Bourbon High School Principal (BHS) Casandra Haar announced on Sept. 15 to the Crawford County R-1 Board of Education (BOE) that when looking at the End of Course (EOC) assessment scores, English 2 went up six percent in the proficient and advanced category.

Additionally, Algebra 1 scores jumped 45 percent from last year, which is nine percent above the state average in the proficient and advanced category.

“Everything at BHS is moving in the right direction. We’re going to continue to move in the right direction with all the hard work the teachers are putting in this year,” Haar said. “Overall, I am extremely proud of BHS and the direction that we’re moving. We’re going to continue to celebrate our growth. We’re going to keep strengthening our culture.”

High School Guidance Counselor Marian Redhage presented the BOE with the Career Education Report.

“The counseling department continues to support students in preparing for life after high school through career exploration, academic planning and postsecondary preparation,” Redhage said.

Students have the option to participate in various programs like dual credit classes, ACT preparation, applying for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) assistance and scholarship opportunities.

There are 16 seniors participating in work-study this semester, a total of 29 students attending Rolla Technical Institute and Center, and six students enrolled at East Central College as part of the Early College Academy (ECA) program.

A career fair is scheduled for Nov. 23, so students can see a variety of opportunities and connect with potential employers within the community.

Redhage has been working on a universal scholarship application where students can complete one application that can be applied to any participating scholarships.

During a bond project update, Superintendent Brian Witt said that a survey of the damage to the middle and elementary school was done, and they found that the roof needed electrical conduit upgrades.

“What we have up there currently isn’t up to code, and because it’s damaged, it also has to be replaced,” Witt said. “So we had a meeting with (Meinershagen Roofing and Sheet Metal) and our insurance consultants, and the insurance consultants said that they would pay 100 percent. So this is going to be 100 percent reimbursement from the insurance claim from April, but it’s still a change, so we have to approve it.”

A motion to accept the electrical conduit upgrades by Meinershagen Roofing and Sheet Metal at $55,723 was approved by a 5-0 vote.

Work on the roofing project is expected to be complete before winter break, which is earlier than the original January target. Storm damage and insurance coverage for other roof sections are currently being reviewed, and the board is working on a schedule for the remaining projects.

Bourbon High School Band Director Jordan White said that during the July 16 BOE meeting, it was announced that the high school concert band was selected as one of 10 bands across Missouri to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) conference.

“To give a full scope of the big deal that this is, I want you to think of it as winning your state sports championship,” White said. “There have been as high as 80 to 90, and over 100 bands that audition, and we are one of only six high schools selected in the entire state to perform.”

White said the MMEA likes when the school board and administration are involved with the arts, so he had a few band students attend the meeting to present the board with complimentary tickets to their performance on Jan. 29, 2027.

Other high schools performing include Norborne High School, St. Clair High School, Central High School, Fort Zumwalt North High School and Kickapoo High School, so there is a range of smaller and larger schools that were chosen. Two middle schools, Carver Middle School and Fort Zumwalt North Middle School, were also chosen to perform, along with the Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony and the University of Missouri Wind Ensemble.

In other business, Student Representative Kyler Odgen-Davis gave the student report to the board.

At the elementary school, students have quickly settled into routines, and students are enjoying the newly finished playground. The new middle school pickup and drop-off started with a few hiccups, but it has straightened out. High school yearbook staff traveled to South Callaway for a yearbook workshop, and the new Jobs After Graduation (JAG) program spent the day pulling weeds and spreading mulch at City Hall.

He also conducted a survey of the student body. When asked how the start of the year was going, a majority said it was good. When asked how excited students were for the school year, a majority of students responded with a four out of five.