Administrative school changes in Monett

Monett Board of Education greenlights new band uniforms
The Monett school board changed administrators at the elementary level, hired five faculty members for the next term, and approved a range of purchases during its May 22 meeting.
A major administrative change at Monett Elementary was approved. Karly Drake was named the new MES principal, moving up from a district instructional specialist. Before starting at the Monett school district in 2021, Drake, who is married to Superintendent Mark Drake, worked for 12 years as a Title 1 instructional coach for the Webb City school district.
Heather Romine moved from principal at Monett Elementary to director of secondary learning. Carrie Smith moved from an instructional specialist to director of elementary learning. Naming new directors for elementary and secondary learning follows the appointment of Dr. Isaac Sooter as the new assistant superintendent, the position that historically oversaw curriculum, and the retirement of Dr. Melissa Huff from that post.
Melissa Creed moved to a special education resource post at the Monett Early Childhood Center from being an interventionist and instructional coach. Amanda Cornell, still working in special education at the Early Childhood Center, moved from a resource teacher to a functional teacher.
New hires included:
• Tyler Ash as a high school special education teacher. Ash is a recent Missouri State University graduate.
• Dorian Beckner as a high school English teacher, coming from the Springfield school district. She is a Missouri Southern State University graduate.
• Kyler Shoff as a high school special education teacher, coming from the Mt. Vernon school district.
• Libby Roden as a kindergarten teacher. She has been a Life 360 preschool teacher in Monett and has an associate’s degree through Crowder College.
• Tommy Sangston as a high school special education teacher. He comes from the Neosho school district.
Two coaches resigned from their posts: Bailey Flynt as middle school head cheer coach, and Brad Shorter, assistant football and assistant baseball coach.
Six new coaching assignments were made. Courtney Bauer was named the new high school volleyball coach.
New assistant coaches at the high school included Daven Madrid for ninth graders in the football program, Austin Beckner for baseball after leaving a similar post at the middle school, Jonathan Mauk for football, and Tommy Sangston for both football and basketball.
For the middle school, Kaesha George was named girls basketball coach. Karter Brink was named assistant coach for both wrestling and baseball.  
Classified staff changes included the retirement of Melanie Hills from the Parents as Teachers program. Jennifer Nickle moved from her post as bus dispatcher to bus terminal manager, succeeding Jeremy Lowe. Two paraprofessionals resigned and two were hired.

Financial action
Much of the board meeting focused on addressing equipment issues.
Board members approved 20 percent of the cost of new band uniforms from Stanbury Uniforms at a total cost of $84,437.50, the rest being raised by the Band Boosters. Superintendent Drake hoped the new uniforms could last 12 years. The current uniforms were used in the 2011 Christmas parade. Drake noted the uniforms came in different pieces that could be mixed into several different looks. He expected the order would take six to nine months to fill, pushing their use past the upcoming football season.
The board approved buying three vehicles from Olathe Fleet, a Kansas City-area vendor offering government prices. The previous Oklahoma vendor was no longer available. Steve Garner, operations director, stressed the value in buying more vehicles that carried less than 10 people, making a special driver’s license unnecessary. Older vehicles in the district’s fleet do not go on trips. Garner noted the last Suburban was purchased in the 2022-23 school year, these were available at “a pretty good discount,” and prices would not be coming down. He noted art students and the agriculture, tennis, and golf teams could use the new vehicles and their extra storage space.
Purchase of the Expedition Max at $57,630 was approved on a 5-2 vote. Jared Wormington and Matt Wages cast the opposing votes. Wormington said purchase of that vehicle was scheduled for next school year’s budget, and he preferred to buy it then. The two Starcraft buses had unanimous approval. One vehicle was outfitted with eight seats and room for three wheelchairs in case the Oakview State School closed and the district needed to transport wheelchair-bound students. That cost was $69,822 each.
To make more room for spectators at Burl Fowler Stadium, bids were reviewed for purchasing a new set of separate bleachers for the band. Drake said these 10 rows of metal bleachers could be transported to other locations on a trailer and would seat 140. The old wood bleachers, he noted, were gone. Board members approved the bid from Heartland Seating for $31,295, the same vendor that supplied the high school bleachers.

Outfitting the Welcome Center
After approving the creation of a Welcome Center as a central processing facility where new families could register all at once without going to different campuses, the decision was made to centrally locate the center in the former administrative office on the northeast corner of Eighth and Scott streets, most recently used by special services before it moved into the next administrative office behind the E.E. Camp gym. A group of bids was submitted for new furniture. Garner said the bid from Circadia, formerly Scott Riser Office Works of Kansas City, could be filled by Aug. 1, in time for the opening of school. Circadia is the same vendor that supplied the district’s administration building, thus offering a consistent look between buildings. The updated bid of $28,115.46 was approved.
Board members also approved a $44,481.60 bid from Howard Technology Solutions for computers for the E-sports room at the high school. Board President Ken Gaspar reported he and Drake toured the E-sports facility at Webb City High School and found it well-outfitted and supported by a sponsor.
Drake said 60 students expressed interest in E-sports. Monett, he noted, was likely the last school in the Big 8 Conference getting into this arena. The high school’s former technology room was being retrofitted for this new activity. He felt Howard Technology, a new vendor for the district, would supply a higher quality machine for a better price.