Members of the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education were presented with certificates at the start of Monday night's regular board meeting by Superintendent Brad Pollitt, who read a proclamation from former Gov. Jay Nixon.

Randy Kirby
Randy Kirby
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“Our board of education has over 70 years of experience running the school district. I've been in the district almost 25 years myself, and I just appreciate the amount time & effort (they put in), and how much our board cares about our school district, and cares about our kids. And that's evident on every decision that we make, based on what's best, educationally, for the students, and trying to keep the budget in mind as well,” Pollitt commented after the meeting.

School Board Recognition Week is Jan. 22-28, it was noted. And at the meeting, a large number of students were publicly acknowledged during the first part of the meeting. “I did that on purpose so they could see how the decisions they make affect the kids,” Pollitt commented. “There are a number of programs in the district that's positively influencing kids and their careers and their families. So we do appreciate what the board does.”

Some of the many programs offered in District 200 that were recognized for their success included the Sedalia FIT program, the All-Pro Dads, and the Academic All-State Athletes, to name a few.

“We have a great school district,” Pollitt stressed, adding that the personal rewards normally outnumber the problems. “When you see little kids get up and talk about how much they like having their dad come for one day a month, and how you have a dad, almost in tears, talking about what it means to him, and you have a board president, almost in tears, just appreciating that. So that's what makes it special. We'll have problems, like everybody else has, but we've got good people who are trying to do the right thing,” Pollitt concluded.

Sedalia School District Foundation (SSDF) President Deidre Esquivel was part of a presentation and recognition of the Van Horn family.

"Tonight we honored Jim Van Horn and his family for his generous donation to the SSDF with a plaque that will sit outside the theatre classroom,' Esquivel said. "Jim's mother (Marilyn) was a theatre department teacher for many years and a Smith-Cotton alumni form the Class of 1946, and it's such a pleasure to get the donation from Jim and his family."

The late Marilyn Van Horn was a Sedalia educator from 1968 to 1995, and a drama instructor from 1970 to 1980.

Representatives of the Sedalia Community Educators Association (SCEA) noted that a different process was used this year to help determine the District 200 Educator and Associate of the Year.  A total of 150 nominations were received, which were whittled down to 10 candidates for interviews and ultimate recognition, which will take place at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Heckart Performing Arts Center on the Smith-Cotton campus, 2010 Tiger Pride Blvd. The public is invited to attend.

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