School board will vote on math objectives, search firm

COLUMBIA — Monday night's Columbia Public School Board meeting could be the end of a lengthy revision process of the district's math curriculum.

Approval of the proposed math curriculum objectives by board members would end the planning stage of the curriculum process, and implementation of the objectives would begin next fall.

Also at the meeting, Bob Watkins — a member of the Missouri School Boards' Association's superintendent search firm — will present how the firm would help the board find its next superintendent. The district would pay $13,000 for the search. After his presentation, board members will vote on whether to use Watkins' firm.

That firm helped the board in the last superintendent search, when it hired Phyllis Chase, who retired in August. The board paid the firm $8,650 in 2003. 

At a Muleskinners' meeting Friday, Interim Superintendent Jim Ritter spoke to the local Democrat forum and said superintendent selection is the district's primary goal. He spoke to a group of about 40 in Stamper Commons at Stephens College.

As he has before, Ritter stressed that the community's confidence and trust in the district need to be restored.

"(Our community) is extremely supportive, but they watch us carefully," he said. "And if we go astray, they'll let us know."

Ritter spoke fondly about his return to the part-time interim position — what he considers a "time-and-a-half job." In his first three weeks as interim superintendent, Ritter said he made a point to visit staff at all of Columbia's schools. Despite larger class sizes this year and no pay increase from last year, Ritter said the teachers were enthusiastic, and he was pleased by their energy. 

At Monday's meeting, board members will also vote to approve student transportation routes and the purchase of bank certificates of deposit. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 1818 W. Worley St.