Owensville Elementary School (OES) Principal Tricia Ridder, on Jan. 20, informed the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education that Teaching and Learning Coach Lisa Uthlaut helped fourth and fifth graders create the OES Press.

Ridder explained the project to the board.

“Uthlaut and my RTI building aids came up with the OES Press idea,” Ridder said. “This was kind of the first edition that our OES fourth and fifth-graders on track and enrichment kids got to build and create this school newspaper. It has been really fun just to watch them. They’re very professional when they come in and ask if they could set up an appointment to interview you for the OES Press.”

Ridder said the supervisors of the program did a good job.

“Everybody enjoyed it so much that it’s continuing to those kids,” Ridder said. “That group of students is above in most areas, and so the kids are getting the opportunity to do a lot of this. I want to highlight that it’s been fun.”

Student staff members of the OHS Dutch Mill took the opportunity to mentor the OES Press staff at the beginning of the year.

Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy said they are also working on a district magazine.

“Another thing that we are working on is coming up with a magazine to showcase our district, and that should come out in the middle of February,” Hardy said. “We’re really excited about that. I was able to share a template that you guys sent me. We’re going to put it out for our community, because we do have an amazing school. We do great things for kids here every day, and so it’s time that we start telling our story.”

Hardy expected the magazine to hit the news stands in mid February.

“We’re really excited about that. I know the principals are really excited about getting to write their portion of that.”

Tyler Ahring, the OHS broadcast teacher, has been working on the magazine’s design.

“I think we’re going to be really proud of the product that’s coming out of that,” Hardy said. “We think it’s going to be the Dutchmen Digest, but we’re not positive yet. Tyler’s going to play with that a little bit more.”

The board on Feb. 17 approved resignations and renewed contracts and employment across the district.

Resignations were approved with a 6-0 vote, and included:

• Hanna Bunt, OES para, effective Feb. 13;

• Melissa Sizemore, Owensville Middle School (OMS) cook, effective Feb. 16;

• Laura Muller, Owensville High School (OHS) science teacher and freshman class sponsor, effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year;

• Brandon Howard, assistant football coach, effective Feb 9; and

• Tinya McClure, OMS sixth-grade science teacher, effective at the end of the school year.

The board voted 5-0-1, with Board Member Jason Crowe abstaining, to hire Randy Crowe for the OHS head football coach. Crowe who will be returning after an 18-year hiatus.

The board also extended the contracts and re-employed staff members through the 2027-28 school year with a 6-0 vote, including Assistant Superintendent Dr. Staci Johnson; OHS Principal Kris Altemeyer; OMS Principal Devin Johnson; OES Principal Tricia Ridder; GES Principal Brady Royle; OHS Assistant Principal John Bunch; Matt Goddard, OES assistant principal; Tami Bobbit, special education director; Nicole Granneman, technology director; and Zac Miller, athletic and activities director.

New employmentes were approved with  6-0 votes for the 2026-27 school year, including Jonathan Bohl, as OHS part-time evening custodian; Steven Kottwitz, as GES lead custodian pending a clear background check and completed paperwork; Risa Bucholz, as OMS four-hour cook pending a clear background check and completed paperwork; Barbara Breeden, as bus monitor for the co-op route pending a clear background check and completed paperwork; and Crowe, as head football coach pending a clear background check and completed paperwork.