Board Approves Co-op Football Agreement

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By Mark Requet

  The North Shelby School Board met in regular session on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in the high school library.

  A motion was seconded and approved to adopt the agenda, with a few minor changes made.

  Public Comment

  Board President Shawn McEwen read a thank you note from the Archie School District.

  A plaque was presented to Scot Shively for his 18 years as a board member of the North Shelby School Board.

  A motion was seconded and approved to pass the consent agenda items, which included approval of the minutes and the payment of bills.

  Presentation

  David Stuckey, representing Redirect Health Insurance, gave a presentation to the board and was able to answer any questions or concerns that board members presented.

  Principal Reports

  Elementary Principal Jennifer Rich reported grade cards were sent home Monday. They had PreK and Kindergarten screenings from March 10-12 and screened 40 kids ages three to five. She said there were a lot of activities going on in the elementary, including “Reading Week” from March 1-7 in conjunction with the book fair. During that week she said they also hosted “Math and Literacy Family Night” on March 6th, with 100 students, along with their families, attending. Rich said they had 30 fourth through sixth grade kids earn a trip to the Literacy Festival at the UMC campus at Warrensburg from March 9-11. To earn a trip, students had to read and pass book reports on at least four of the Mark Twain nominated books. The dental truck was at the school on March 4, which involved a few students. The PAT held a Parent Café on March 7.

  High School Principal Landon Daniel reported they sent letters out to those who had three absences in one course at the end of third quarter, which ended on March 14. With the snow days and spring break, they are waiting on grades from MACTEC to send out grade cards. Juniors took the ACT test on March 12. The Scholar Bowl went to the semifinals of the Lewis and Clark Conference Tournament. FFA contests are in full swing with practice contests starting for CDEs (Career Development Events), while LDEs (Leadership Development Events) have already had area contests and have district contests next week.

  Superintendent’s Report

  Superintendent Josh Brummit said they did some repair work on the greenhouse. They had some interest money left over from the bond issue, and they were going to use that money for preventative maintenance to replace the old water heater in the boiler room. Brummit was glad to report the school did not receive any damage from the previous windstorm. They worked on small projects, such as replacing shop lights. Brummit also said in they would be having a surplus sale in the future of several old welders.

  Brummit said he noticed several mistakes in the financial report he would make corrections and send the report to the board members once they are corrected.

  New Business

  The board seconded and approved the revisions to the District 24-25 Calendar, which was adding a school day at the end of the school year as a result of a snow day. The last day of school will now be an early out on May 15, while May 14 becomes a full day.

  The board seconded and approved the District 25-26 Calendar.

  Brummit said Marion County approached North Shelby about a Co-op for football. He said they met with administrators from Marion County about expectations and responsibilities. They would be joining North Shelby, so they would be called North Shelby Raiders. It would begin for the 2025-26 school year.

  According to the agreement:

  Finances: Expenses to maintain the football program such as equipment, uniforms, and transportation from North Shelby to the game site, will be the responsibility of North Shelby. Marion County will be responsible for transportation of their students to North Shelby and back to Marion County, be it practice or games.

  Coaching: North Shelby will maintain a coaching staff. Marion County may choose to hire a coach to send with their students on the team at the cost of Marion County.

  MSHSAA: North Shelby Athletic Director will be responsible for any MSHSAA duties related to scheduling. Marion County will be responsible for entering their students onto their MSHSAA eligibility roster.

  Supervision: North Shelby will be responsible for game supervision. Marion County may choose to send an administrator for game supervision at the cost of Marion County.

  Athletes: Student athletes will follow eligibility guidelines of their respective school. All student athletes will follow the Head Coach’s team rules.

  This would be a yearly

agreement, and the boards from both schools would have to approve a new agreement each year.

  Brummit said that once a student from Marion County comes to North Shelby to be a part of the team, they are considered a North Shelby Raider. If there was an issue with the student or a parent, North Shelby would be responsible for player conduct under the team rules.

  The only area that North Shelby cannot dictate is academics. Daniel said because of MSHSAA rules, Marion County is responsible for handling academic issues with their own kids.

  The board seconded and approved the agreement to have Marion County Co-op with North Shelby in football for high school and junior high for the 2025-26 school year. Marion County will vote on the issue at their next board meeting.

  The board seconded and approved to switch their insurance coverage to Redirect Insurance.

  The board discussed the possibility of adding cross country for both boys and girls and adding a girls’ golf program. Brummit said they have interest in the programs from their student body and would like to offer the kids an opportunity to compete in those sports. From a financial standpoint, Brummit and Daniel told the board there would be minimal costs.

  Board members McEwen and Travis Belt expressed concern over adding more activities for the students.

