Members of the Callaway School Board are, clockwise from left: Mike Reiff, Rhonda Pandorf, Board President Jim Phelps, Superintendent J.D. Furrow, TR Anderson, Rebecca Eggleston, and newly installed member as of Oct. 12, Anna Maria Johnson. (Photo courtesy Heath Birkel)

Following the resignation of Liana Hrupek in September, the Callaway Board of Education is once again full. The Oct. 12 regular meeting began with the appointment and swearing-in of Anna Maria Johnson to fulfill the remainder of Hrupek’s term. Hrupek was not seeking reelection for her seat in this year’s election, and Johnson is the only one who filed for that position.

“Anna is the only one on the ballot, so it seemed like the logical thing to do,” said Board President Jim Phelps as he appointed Johnson to fill the vacant seat. With the full board seated, the meeting moved into the rather short business agenda.

Jr/Sr High Principal Heath Birkel started off by presenting his report highlighting a very busy time of year in the district. Superin- tendent J.D. Furrow concurred with that as he moved into his report and shared that he plans to begin the process of evaluating the principals, Birkel and Brittany Jesseph, within the next month.

Furrow then brought up the school calendar and noted that in the past the administration just made whatever changes to the calendar were necessary throughout the year. “If we are given the time, I would like for you guys to vote on my recommendations for calendar changes or give alternatives that you think may be necessary or would work,” Furrow shared with the board. “Now sometimes something will come up where this is a short time window, and we will communicate that out and we’ll probably make that decision without seeking board approval.”

That conversation precipitated the announcement that Callaway Public School will host conference One Act on Nov. 17, which will run from around 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. “So the plan would be to not have school for our students that day and to set up some teacher work time, if you guys are ok with that,” said Furrow.

Board member TR Anderson raised the question about how that might affect the school days at the end of the year since changes were made to the calendar to start school a little later this year. Furrow said he has received nothing but positive feedback from students, staff, and parents regarding the later start, and that everyone understands if we have several snow days this winter it could result in dismissing a little later at the end of the year.

Furrow noted that there have been times when only the high school was out for the day if there was an event on that side of the building and elementary students still had class. “I think it’s easier bus-wise, lunch-wise, and staff-wise, that if you’re going to use it for staff development, to not have any of the kids here,” Furrow said.

Under the action items later in the agenda, the board unanimously approved a motion to change Nov. 17 from a regular school day to a teacher work day.

Continuing in his superintendent report, Furrow shared that all lunch accounts over the threshold have been paid in full or are actively making payments. He also discussed the policy on student conduct rules and reported that the large shop door has been repaired. Furrow also presented a financial report and projection, and Phelps requested that he provide a 3-month budget projection at each meeting.

Finally, the board unanimously approved a policy outlining the guidelines in the event of a tie among the board when electing officers.

The next meeting of the Callaway School Board will be Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m.