Parent-teacher conferences up at high school, HCTC

The percentage of parents and teachers meeting this fall to discuss student progress was up at the high school and Hannibal Career and Technical Center. That news was shared during Wednesday night’s meeting of the Hannibal Board of Education.
At the Career Center, the percentage of conferences increased from 51 to 59 percent. At HHS, the percentage went up from 40.2 percent to 46 percent.
While the percentage of parent-teacher conferences did not go up at any of the district’s five elementary schools it was only because it remained at 100 percent.
The only school where the overall percentage dipped was at the middle school, where a slight decrease from 71 percent to 67.5 percent was seen.
“Overall we were very pleased,” said Susan Johnson, assistant superintendent.
Board President Henry Sweets praised the extra effort that many teachers put in to work around parent schedules in order that a conference could occur.
In other business:
• School Improvement Plans at Eugene Field Elementary and Veterans Elementary were outlined. A total of $40,000 in federal money will be available to both schools to implement their proposed plans, according to Superintendent Jill Janes. Those plans were required after the two Title schools did not meet the No Child Left Behind standards last school year.
• Janes praised Hannibal Regional Hospital for its work to secure a Center for Child Success Grant. The three-year grant is designed to provide additional services to youngsters who might otherwise be “underserved” in regard to their health care, according to Janes.
• Approval was given to explore the level of interest in the district’s employee Early Separation Agreement Program.
• The Professional Development Plan was approved. During the 2008-09 school year $149,518 has been allocated for the program.
• The district’s 2007-08 audit was approved.
• Dana Ruhl, district business manager, reviewed the new IRS 403 (b) regulations that take effect Jan. 1. The plan was adopted.
• It was reported that the filing period for school board seats opens on Dec. 16 and will end on Jan. 20. The school board positions held by Sherre Mobley and Dr. David Jackson are up for election.
• Janes reported on the district’s new School Reach Notification System.