Monday, November 24 & Tuesday, November 25:

School in Session

Wednesday, November 26 - Friday, November 28:

No School: Thanksgiving Break

Monday, December 8: 

Hallsville PTO Meeting

Tuesday, December 9:

School Board Candidate Filing Opens

Wednesday, December 17:

Board of Education Meeting

Friday, December 19:

End of 2nd Quarter

Winter Break: 

Monday, December 22 through Monday, January 5

Tuesday, December 30:

School Board Candidate Filing Closes

Tuesday, January 6:

School Resumes, Beginning of 3rd Quarter

A reminder that school is in session Monday, November 24, and Tuesday, November 25. Thanksgiving Break begins on Wednesday, November 26. Students will return from break on Tuesday, December 2. The district calendar is available online.

The Hallsville School District encourages qualified persons interested in running for a position on the School Board to file to be a candidate in the April 7, 2026, election. Filing for positions on the Hallsville R-IV Board of Education will open at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Filing will close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. The election will be held April 7, 2026.

Interested persons must file, in person, at the office of the Superintendent located at 411 E. Highway 124, Hallsville, Missouri, during regular business hours Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Candidates will be listed on the ballot in the order of filing. Filing will not occur on days that the school district is closed due to inclement weather. Hallsville School District administrative offices will be closed from December 22, 2025, through December 29, 2025. Three persons will be elected for three year terms as members of the Board of Education.

District Address 
411 E. Hwy 124
Hallsville MO 65255

• December 9, 2025, 8am-5pm
• December 10-12, 2025, 8:30am - 3:30pm
• December 16-19, 2025, 8:30am - 3:30pm
• December 22-29, 2025, Closed for Winter Break
• December 30, 2025, Open 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Qualifications Include: A school board member must be a U.S. citizen, a resident taxpayer of the district or voters of the district in urban districts, a resident of Missouri for at least one year, and at least 24 years of age. Candidates must also be current on state and local taxes; have not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under Missouri or federal law; are not registered or required to register as a sex offender; and have filed required campaign documents for all previous campaigns, if any. Additional resources for school board candidates can be found online at Missouri School Boards’ Association, including A Candidate’s Legal Guide to Running for the School Board.

We’re excited to continue the Hallsville Alumni Spotlight in our ENews! This feature highlights Hallsville High School graduates who have made a difference in our community or excelled in their fields. Each month, we’ll share inspiring stories that showcase the Hallsville spirit.

Know an alum who deserves to be recognized? Let us know—we’d love to share their story!

Andrew (Andy) Baugh, Class of 1991, comes from a family with a strong connection to Hallsville Schools. His grandparents served on the Board of Education and taught in the district, and his parents carried on that legacy as longtime teachers and a superintendent. After graduating from Hallsville, Andy earned a BA in Political Science and an Army commission from the University of Missouri in 1995, followed by his law degree from Mizzou in 1998.

What are you doing now?

After law school, I served as a JAG officer from 1998 to 2005, primarily prosecuting criminal courts-martial. My assignments took me to Korea, Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo, Hawaii, and Afghanistan, where I earned a Bronze Star. I left the Army as a Major and moved to California with my wife, Courtney, whom I met while serving. Before passing the California Bar, I joined Berding & Weil LLP in late 2005 — my first civilian job. Today, I’m one of the principal owners of the firm, headquartered in Walnut Creek, with additional offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. We’re the largest firm in the western U.S. and Hawaii focused on representing building owners in construction defect cases.

How did Hallsville School prepare you for life?

I was lucky to be able to go to Hallsville Schools. Its size enabled me to be able to get personal attention from our teachers and the ability to participate in a number of sports and activities, which taught me teamwork and dedication to achieve my goals.

What is a favorite memory from school at Hallsville?

It’s probably my senior year playing basketball and how our team went through some adversity during the season. We pulled it together and still were able to win districts, win our sectional game and then the tough loss in the quarter finals game keeping us from going to the state final four.

What part of Hallsville did you take with you?

Everybody probably knows my parents, Tom and Cele Baugh, and that my family has a very long history in the Hallsville community. The part of Hallsville that I took with me is the work ethic my parents instilled in me while working on the farm, in the classroom or on the sports courts/fields.

What advice would you give students today?

Be open to change – life never goes as planned. I never planned on moving to California when I got out of the Army. Things change, roll with it, adjust, evolve and always own it. Don’t limit yourselves. Travel, see the world. Don’t restrict yourself to any specific job or place that you think you need to live your best life. Don’t miss an opportunity because it might be out of your comfort zone.

As scholarship season kicks off, we’re seeking community support to help our graduating seniors succeed! Local scholarships make a huge impact, and we’d love your help in celebrating the Hallsville High School Class of 2026. Families, businesses, or organizations can sponsor a scholarship starting at $250 and your tailored criteria.

