Regular Board Meeting Teacher Workroom
April 8, 2026 8PM
The Hume R-VIII School Board met in regular session April 8, 2026, at 8:00PM in the teacher workroom.
Present: Josh Rogers, Zach Terry 8:26pm, Bryice Cannon, Franklin Dirks, Greg Fillpot, Jeff Fairbanks Scott Spencer, Becky Bryant, Scott Morrison and Melody Wikoff.
Absent:
Franklin Dirks and Greg Fillpot were sworn in by Melody Wikoff.
Election results were not read because the number of candidates needed was equal to the number of candidates filed.
Reorganization of the Board took place.
Mr. Dirks moves, Mr. Cannon seconds to nominate Josh Rogers for president. Unanimous approval, Rogers abstains.
Mr. Fillpot moves, Mr. Fairbanks seconds to nominate Bryice Cannon for vice-president. Unanimous approval, Cannon abstains.
Mr. Fillpot moves, Mr. Cannon seconds to nominate Scott Spencer as treasurer. Unanimous approval, Spencer abstains.
Mr. Cannon moves, Mr. Fillpot seconds to nominate Franklin Dirks for secretary. Unanimous approval.
Amendments to Agenda: additional bills, 13 staff resignation
Meeting was called to order by President, Josh Rogers.
Mr. Rogers read a card from Kelley Hopkins thanking the Board, Faculty, and Staff for the snack basket and flowers.
Mr. Fairbanks moves, Mr. Fillpot seconds to amend agenda for additional bills. Unanimous approval.
Principal's Report:
Ms. Bryant reported the following:
Tonight Mrs. Rogers and Ms. Walker hosted the Spring Literacy Family Night. They had several activities planned with a beach theme geared towards literacy and books for each student to choose from and take home with them.
Friday night is the School Play, Saving Serendipity with dinner starting at 6 pm and the performance following at 7:00.
We have 5 students competing at state FBLA this year. Competitors are leaving Sunday afternoon and will return Tuesday afternoon. Six students are attending an entrepreneur workshop day at Fort Scott Community College on Thursday with Janine. Next Saturday, high school Scholar Bowl competes in their district competition and the Junior High Science Olympiad team travels to UCM for State.
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End of Year MAP and EOC testing starts next week. 3rd-8th grade will start ELA sessions next week, with math sessions the week after. EOC tests will take place the week of April 27-May 1.
Spring Concert and Art Show is Thursday, April 23rd. The Art Show will start at 6:30 and the concert begins at 7:00.
The last day of school is May 7th. Preschool and Kindergarten graduation is scheduled for 9 am, elementary awards will follow at 10 am, and high school awards will start around 11:15 am.
Attendance - 73 students in grades PK-5 have an average attendance rate of 91.5%. We currently have 62 students in grades 6-12; their average attendance rate is 93.6%
Superintendent's Report:
1. Baccalaureate - Friday 5/1 @ 6:00 PM
2. Graduation - Saturday 5/2 @ 10:00 AM
3. Preschool - Passed licensing and achieved recognition of excellence through Missouri Accreditation providing Accreditation through May 28, 2029.
4. Bus 2 - is parked until Dale Snyder can fix it.
5. Softball - only one game rained out so far, doing well.
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6. Janitor Mr. Morrison reported to the Board on what was being done to help cover the custodian duties for the remainder of the school year until our full-time custodian is fully recovered from her surgery.
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7. Legislation - Mr. Morrison passed out the 4/7/2026 SWCenter Legislative Update handout to the Board and reviewed various senate and house bills and resolutions that are being proposed. Mr. Morrison focused on HJR 173 - Income Tax Proposal - reminding the Board that income tax is a major source of school funding. It would eliminate state income tax yet create a 13% sales tax that would be implemented on various services that are currently not taxed. Literacy legislation HB 2872 & SB 1442 was discussed. These bills will require and intensive intervention classroom without funding and making it mandatory to retain 3rd grade students if not reading at required level. HB 2710 sponsored by local rep Dane Diehl and SB 1653 is the creation of Accountability A-F Report Cards. This is set up to only allow 10% of the schools to receive an A rating.
