North Callaway R-I School District Board of Education approved a food service bid along with a number of other items at the May 15 meeting.

The board approved the current food service vendor provider, Opaa! Food Management Inc., said Superintendent Kenya Thompson.

A bus bid for Midwest Transit was approved and the bus will arrive in early August for use in the 2025-26 school year. The board also approved FV-4 grants for ag science, while the grants for business and marketing will be considered at the June meeting, as the board requested additional information. The FV-4 grants are state grants for enhancement of CTE or career education programs.

“They're specific to each individual area and they’re matching grants provided to the state,” Thompson said. “So, if it’s a $20,000 request, DESE reimburses ($10,000) and the district picks up the other half.” DESE is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The board heard about a districtwide playground survey, which was conducted in anticipation of the construction of a new building and playground, and the playground vendor, Playscape, will now take that information for the creation of the playground at the new elementary school. 

“They will present those designs to the board for approval at the July board meeting,” Thompson said. 

The board also approved tuition rates for families who live outside of the district. Thompson said. The board approved a change in graduation requirements in that, previously, the district had awarded an alternative high school diploma for students who completed the alternative program. But now that some much coursework has an online option, all students who graduate from North Callaway High School regardless of the path will receive a high school diploma and will not have an alternative designation.