Nodaway County school board notes

By Phil Cobb | April 6, 2026 |

KATHRYN RICE/THE FORUM
North Nodaway R-VI Superintendent Chris Turpin presented retiring board member Samantha Brown with a plaque commemorating her 18 years of service on the North Nodaway Board of Education. Brown said she joined the board while working on her master’s in nursing. She needed a political project and the board opening was local and didn’t involve travel, she said.

North Nodaway R-VI

HOPKINS, Mo. — The following are notes from the March 25 regular meeting of the North Nodaway R-VI Board of Education.

The board approved the 2026-2027 school calendar.
The board approved Jaycie Miner to be added to the substitute teacher list
The 2026-2027 Career Ladder District Plan was approved.

Personnel

Resignations

Jess Greiman, K-12 PE teacher, effective at the end of 2025-2026
Jake Hoy, HS math teacher, effective at the end of 2025-2026

Recommendations for employment

Lexi Hargerm, elementary teacher, with board members Jennifer Clements and Stuart Clements abstaining from the vote
Lindsay Eckert, elementary teacher, with Jennifer Clements abstaining
Catherine Auffert, MS/HS special education teacher
Troy Nally, agriculture teacher
Cody Bix, MS/HS science teacher
Emily Bix, MS/HS language arts teacher
Samantha Jackson, Title teacher
Cynthia Martin, K-12 librarian
Audrey Boulting, elementary special education teacher
Nathan Schoonover, business teacher
Kyle Fitzgerald, K-12 music/band teacher
Cameron Morrison, K-12 counselor with Vicki Riley abstaining
Reid Hart, MS/HS social studies teacher
Brooke McMahon, elementary teacher
Andrew Hunsucker, elementary teacher
Karissa Oberhauser, elementary teacher with Kane Oberhauser abstaining
Mattie Rhoades, elementary teacher
Victor West, STEM teacher

South Nodaway R-IV

BARNARD, Mo. — The following are notes from the minutes of the March 25 regular meeting of the South Nodaway R-IV Board of Education.

Shelby Holaday has been working on the crow’s nest at Guilford.
The board approved new vision, dental and life insurance policies.

Personnel

Tenure and contracts for Brooke Hoeppner and Jessie Palmer were approved.
Non-tenure teacher contracts for Mia Silkett, Aubrey Peterson, Hannah Jermain, Taylar Freemyer, Jaiden Flora, Waverley Brown and Jenna King were approved with a 5-0 vote. Two board members abstained.
All tenured teacher contracts were approved.

Resignations

Sage Acklin, third grade teacher
Jessie Palmer, head softball coach

Jefferson C-123

CONCEPTION JCT., Mo. — The following are notes from the March 17 regular meeting of the Jefferson C-123 Board of Education.

The board heard a presentation about the survey taken by the staff on the salary proposal. The survey focused on three topics: insurance, salary and sick/personal days. Out of 14 of the 24 teacher responses, the following were suggested:
- Insurance: 71 percent wanted to keep 100 percent coverage for one plan, 6500 HAS; 21 percent wanted to increase the cap by five percent; seven percent wanted to reduce insurance to 90 percent coverage for all plans.
- Salary: 50 percent wanted to ensure that everyone moves according to their step and education; 35 percent wanted an offer for a two percent raise; and 14 percent wanted an offer of a $500 raise to the base.
- Sick/personal days: 42 percent wanted to create a 50/50 ratio with five discretionary, six sick, where the rollover would be sick days; 42 percent wanted to increase personal days to three with eight remaining sick days; and seven percent would like all sick days to be discretionary with one respondent asking to have personal days roll over for times where two to three were not sufficient.
The proposal from the salary committee was for the highest HSA to be covered 100 percent, though any increase to the cap the board approves would be welcomed. Under the proposal, staff would receive the increase in salary afforded by the steps and any additional education, and the committee asked that the board entertain either designating another day as personal to make three or increasing personal days to five. Any unused days remaining at the end of the year would roll over into sick days, unless the board decides that a discretionary day bank could be established with a maximum of seven days.
Superintendent Dallas Giedd said $1,162,015 has been collected in local taxes. This amount is over the $1,065,000 in the budget.
The CSIP will be finalized and adopted either in April or May.
Hallelujah Counseling sees 12 students a day during its visits to Jefferson. There are concerns that the grant which funds this may not be available for the 2026-2027 school year.
A bond prepayment was made March 1 which saved the district $900 in interest. There will be another prepayment in 2027 which will give the district a bigger savings.
The health insurance agreement with the Ozark Schools Benefits Association for the 2026-2027 school year was approved.
Letters of appointment for the 2026-2027 school year were offered to Emily Hilsabeck, Deanna Cozine, Stacey Mattson, Katey Fletchall, Marsha Lane, Dickie Henry, Charlie Bliley, Bryce Deen and Kalli Lager. All were approved 6-0.
Letters of appointment were offered to Sheila Schieber and approved 5-0 with Derrick Schieber, board member, abstaining due to relationship; and to Megan Redden, approved 5-0 with Sherri Redden, board member, abstaining due to relationship.
The board approved an increase to the district’s share of health insurance premiums to $565 per employee for all certified and 12-month non-certified staff for the 2026-2027 school year.
The board approved an increase in the board-paid health insurance to 82 percent of the lowest plan for all non-certified staff for the 2026-2027 school year.
An additional personal day for all certified and non-certified staff for the 2026-2027 school year was approved.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 15.