Zach Terry was sworn in by Melody Wikoff.
Mr. Fillpot moves, Mr. Fairbanks seconds to consent amended agenda - approve March minutes and pay April bills. Unanimous approval; Rogers and Fairbanks abstaining from check(s) #45778.
New Business:
Mr. Fillpot moves, Mr. Fairbanks seconds to approve Football Coop with Rich Hill School District. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Morrison presented the Senior Graduation List to the Board.
Mr. Fillpot moves, Mr. Cannon seconds to approve the Senior Graduation list. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Cannon moves, Mr. Fillpot seconds to go into Executive Session for staff/employment, student records (sub-section 3, 6, 13) at 8:31pm. Rogers, Dirks, Fairbanks, Spencer, Cannon, Fillpot, Terry all in favor.
Mr. Cannon moves, Mr. Dirks seconds to come out of Executive Session for staff/employment, student records (sub-section 3, 6, 13) at 8:44pm. Rogers, Dirks, Fairbanks, Spencer, Cannon, Fillpot, Terry all in favor.
Mr. Cannon moves, Mr. Dirks seconds to approve Erika Irwin as an elementary teacher for 2026-2027. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Spencer moves, Mr. Fairbanks seconds to approve part-time music teacher Carla Armentrout for 26-27. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Fillpot moves, Mr. Cannon seconds to approve Amanda Scott as the science teacher for 26- 27. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Dirks moves, Mr. Terry seconds to approve Janine Castillo for RootEd and Post Secondary advisor for 26-27. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Fillpot moves, Mr. Terry seconds to approve employment of Melody Wikoff as Business Manager/Superintendent Secretary/Bookkeeper/Preschool Program Administrator for 2026- 2027 fiscal year at salaried position. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Terry moves, Mr. Fillpot seconds to approve employment of Kelley Hopkins as Head Custodian for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Spencer moves, Mr. Fairbanks seconds to approve employment of Sharyl Dale as Nurse/Receptionist for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Fillpot moves, Mr. Terry seconds to approve employment of Deanna Lewis as Food Service/Attendance/Building Secretary for 2026-2027 fiscal year with the option of working up to more than 23 days during the summer. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Cannon moves, Mr. Spencer seconds to approve employment of David Brooks as Bus Driver for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval, Rogers, Fairbanks, Terry abstains.
Mr. Spencer moves, Mr. Fillpot seconds to approve employment of Gene Franklin as Bus Driver for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval
Mr. Fairbanks moves, Mr. Fillpot seconds to approve employment of Cheyenne Yarick as paraprofessional for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval, Rogers abstained.
Mr. Spencer moves, Mr. Dirks seconds to approve employment of Olivia Fillpot as paraprofessional for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval, Fillpot abstained.
Mr. Dirks moves, Mr. Terry seconds to approve employment of Hannah Jacobs as student aide for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Cannon moves, Mr. Fillpot seconds to approve employment of Lucy Franklin as part-time Custodian for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Fairbanks moves, Mr. Terry seconds to approve employment of Karla Davidson as part-time Custodian for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Fairbanks moves, Mr. Fillpot seconds to approve employment of Kelsie Palmer as web site assistant for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Cannon moves, Mr. Fairbanks seconds to approve non-certified salary schedule with various increased percentages. Unanimous approval
Mr. Cannon moves, Mr. Fairbanks seconds to approve Mary Ann Olive as PAT coordinator for 2026-2027 fiscal year. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Dirks moves, Mr. Fillpot seconds to approve the CSIP Literacy Plan. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Morrison read a resignation letter to the Board from Tamara Metcalf.
Mr. Fillpot moves, Mr. Cannon seconds to accept resignation from Tamara Metcalf effective at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Unanimous approval.
Mr. Cannon moves, Mr. Dirks seconds to adjourn meeting. Unanimous approval.
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