CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage R-9 Board of Education received updates on district facilities, online learning and construction of the Carthage Performing Arts Center during its October meetings.
At a regular meeting Oct. 19, the board heard a report on the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan priority of developing successful students. Administrators from the district, Fairview Elementary, Carthage High School and Carthage Junior High School presented information on the initiative.
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Matt Huntley also updated the board on Carthage online learning, and Crystal Brown provided an update from the Carthage R-9 School Foundation.
The board received information from Navitas LLC representatives and Assistant Superintendent for Business Holley Goodnight about an HVAC bid and an energy-savings performance contract. Goodnight and Crossland Construction Company also provided an update on construction progress at the Performing Arts Center.
The board approved its consent agenda, which included previous meeting minutes, payment of bills, the district financial report, student ridership counts and bus routes for the 2026-27 school year. The consent agenda also included the purchase of a 2027 Can-Am Defender DPS CAB or a 2027 Polaris Ranger XP1000 CAB.
Staff changes
During a closed session following the regular meeting, the board approved employment for nine support staff members, contingent upon satisfactory criminal background checks through the Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI and a clear check of the Missouri Department of Social Services’ Adult Abuse/Neglect Registry.
The support hires were Sheny Garcia, cook at Carthage High School; Lilis Sandoval Loredo, evening custodian at Carthage High School; Katherine Starr, special education paraprofessional at Columbian Elementary; Joshua Lindsey, bus aide in the transportation department; Michaela Freeman, cook at Steadley Elementary; Jaiden Ball, evening custodian at Carthage Intermediate Center; Gerardo Fuentes Elias, grounds and maintenance employee; Kevin Fields, bus driver; and Kelli Needham, Title 1 instructional assistant at Steadley Elementary.
The board also approved 10 substitute hires: Katelyn Williamson, substitute cook; Kimberly Son, Abigail Jensen, Ethen Coble, Maria Aguilar, Christy Clark, Taylor Pritchard, Johnathan Ensor and Alaynna Berry, substitute teachers; and Pamela Teed, substitute speech-language pathologist. The district listed these employees under its substitute staff category.
Two support staff transfers were approved. Heather Cowin will serve as a deaf interpreter at Carthage Junior High School, and Heather Hunt will serve as an administrative assistant at Carthage Technical Center-North.
The board approved a substitute assignment modification for Kelli Tandy, who was listed as a substitute bus aide in the transportation department.
Three certified staff members were approved for retirement: Kenneth Brown, an in-school suspension teacher at Carthage High School; Cara Goetzinger, an early childhood special education teacher at the Early Childhood Center; and Brenda Brown, a special education teacher at Steadley Elementary.
The board approved the resignation of Andrea Read, a Title 1 teacher and instructional coach at Mark Twain Elementary, and James Bischoffer, a bus driver.
Two substitute teachers, Adelaide Goracke and Brooke Ehlers, also resigned.
October work session
During a work session Oct. 6, the board discussed district facilities. Facilities Director Dan Hill provided updates on Carthage Junior High School and Fairview Elementary, and board members and administrators toured the Early Childhood Center, Carthage Junior High School and Fairview Elementary.
