Board of Education
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Board of Education
The Board of Education is composed of seven lay citizens elected for three-year terms. They receive no pay for their services.
The Board of Education is responsible for the fair and uniform application of all federal, state, and local laws in the operation of the district schools. These schools will be operated for the educational benefit of all school-age children in the district. The Board is a policy-making body that determines the direction for the school district. It exercises leadership primarily through the formulation and adoption of policies.
HARDY BILLINGTON
Term Expires: 2012
80 East Outer Road
Poplar Bluff, Mo 63901
Phone: (573) 785-7225
Email
Hardy Billington is serving his second term on the Board of Education. Born near Los Angeles, CA, he and his siblings were reared by his grandparents in Butler County. He attended Halloran Elementary, Ellsinore and Grandin schools and graduated from Clarkton. In 1972, he completed courses in refrigeration and air conditioning at the Basic Institute of Technology in St. Louis and operated his own heating/cooling business from 1989 to 2000. Mr. Billington served 12 years in the Army National Guard. At this time, he owns several rental properties and is a deacon at Faith Baptist Church. He and his wife, Diane, have three daughters and five grandchildren.
CYNTHIA BROWN
Term Expires: 2010
2101 Birkhead
Poplar Bluff, Mo 63901
Phone: (573) 776-6344
Cynthia Brown is serving her second term on the Board of Education. Born in the Bronx, New York, she graduated from Fordham University, Columbia University School of Public Health, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, all in New York. She has completed residencies in Obstetrics-Gynecology and Preventive Medicine and is Board Certified in Preventive Medicine. Dr. Brown has resided in Poplar Bluff since 1991. She is a Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine and a member of American Public Health Association, Missouri State Medical Association, and Autism Society of America. She and her son Rex, who is a student in the Poplar Bluff R-I District, are members of Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church.
MIKE PRICE
President
Term Expires: 2012
148 Redbud Lane
Poplar Bluff, Mo 63901
Phone: (573) 686-6989
Mike Price is serving his second term on the Board of Education. A graduate of Doniphan High School and Three Rivers Community College, he obtained his B.S. and Dental Degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has served on the Butler County Mental Health and Optimist Soccer Boards, and as President of Kiwanis Club and of SEMO Dental Society. Dr. Price mentors for the Claudia Foundation and is an active member of the First United Methodist Church. His wife, Sandra, is a counselor at PBHS, and their two sons are Sheldon and Taylor.
MATTHEW RIFFLE
Term Expires 2011
1228 County Road 467
Poplar Bluff Mo 63901
Phone: (573) 686-2247
Dr. Matthew Riffle is serving his first term on the Board of Education. Raised in St. Louis, MO, he is a graduate of DeSmet Jesuit High School. He earned a BA in Chemistry from St. Louis University and completed his doctorate there in 1982. After an Internal Medicine residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, TX, he moved to Poplar Bluff with his wife, Suzanne, and his two children, Lindsay and Alexander. Dr. Riffle is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, has been in private practice in Poplar Bluff since 1988, and has served on numerous boards at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, including two terms as Chief of Staff. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and coaching youth baseball and soccer.
STEVE SELLS
Term Expires 2011
3443 Oak Grove Road
Poplar Bluff Mo 63901
Phone: (573) 718-6297
Steve Sells is serving his first term on the Board of Education. He was raised in St. Louis and Dexter, MO and has lived in Poplar Bluff for 20 years. Mr. Sells is the owner/operator of McDonald’s in Poplar Bluff and Doniphan. His two daughters are Allison and Riley Jane and he is a member of First Baptist Church. He enjoys spending time with his daughters, family and friends, as well as working outside and going to the river in the summer.
GARY SIMMONS
Vice-President
Term Expires: 2010
2888 Carrie Ann Circle
Poplar Bluff Mo 63901
Phone: (573) 785-8050
Gary Simmons is serving his first term on the Board of Education. He was born and raised in Portageville, MO and graduated from North Pemiscot High School in 1968. He was active in the military from 1968-71. In 1972, he married Carrie and moved to Poplar Bluff. They have three children - Daphne, Ginger, and Drew – and two granddaughters. Mr. Simmons has attended TRCC part time. For the past 20 years he has coached and sponsored sports through the park department. Currently, he serves as deacon and Sunday School Superintendent of First Baptist Church, is an active member of Gideon International and Rotary International, and enjoys broad-casting Mules football games. He owns Simmons Tire and Automotive.
