Superintendent Brian Witt updated the Bourbon Board of Education on Oct. 21 on the current bond projects in construction.

“The elementary and middle school roofing project is moving ahead of schedule, with a possible completion date of Dec. 1,” Witt said.

There is a possibility of a change order to add the middle school gym roof project, so that it could all be completed at the same time. A decision hasn’t been made yet, but Witt said that if it is approved, it should still be finished by the estimated completion date.

“As soon as we get that information, we’ll get that to you so you guys can look at it and decide if you want to add that, and part of the reasons of wanting to add it is we’re getting ready to do a bunch of work around the middle school gym,” Witt said. “The proper sequence with all this work would be to do the roof and then do the items that were on phase one.”

Another construction project at the high school broke ground on Oct. 20, on the new Warhawk Plaza and double entryway.

In other business, Witt wrote in his superintendent report that College and Career Readiness Advisor Trish Lewis had 19 seniors join her in the library to complete the portion of the early application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Bourbon High School launched the Warhawk Incentive Card Program, where students received blue and white cards with incentives tied to attendance, tardiness and discipline referrals.

The elementary school had maintained a 95 percent attendance rate since the beginning of the year and hosted a successful Title I night.

Student Representative Kyler Odgen-Davis was unable to attend the meeting, so High School Principal Casandra Haar presented the Student Report to the Board on his behalf.

“So, some September (and) October highlights. At BES (Bourbon Elementary School), had a great last month, averaging 95 percent attendance since the start of the year, so the kids got to (watch) Mr. Bozic (Joseph, elementary principal) (get pied) in the face,” Haar said.

At the middle school, there was an awards assembly for the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Test on Oct. 9. Students who scored advanced received a cookie that was donated by Planet Sub. All students who scored proficient or advanced received a raffle ticket for a free Planet Sub lunch. Middle School Principal Nicole McPeters got pied in the face by the teachers to celebrate outstanding attendance numbers.

High school seniors got to throw water balloons at Haar for having the highest attendance percentage at 94.83 percent.

“And when I mean throwing, they were like, it’s like they should have belonged in the MLB all of a sudden, and were chucking them at me,” Haar said.

Middle School Principal Nicole McPeters reported on what is happening in her building.

Fifth grade students have investigated solubility and physical properties of matter through hands-on experience, and seventh grade made marshmallow molecules and used the engineering design process to design marble runs.

“They had certain criteria that the marble had to complete the run in the, less amount of time or something. It was really neat just watching all of the kids, all the different ideas they had to come up with in those two classes,” McPeters said.

The board looked at the discipline data across the middle school. It highlights key focus areas, targeting fifth grade’s minor infractions to reinforce routines and seventh grade’s major infractions with targeted interventions. Meanwhile, baseline monitoring is maintained for sixth and eighth grade.

Deputy Blake Kestler gave a presentation to the seventh and eighth graders about honesty and character.

Transportation Director Valli Ertl updated the board on the district’s transportation department.

The district has 10 full-time drivers and nine substitute/trip drivers. They run eight full-time routes with two special service routes.

Out of all the buses driven every day, the oldest is a 2015 model. There are a couple of 2017 and 2018 models, and there are two brand-new 2026 models.

“We did have a spot inspection two weeks ago. Passed with 100 percent,” Ertl said. “They pick buses. We pick buses. Five buses, and all of them pass with flying colors.”

In other business, a motion to accept the list of students who are expected to meet all graduation requirements by the end of the fall semester of the 2026-27 season was approved by a 5-0 vote. Sutton abstained from voting as her daughter was on the list.

A motion to accept the Administrative Services Agreement with UMR for the administration of the district’s self-funded medical insurance plan was approved with a 6-0 vote.