Board approves agenda, consent items, $4.92M in accounts payable and advances 11 policy changes to first reading

At its regular meeting the Joplin Schools Board of Education approved the meeting agenda, a consent agenda, $4,922,163.11 in accounts payable for the current bill cycle and advanced 11 policy changes for a first reading.

A motion to approve the agenda as presented was made by Miss Sherrick and seconded by Mister Robertson; the board recorded five affirmative votes and the agenda carried. Later, a motion by Mr Weaver, seconded by Miss Schroeder, approved the consent agenda with unanimous recorded votes.

The board considered accounts payable for the current bill cycle totaling $4,922,163.11. Miss Toft presented the accounts payable amount and said it was lower than the $12,972,000 shown in the same report a year earlier because of differences in payroll timing. A motion by Miss Sherrick, seconded by Miss Schroeder, carried to approve the accounts payable as presented.

On policy updates, administrators said the district was reviewing 11 policies recommended by the Missouri School Boards Association covering topics including school board ballot issues, closed meeting requests, academic calendar information, part-time staff treatment, student absenteeism, suicide awareness and prevention, virtual courses and compulsory attendance. Doctor Seketa recommended the board approve the 11 policies for a first reading. A motion by Mr Reaver, seconded by Mr Robertson, carried to approve the first reading of the policies as presented.

Other routine business included a health and dental report for seven months of the year showing expenses of $4,537,565 (about 55.8% of that fund’s budget) and mention of an OptumRx refund of $270,870 that reduced monthly expenses. The board moved to adjourn by motion of Ms Sherrick and Mr Robertson, and the meeting ended by recorded affirmative votes.