Student excellence dominates meeting

During the final school board meeting before school lets out for summer, the Central Board of Education recognized a great many students for excellence Monday night during its regular session.

First up, Director of Special Services Tammy Wadlow introduced several of the district's Special Olympics athletes who recently competed in the area's third annual Special Olympics event at North County High School.

"We had beautiful weather," she said, "and had about 30 students that participated ? It was a really good day. I think everyone enjoyed it."

Next, Melody Banger, the middle school's art teacher, shared with the board some of the art her students entered into the Mineral Area Council on the Arts K-12 Art Show earlier this month.

"This year we had 35 kids (who) participated and we had six place," she said, "which is kind of a big deal."

Members of the board took a close look at each winning piece of art, passing them down their table at the front of the auditorium and displaying them for those in attendance to see.

Bret Stanford, the middle school's vocal music teacher, introduced several members of the school's honor choir, who sang in the Conference Honor Choir concert held recently at Central, followed by members of the school's Honor Band, who also performed with distinction at the conference event.

In high school recognition, members of the high school band were applauded for their top-rated performances at the district and state music festivals.

"I think is one of the biggest groups we've had at the state music festival in quite a while," said High School Principal Brad Coleman, "so we're really proud of them."

Coleman also announced that for the third straight year, students in teacher Greg Noble's language arts classes placed in the top three of the annual Holocaust Museum and Learning Center's art and writing contest. And, he added, it was the second year in a row that a Central student won first place in one of the categories.

"First place in the art category was Mikayla Watkins," he said, "and second place in the writing category was Raylyn White."

Next up, communication arts teacher and speech and theatre director Jamie Weiss introduced students who performed exceptionally well in district and state competitions recently. Several students competed and placed in the District Readers Theatre championship and also qualified for the state competition.

High school art teacher Andrew Henson named his three students who placed in the Mineral Area Council on the Arts K-12 Art Show. Winning fourth place in the 11th?12th grade photography division was Annamarie Davis and winning third place in the 11th?12th grade black and white drawing division was Kerston Furry.

Henson singled out student Yancy McCarron, who won first place in the 9th?10th grade black and white drawing division, and who was present at the meeting to show the board and those in attendance her winning drawing.

"Not only is this probably the best pencil drawing I've ever seen at the school," said Henson, "it's probably the best pencil drawing I've ever seen done by a student."

Also recognized during the meeting were members of the high school choir, who all competed and earned high marks at the state music contest; five students who competed at the state Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) career development conference in Jefferson City; and two students who performed exceptionally well during the all-district scholar bowl.

In other business, the board heard a food service report from Beth Dalton, reports on summer facility projects and programs from Assistant Superintendent Troy Bollinger; a report from Wadlow on the American Disabilities Act, Early Childhood Special Education and other related programs; and a report on a program for teacher leadership development from Tracie Casey and Lori England.