Nodaway County school board notes

By Phil Cobb | March 3, 2026 |

School Board Notes art

Jefferson C-123

CONCEPTION JCT., Mo. — The following are notes from the minutes of the Feb. 18 Jefferson C-123 Board of Education meeting.

Superintendent Dallas Giedd provided some of his initial thoughts regarding starting salaries. According to a document provided at the meeting, it appears the starting pay may stay at $40,000 through the 2027-2028 school year. No decisions were made.
The board approved the 2026-2027 school calendar. The school year will begin on Aug. 25, and end on May 21, 2027, with a total of 1,106.7 student attendance hours scheduled in 171 days.
High School Principal Tyler Pedersen told the board that the Jefferson National Honor Society collected 294 items during its Souper Bowl of Caring Food Drive. The group delivered them to the Stanberry Ministry Center. Second grade won the collection contest and had ice cream sundaes with NHS members.
Two Future Business Leaders of America members placed in the top 10 at the FBLA district contest held Feb. 5. Andy Lager placed third in Impromptu Speaking and seventh in Web Design and Tristian Gilfillan placed ninth in Intro to Technology.
Jackie Carlson was named Nodaway County Agricultural Woman of the Year and will be recognized at the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce’s Farm-City Breakfast starting at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, at the Northwest Missouri State University Agricultural Learning Center.
Andy Mattson received the Area 1 FFA Diversified Crop Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award. He will compete in the state competition in April.
Trent Henggeler received the Area 1 FFA Diversified Crop Placement Proficiency Award. He will compete in the state competition in April.
The board accepted a letter of resignation from fifth and sixth grade teacher Joyce Moffat.
Board members unanimously approved extending the contract of principals Caden Farnan and Tyler Pedersen.

South Nodaway R-IV

BARNARD, Mo. — The following are notes from the minutes of the Feb. 18 meeting of the South Nodaway R-IV Board of Education.

Administrators have met with the Regional Professional Development Center to audit curriculums and are scheduling professional development dates.
The board heard the facilities plan update.
Board members approved the 2026-2027 school calendar.
Principal Aaron Murphy reported to the board that seven students have qualified for the Future Business Leaders of America state contest.
The board accepted several bids, including a fuel bid from McPike Oil, the only one it received; a milk bid from Anderson Erickson over Hiland Dairy; and a mowing bid from A&A Lawncare. The district received mowing bids from KCK Lawncare, Lawnscaperz Edge, Scott’s Mowing and Snow Removal, Silkett Lawn Care, and McKim Mowing.
Board members approved insurance coverage renewal from the Ozark Schools Benefits Association, a nonprofit group insurance provider made up of Missouri public school districts. The district saw an 11 percent increase in cost.
After closed session, the board unanimously approved extending Murphy and assistant principal Nick Wray’s contracts through the 2027-2028 school year.
The board approved Murphy as the district’s foster care coordinator.
The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25.

North Nodaway R-VI

HOPKINS, Mo. — The following are notes from the minutes of the Feb. 18 meeting of the North Nodaway R-VI Board of Education.

In closed session, the board approved a two-year rolling contract for elementary principal Heather Townsend, through the 2027-2028 school year.
The board also approved a contract extension for high school principal Cody Jenkins through the 2026-2027 school year.
Board members approved a second reading of the 2026-2027 school calendar. The school year would begin Aug. 24 and end May 18, for a total of 1,123.3 student hours in 169 student attendance days.
The board approved a three-year contract extension for speech therapy services from Compass Therapy Solutions, at a rate of $68 per hour for four hours per week.
Board members approved MFA Oil – Maryville’s propane bid of 98 cents per gallon. Agriland bid $1.038 per gallon.
The board approved the following scholarships from the Patterson Foundation grant: Cody Jenkins – $13,500; Nathan Schoonover – $5,000; Cindy Martin – $5,460; Reid Hart – $19,138.81; Sami Jackson – $15,000; Tiffany Whipple – $3,000; and Emily Bix – $12,210.
Board members approved the Comprehensive Literacy School Development Grant reimbursement proposal in the amount of $45,213.92.
The board approved investing $952,000 in CDs at four different banks through MOSIP, at return rates averaging 3.75 percent. Superintendent Chris Turpin’s report notes the district is also looking to move its remaining liquid funds, which sit in an interest-gaining checking account, at a rate of 3.65 percent.
Turpin said that the district has begun working on salaries for next year, adjusting all of the noncertified salary scales to reflect the increase in minimum wage. Certified staff salaries will be discussed and reviewed in April.
Elementary teachers are parking in the new lot east of the school that used to be a playground. Turpin hopes to get the gravel packed and is looking into asphalt in the future.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 25.

Nodaway-Holt R-VII

GRAHAM, Mo. — The following are notes from the minutes of the Feb. 18 meeting of the Nodaway-Holt R-VII Board of Education.

The board approved an $18,452 agreement with Eckard’s Home Improvement for floor carpeting in the elementary school.
Board members approved the 2026-2027 school calendar.
The board approved contributing $618 per month to employee health insurance premiums next school year.
Board members approved the eRate bid from Essential Network Technologies.
Five students placed in the top 10 at the Future Business Leaders of America district contest held Feb. 5:
- Jazmine Bowers – Seventh place, intro to business communication
- Tristin Needels – First place, intro to business communication; 1st place, intro to supply chain management (all state qualifier); Third place, intro to retail and merchandising;
- Lincoln Nielsen – Second place, impromptu speaking (state qualifier)
- Dylan Walker – Fifth place, public speaking
- Chloe Wenger – Eighth place, organizational leadership
Skyler Randall received the FFA Area 1 Dairy Production Management Proficiency Award.
Jon Smock received the FFA Area 1 Forage Production Proficiency Award.
Bryton Olson shot a perfect round at the FFA Area 1 Trapshoot.
Superintendent Mike Hollingsworth said in his report that the landscaping class is planning to add mulch, flowers, planters and some bushes to help “spruce up” the front of the school.

Personnel

The board accepted the resignations of Nate Jeter and Meagan Morrow.
The board voted to extend the contract of Principal Amy Webb through 2027-2028.
The board voted to hire Mike Hollingsworth as the part-time junior high/high school principal for 2026-2027.
The board voted to hire Nate Jeter as the head high school track coach.