New school board members take seats

Ruth moves up to president

The Jefferson City Board of Education experienced a changing of the guard Monday.

In a brief ceremony, members bid adieu to Alan Mudd and Joy Sweeney, who had served since 2009, and welcomed Pam Murray and Michael Couty, who won elections last week.

Sweeney called her six years on the board a "true blessing" and said she has enjoyed serving the district. Mudd said he was "100 percent sure" the remaining board members care about the education of every student in the district.

Mudd went out still working: Among his last words as a board member was an update on a process he led to get to the bottom of the behavioral problems at Moreau Heights Elementary School. He noted the attorney the district hired to look into matters there - Shellie Guin with the Guin Mundorf law firm in Kansas City - "has done a fabulous job."

He noted the process cost the district "a few dollars," but noted he believes it will help the district address the situation. He told listeners the board examined a preliminary report on Friday afternoon, and said another report - one that doesn't reveal personal, identifiable information about teachers or students - will be made public in the future.

"I appreciate your patience and understanding," he concluded.

After listening to a presentation by Chief Finance Officer Jason Hoffman on how the district might pay for future construction projects, the board approved the elections results and adjourned sine die so it could reorganize and reconvene.

Murray and Couty swore their oaths of office, promising to "faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of school director."

After no debate, treasurer John Ruth was voted to replace outgoing president Dennis Nickelson. Doug Whitehead will continue to serve as vice-president and Steven Bruce was selected to serve as treasurer.

The new group also selected new representation for the Missouri School Board Association; Nickelson will serve as the primary delegate, with Bruce as an alternate.