student recognition segment of the meeting, the board heard several informational items and addressed a handful of regular business action items.
Rose Ann Bostic, president of Harrisonville PTO, presented a report of the organization’s goals and activities for the year.
Chris Bell, MSBA delegate and school board member, updated the board on recent Missouri School Boards Association activities.
Marie Vallee, board representative for the Harrisonville Public School Foundation, updated the group on this organization’s recent activities.
The board approved revisions to policies KG and ECG as presented.
The board approved the hire of an additional Early Childhood Special Education paraprofessional at Harrisonville Early Childhood Center starting in December.
The board accepted a bid from CARE Sales & Service — one of three proposals received — in the amount of $17,001 for three countertop steamers with support stands.
A motion also carried to establish Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 at 5 p.m. as the filing dates for candidates to the Harrisonville Cass R-IX Board of Education election Tuesday, April 2, 2013. Two three-year positions will be filled. The board terms of Vallee and Bell will be expired.
