Hickman Mills C-1 School District Board of Directors (Feb. 19, 2026)

By Kyaira Boughton, Kansas City Documenter

These notes were produced through Kansas City Documenters, which trains and pays community members to take fact-checked notes at public meetings, strengthening transparency and accountability in local government.

Summary

• The board unanimously approved recommendations from the school naming committee to rename three schools. Alvin Brooks Middle School/John Sharp Early Learning Center will become Truman Elementary at Ervin. Ervin Elementary will become C.A. Burke Elementary. And Santa Fe Elementary will become Brooks-Sharp Sixth Grade Center at Santa Fe.
• District leaders discussed plans to share information with the community about the April 7 bond ballot questions, noting the measures would not raise taxes.
• The board unanimously approved the superintendent’s report and ratified a Zeta CDL Driving School contract that will provide commercial driver’s license training opportunities for 18-year-old students.

Notes

• Meeting Attendance
  • Bonnaye Mims, president
  • Byron Townsend, vice president
  • Cha’sha Walker, secretary
  • Vanessa Claborn
  • Ann Coleman
  • April Cushing
  • Irene Kendrick
  • Clifford Ragan III
  • Dennis Carpenter, superintendent

1. Call to Order

• Welcome
• Pledge of Allegiance

2. Roll Call

• Adoption of Agenda: Townsend moved to adopt the agenda as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. 

3. Student Recognition: Lego League

• Assistant Superintendent of Academics Katie Roe recognized students participating in the district’s Lego League programs, including the Truman Robocats team and teams from Hickman Mills Middle School. Members of the Truman team came forward, and one student represented the middle school teams, RoboRex and RoboRaptors.
• Roe recognized the teams’ coaches. Parents were also recognized and asked to stand.
• Jeanette Calipetro, one of the coaches at Truman, described their experience at the regional competition, where they received an award recognizing enthusiasm and teamwork. Students shared details about their research and robot design, and the middle school student briefly described his team’s experience.
• Board members congratulated the students, and Townsend and Ragan asked questions about the competition. Roe concluded by inviting attendees to a Lego League showcase on March 3 at Hickman Mills Middle School.

4. Old Business

• Missouri School Boards’ Association Board Policy Update 2025-E (first read): Carpenter presented the policy update.
  • The board approved the item with no discussion in a 7-0 roll call vote. 
  • Carpenter clarified discussion around the item had occurred during a working session.
    • “For the benefit of our audience, these items were discussed extensively last at our work session meeting, so the board is confirming what they have already heard. So if you think we’re moving forward with no discussion, that discussion took place at our work session.”
• School Naming Committee
  • Recommendations were presented by Cushing and Yolanda Cargile, executive director of academic services, with special thanks given to Claborn and Kendrick.
  • The deadline to submit name changes to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is March 1.
  • Renaming committee recommendations are: 
    • Renaming Alvin Brooks Middle School/John Sharp Early Learning Center to Truman Elementary at Ervin.
    • Renaming Ervin Elementary to C.A. Burke Elementary.
    • Renaming Santa Fe Elementary to Brooks-Sharp Sixth Grade Center at Santa Fe.
  • Kendrick motioned for the recommended names to be accepted.
  • Cargile stated that the committee’s intention in selecting the names is to honor the Hickman Mills community.
  • The name recommendations were unanimously accepted.
  • Claborn and Cushing commended Cargile for her work in getting the committee to agree on a single recommendation.

5. Request Board Approval Relative to Superintendent’s Reports

• A board member asked if this was the same report from the previous meeting, and they received an affirmative response. 
• The superintendent’s report was approved unanimously. 

6. Request Board Approval Relative To: Ratification Of Contracts

• Zeta CDL Driving School: The board unanimously ratified a contract with Zeta CDL Driving School to provide commercial driver’s license training opportunities for 18-year-old students.
  • Kendrick commented that the program provides a positive opportunity for students and thanked Roe and the superintendent for helping bring it forward.

7.    New Business

• Local Compliance Plan Certification
  • Cargile presented the district’s annual local compliance plan, which must be approved by the board each year.
  • Carpenter thanked Mims for her work on the architectural service recommendation. Dawn Smith, assistant superintendent of operations, presented the recommendation.
• Recommendation for Architectural Services (RFQ)
• Smith explained that the architectural services recommendation is tied to the April bond measure. If voters approve the bond, the district would pay off its lease debt and have $6 million to $7 million available for building improvements.
• The district recommended selecting the firm Hollis + Miller for architectural services. Carpenter noted that the district has previously worked with the firm.

8. Comment

• Audience Comment: John Sharp, former Hickman Mills board member, current president of the South Kansas City Alliance and Hickman Mills Educational Foundation board member, encouraged the district to share fact-based information with residents about the upcoming bond ballot questions.
  • He noted that the measures would not increase taxes and said the district can explain the facts even if it cannot tell voters how to vote. 
  • Sharp added that he believes passing the bonds would help the district secure full accreditation from the state of Missouri, though he said the district is already making progress toward that goal.
• Superintendent Comment: Carpenter spoke about the April 7 bond questions and said the district is already distributing fact sheets about the measures to staff and parents.
  • He also thanked district staff and board members for their work, recognizing several individuals and teams for their contributions.
• Board Comment:
  • Kendrick spoke about the challenges facing the district and emphasized the importance of the board working together to support students and teachers.
  • Coleman thanked teachers and administrators and acknowledged that the district is going through challenging times.
  • Townsend declined to comment. 
  • Ragan thanked parents and the community for their support and encouraged board members to stay strong and continue supporting the community.
  • Claborn thanked district staff and leadership for their work and expressed appreciation for teachers, principals and community members who attend meetings.
  • Cushing said the board is focused on doing the best they can for students.
  • Mims delivered extended remarks about the district, community pride, student success, scholarships and the importance of supporting teachers and staff.
    •  Before the meeting adjourned, she apologized to community members who regularly attend meetings for not acknowledging them earlier.

9. Informational Items

• Legislative Day at the Missouri Capitol on Feb. 25: Between 17 and 20 people, including students, teachers, parents and board members, were planning to travel to the Capitol on Feb. 25 via a school bus to advocate with other schools statewide.
• Black History Programs: Upcoming events were noted. 
• The board will host a working session meeting at 6 p.m. on March 5.

Observations & Follow-Up Questions

• Several agenda items moved quickly with limited discussion during the meeting. The superintendent noted that many of these items had already been discussed extensively during a prior work session. How much of the board’s discussion typically occurs during work sessions or other meetings prior to formal board meetings?
• The financial reports included revenue, expenses and operational updates, but it was not immediately clear how they relate to potential future decisions about district facilities. Where would information about those projections or discussions typically be shared?

Read more about this meeting and see all Kansas City Documenters notes here.