If you are interested in sponsoring a local scholarship, please contact Rachel Sides at rsides@hallsville.org or complete the form below by Wednesday, January 14. Thank you for helping us support our seniors and their bright futures!

• Points gained from:
  • Improvement in "All Students" Academic Achievement for Science (+1)
  • Additional points earned in the following Academic Growth categories
    • ELA All students (+3)
    • ELA Student Group (+1.5)
    • Math Student Group (+ 1.5)
    • Science All Students (+1)
  • Additional Noteworthy APR data:
    • MPI scores improved in 6 of 8 areas. Only one area moved into a higher point category. This remains a high-variability area due to cohort size.
    • ELA "All Student" group has had a 4-year upward trend.
    • The ELA "Student Group" performance has remained steady but continues to lag behind the “All Students” group.
    • Success-Ready Students: Earned 100% of available points.
    • Graduation Rate and Follow-Up: Earned 100% of points.
    • Continuous Improvement: Earned 100% of points in all areas except attendance

In addition, the CSIP Balanced Scorecard has been updated to include 2025 APR data. The scorecard serves as a centralized tool for monitoring progress toward the district’s strategic goals and ensuring alignment with state and local priorities. It incorporates performance indicators informed by stakeholder input, state APR metrics, and in-district measures, allowing for timely, data-driven decision-making. The scorecard is updated throughout the year as new data becomes available, allowing the district to respond quickly to emerging trends and adjust improvement plans as needed. 

Join the Hallsville PTO for their Family Movie Night on Sunday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the Hallsville Intermediate School commons. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., and Elf (Rated PG) will begin at 6:00 p.m. This event is free for all students and families. The PTO will also provide free popcorn, water, and hot chocolate.

Below are highlights of items discussed during the open session of the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Full highlights are available online as well as the full agenda.

RECOGNITIONS

• Congratulations to secondary choir teacher Mrs. Susan Lewis on her recent nomination and selection for Hallsville Educator of the Year. Each year, the Hallsville Chamber of Commerce selects an educator to honor for their hard work and dedication to the Hallsville School District. Mrs. Lewis has been an educator for 10 years and joined Hallsville in 2017 as the director of the middle and high school choirs.

• Last week, Building Services team member Evan Dietzel acted quickly in the secondary cafeteria, performing the Heimlich maneuver on a student who was choking. His calm response and quick action made all the difference, and we are incredibly grateful for his quick thinking and steady response. 

• Building Services and Building Services Lead, Candy Green, were recognized for their hard work and efforts in ensuring district events run smoothly. This includes the amount of time it takes to set up for the elementary Thanksgiving Feasts. 

• The HHS Drama Department was recognized for its outstanding fall musical.

2025-2026 DISTRICT AUDIT

The independent audit for the year ended June 30, 2025, resulted in an unmodified opinion, the highest level of assurance, indicating that the district’s financial statements are presented fairly and accurately in accordance with applicable standards. Additionally, no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies were reported. The agenda provided to the Board includes an audit summary, an audit communication letter, and a financial report of the district.

PROPOSITION 2 BOND CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

At the November meeting, SM Wilson and Klingner & Associates presented the 90% schematic design, 100% schematic design, and a tentative timeline for the new baseball field and parking lot for Board review. Bids for these projects will be due on December 16. Recommendations from SM Wilson on bid approvals will be provided to the District on January 14 and approved by the Board of Education at the January 21 meeting. In addition, Klingner Change Order #1 was approved, which amends the agreement at no cost so design work on the classroom addition and secure vestibules can resume immediately.

FY26 BUDGET AMENDMENT #1

This month’s meeting will include a budget amendment reflecting updated enrollment and expenditure information for FY26. The amendment includes a projected $400,000 decrease in revenues due to lower Average Daily Attendance (ADA) and a $421,000 increase in expenditures, primarily from higher-than-expected salary and benefit costs. With these adjustments, the district is projected to finish the year with an estimated 40% reserve balance.

PROGRAM EVALUATIONS

The Board approved the evaluations of the Health Services and Curriculum and Assessment programs. Each review includes program goals, evidence of change, concerns, and future recommendations.

PRIORITY CSIP GOAL: RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION (1.2.1)

The district is reviewing and refining its Response to Intervention system, now referred to as a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), to strengthen academic and behavioral interventions. Building teams met on October 30 to evaluate current practices using a district-selected rubric, and the results will guide the development of tailored action plans for each building. This work is closely aligned with PBIS and the District Literacy Team to ensure consistency and improve student outcomes across all tiers of support.

POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS (PBIS) (CSIP Goal 1)

District-wide implementation of PBIS continues across all buildings. HHS recognized 64% of students for good behavior and attendance through Purple and Gold cards. For their monthly character word, the primary school is focusing on appreciation, while the intermediate school is focusing on gratitude and recognizing students who show courage.