Smithville R-II honors students, announces Feb. 21 STEM family day with Google partnership

Superintendent Dr. Moss used the November meeting to recognize Smithville students and staff and to preview district events and initiatives.

Dr. Moss congratulated Smithville High School golfer Natalie Neal and four cross-country state qualifiers, noting students’ placements at the Class 3 state championships. Two students, Jack Johnston and Logan Throm, briefly addressed the board about their statewide finishes: Johnston said he placed tenth and Throm said he finished 16th.

Principals from the district’s elementary and middle schools — Melinda Stewart (Eagle Heights Elementary), Christy Mellon (Horizon Elementary), Taylor John (Maple) and Todd Guadavar (middle school) — were acknowledged after the district noted that those schools and Smithville Middle School were included on US News & World Report’s expanded list of best elementary and middle schools.

Dr. Moss said fall building visits have been valuable and highlighted a staff-morale survey with more than 80% participation that the district will use to set goals. “We give that both in the fall and in the spring, and it's consistent over the last several years,” Dr. Moss said, adding that administrators will use selected survey questions to form stretch goals and accountability pairings.

Dr. Moss also announced a family STEM day on Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to be staged with Platte County and Discovery Education because the district’s high school site is under construction. ‘‘Because we have a data center, if you guys haven't noticed just south, they have the walls up on their first building,’’ Dr. Moss said, referring to the local Google data center and the opportunity to partner on a STEM event.

The board’s recognitions and community-event announcements were presented as informational items without a formal vote.