Troy school board honors students, staff with awards
The Troy School District has seen many changes in the last year, and most of which were improvements to the district, Troy School Board members said Monday.
On Monday at 6 p.m., the Troy School Board met at the high school library to give awards, discuss their year in review, updates, the new Peak Performance Club, the Foreign Language Club’s Costa Rica trip, the new community health center, hiring prospects, fund balance and transfers, policies, and the district emergency management guide.
The meeting began with a call to order and welcome, the pledge of allegiance, recognition of guests, approval of minutes, approval of district obligations, and approval of United Clubs.
The board then handed awards to select elementary and high school students for outstanding behavior or personal growth during the school year, and staff to either celebrate their employment anniversaries or to commemorate those who showed noteworthy dedication and loyalty to their profession. The board also awarded certain parents, community members and volunteers for going above and beyond to assist the school district and its students.
Elementary School students who were awarded included: Adeline Roesler-Begalke, Kylie Cole, Tyler Volkenand, Grace Mehlhoff and James Horton.
High School students given awards included: Albert Robertson, Emily Myers and Ceanna Dille.
Members of the staff who received awards included: Cookie Winslow and Allen Matsushita for their 35 years as a district employees, Scott Bertsch, Wendy Tunison, Debbie Garrett, and Jim Jones for his 25 years as a district employee.
Parents, community members, and volunteers who received awards included: Rusty Maynard and Troy Ministerial Alliance, Clint Taylor for installing the osprey pole, Francine Ninnemn and Arlene Peterson for helping to provide VFW awards and contests to the students, Henry Roy for being great school liaison officer, Gilbert and Christy Gravier as outstanding parents, and Lori Clay.
Jacob Francom, Troy District Superintendent, led the year in review and listed the changes made in the last year, including the updated curriculum, Chromebooks being made available to each of the students, the comprehensive professional development plan, the new structured recesses and the 170 college credits given out.
Francom also listed the improvements made to the district, including a rise in student attendance, further developing the dual credit courses offered, improved internet access, lowering energy consumption, expansions on in-classroom wireless technology and expansions to the afterschool programs.
Some of the facility upgrades included the major remodel of the Elementary School, security cameras, locking mechanisms, new doors, window coverings, painting, carpet and landscaping. The district upgraded the elementary playground, and put in new concrete work on the sidewalks, stairs and tetherball court.
In food services, the district now offers free breakfast and lunch, and has improved nutrition and food selection.
The district also has a new positive recognition program, which recognizes students for good behavior, attendance, or academics. Along with the positive recognition program, the district also has a new formal intervention process for struggling students, which include regular staff intervention meetings, improved communication among departments, and regular parent meetings for struggling students.
Troy Community Health Center representative Maria Clemmons gave a presentation on the new Troy Community Health Center, which plans to open with a full time staff in December. The health center hopes to offer health screenings and health education to the school district.
The board voted to approve the improvement plan for next year, which aims to improve structure, culture, communication, the curriculum, instruction, cooperation, assessment, teacher training, and evaluations. The improvement plan also aims to improve student discipline and engagement.
The hiring considerations include Taryn Sherbo as the Gear Up Liaison, Roy Richardson as the district technology coordinator and teacher, and Jeff Thill as the new high school vocational educational teacher.
The board approved most of the policies, but tabled the bus drivers policy for next meeting. The policies included changes to board meetings, special education procedures, the gifted program, enrollment and attendance procedures, visitors to school, interrogation and investigations conducted by school officials, abused and neglected child reporting, non-renewal of employment-dismissal from employment, military leave, electronic signatures, indirect cost reimbursements and record management.
The board then went through and approved the district emergency management guide.
Reporter Bethany Rolfson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at Reporter@TheWesternNews.com.