ROGER STRICKLAND
Term Expires: 2011
4852 Hwy W
Poplar Bluff Mo 63901
Phone: (573) 718-9687
Roger Strickland is serving his second term on the Board of Education. He was raised, along with 11 siblings, on the family farm in Wayne County and graduated from Greenville High School. After graduation from SEMO in 1974, he taught and coached in New Madrid for five years and then in Poplar Bluff R-I District for 25 years. Mr. Strickland has taught Science, Physical Education and Drivers Education and has coached basketball, volleyball, and baseball. His hobbies are raising cattle, fishing, and watching high school and college basketball and Cardinal baseball. He has two children – Jessica and Josh.
MR. ERNIE LAWSON
Superintendent of Schools
Ernie Lawson is in his third year as Superintendent of Poplar Bluff R-I after serving for five years as Deputy Superintendent-Business in the district. Previously, he served as Superintendent of the Chaffee Schools. His wife, Kimberly, teaches reading at Poplar Bluff Junior High School.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
It is the philosophy of the Poplar Bluff R-I School District to allow Board members a delay between when an item is brought before them and when the Board will vote on issues. This will result in an opportunity for the Board member to receive input from the public prior to voting on issues when such input is beneficial to the District.
REGULAR MEETINGS
The Board of Education shall hold regular meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise specified by law or changed by the Board. The public shall be notified of all Board meetings.
BOARD AGENDA
- Call to Order
- Roll Call and Declaration of Quorum
- Public Forum
- MNEA/MSTA
- Other Employee Groups
- Student Council
- Adoption of Agenda
- Approval of the minutes of previous meetings, bills, and financial statements
- Action Items(Action on agenda items requires that a quorum of at least four members is present.)
- Discussion Items
- Adjournment
PUBLIC FORUM
During the regular meeting each month, the Board does receive open comments from the public. Any interested person may present comments, concerns, or suggestions, even if they are not listed on the agenda. The Board can take no action on these items, but will take the comments under advisement.
If you are a member of a group appearing before the Board with a concern, we ask that you have a spokes- person present your thoughts. Individuals and groups are limited to a maximum of five minutes of presentation.
Personnel issues will not be discussed in Public Forum. Patrons desiring to discuss personnel issues with the Board must request to be placed on the Board of Education agenda under closed session. Such a request should be submitted to the Board of Education secretary 72 hours prior to a regular meeting.
ACTION ITEMS
This is the appropriate time for an item to be voted upon, public input is not received, and this item will have been on the agenda at a previous Board meeting. Some routine items that require annual approval by the Board of Education may be acted upon without prior discussion.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
These items cannot be voted on by the Board and are on the agenda as discussion items in an attempt to see if an additional compromise is necessary.
SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings may be held as determined necessary by the Board of Directors; or as called by the President, by the Superintendent, or by the Secretary upon the oral request of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors. Written notice specifying the purpose, time, and place, shall be delivered to each member in person.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
Individuals or groups who wish to place an item on the agenda should do so by writing:
Mr. Ernie Lawson, Superintendent
Poplar Bluff R-I School District
1110 N. Westwood Boulevard
Poplar Bluff Mo 63901-3336
Please include your name, address, phone number, organization, and any other pertinent information you think may be helpful for the Board.
YOUR ATTENDANCE IS APPRECIATED
Active involvement in the educational process provides Poplar Bluff School District with a stronger school system. We encourage your participation, comments, and suggestions. All regular and special meetings are open to the public.
DISTRICT STATISTICS (2008-2009)
- Enrollment: 4,977
- Professional Staff: 400
- Support Staff: 273
- Operating Budget: $42,597,507
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R-1 Policy Manual
Updated August 2009
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Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education meeting highlights
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