  “We have too many kids out of school already for activities and that is a concern,” said Belt. “We just approved a co-op for football because we’re not going to have enough kids for football in four or five years.”

  Daniel said they would be offering more options for kids and, to a lesser degree, being more aligned with the Lewis and Clark Conference. He added it could be the only sport that a kid participates in.

  “I don’t want to sound negative, but I have a hard time adding activities to a calendar that’s already full,” said McEwen, Board President.

  Board Member Joshlin Yoder stated he takes the other side of the argument.

  “Cross country is a little bit different animal. It’s not track,” stated Yoder. “There are kids that do not participate in football or softball.”

  “We’ve been cutting stuff since August and now we’re going to add stuff back in. I know it’s a low cost. I get that,” said McEwen. “But we’re also trying to slow the bleeding here and it’s not all financial. Sometimes we got to say, ‘Let’s do good with what we got instead of adding more.’”

  McEwen added he would want to know how many kids would be interested in cross country and golf.

  Board Member Amy Presson added that she felt like cross country was a little different sport than any other sport at North Shelby.

  “Cross country is all about you,” said Presson. “You mess up, you don’t disappoint anybody else. I do feel like there are kids that would participate in cross country.”

  Board Member Brandy Uhlmeyer asked what the coaches would get paid and would like to know the finances involved with both cross country and golf.

  It was mentioned that adding girls’ golf would get North Shelby in compliance with Title IX, which allows for equal opportunities in all aspects of education, including athletics, extracurricular activities, and academic programs.

  The board voted to table a decision about cross country and golf until the April meeting.

Executive Minutes    

  Joshlin Yoder moved to enter Executive Session.  Brandy Uhlmeyer seconded the motion.  Motion carried 7-0.

  Joshlin Yoder moved to approve the Executive Minutes from the February 19, 2025, meeting. Ryan Wiley seconded the motion.  Motion carried 7-0.

  Brandy Uhlmeyer moved to accept the resignation from Deborah Norman as a 4th grade teacher.  Joshlin Yoder seconded the motion.  Roll-call vote as follows: Scot Shively – yes, Brandy Uhlmeyer – yes, Amy Presson – yes, Joshlin Yoder – yes, Ryan Wiley – yes, Shawn McEwen – yes, Travis Belt – yes.   Motion carried 7-0.

  Ryan Wiley moved to accept the resignation from Lane Blackford as the Band and Choir Director. Amy Presson second the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

  Scot Shively moved to accept the resignation from Lisa Skelton as the Special Education Director. Joshlin Yoder second the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

  Travis Belt moved to accept the resignation from Mark Copenhaver as the Junior High boy’s Basketball coach. Brandy Uhlmeyer second the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

  Joshlin Yoder moved to accept the resignation from Rosalina DiLallo as the Junior High Football and Basketball Cheer Coach. Brandy Uhlmeyer second the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

  Joshlin Yoder moved to accept the resignation from Desera Gordan as an Elementary Paraprofessional. . Amy Presson second the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

  Personnel needs were discussed.

  Scot Shively moved to hire Sarah Parsons as the Elementary Special Education teacher. Brandy Uhlmeyer second the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

  Scot Shively moved to re-hire the following Elementary teachers for the 2025-2026 school year: Shelia Ames, Katelyn Gibson, Reigan Parsons, Abby Weber, Kaitlyn Fralin, Houston Bichsel and Rebecca Trivette. Joshlin Yoder seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

  Joshlin Yoder moved to re-hire Stephanie Eckler as a high school teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. Brandy Uhlmeyer seconded the motion.  Motion carried 6-0, with Travis Belt, abstained..

  Joshlin Yoder moved to re-hire Harold Eckler as a part-time Ag teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. Scot Shively seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0, with Travis Belt, abstained.

  Brandy Uhlmeyer moved to re-hire the following High School teachers for the 2025-2026 school year: Tim Davis, Olivia Harvey, Amber Klusmeyer, Josh Klusmeyer, Chris Parsons, Stephanie Penn, Denise Shockley, and Cody Stoneburner. Ryan Wiley seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

  Joshlin Yoder moved to hire Josh Klusmeyer as the Varsity Football Head Coach and Scott Gaines as the Varsity Football Assistant Coach. Brandy Uhlmeyer second the motion. Roll-call vote as follows: Scot Shively – no, Brandy Uhlmeyer – yes, Amy Presson – no, Joshlin Yoder – yes, Ryan Wiley – yes, Shawn McEwen – yes, Travis Belt – yes.  Motion carried 5-2.

  Student needs were discussed.

  Brandy Uhlmeyer moved to adjourn the meeting. Joshlin Yoder seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0 and the meeting adjourned.