The Brookfield R-III School Board has approved an updated attendance policy for the district’s high school students.

Board members approved the policy at their meeting Tuesday, July 15. According to the meeting’s minutes, a student that has eight or more unexcused absences will see their grades reduced by an attendance factor. However, a passing grade prior to the attendance factor taking effect cannot become a failing grade. The policy says absences for a documented illness, family emergency, funeral, or religious observance are excused, and are based on the honesty and integrity of the student and their parent or legal guardian.

In his report, Supt. Dr Eric Hoyt noted that high school principal Nile Thudium and his committee continue to review the school’s Latin graduation system, and will report further at a future board meeting. Hoyt also provided an update on plans to re-run Brookfield’s proposed bond measure, providing calculations from LJ Hart and Company. According to Hoyt, the bonding firm calculated that if the district were to prepay $240,000 on bond debt, they could pursue a bond measure as high as $4.7 million. Hoyt suggested to the board that the bond measure they put before voters in April 2026 total $4.2 million, which would be $300,000 greater than the measure that 68 percent of voters had supported last April. The measure passed in the spring was later declared invalid by the state auditor’s office because public notification of the bond election was not in accordance with state law.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the school board approved a final reading of one slate of board policy updates from the Missouri School Boards Association, while giving a second reading to a second slate of updates. The board also approved allowing certified staff to join the rotation of supervisors at athletic events, offering a $500 stipend. Brookfield’s school board will next meet Aug. 19, starting at 5:30 p.m. with their annual tax rate hearing.