Archive for 2019

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the District Administrative Offices. After the agenda was approved, the board received a “thank you” card from Brooke Adams who thanked the staff for her $1,000 Jeans Scholarship. Principal Kriste Crocker from the William Lynch Elementary reported that Summer school enrollment is 129. She stated that 23 new kindergarteners were registered that brings the expected enrollment next year to 111 with 66 students expected in pre-school and 98 in 1st grade. Upper Elementary Principal Melanie Wisdom reported that 40 of her students finished this past school year ith 100% attendance and that 195 students enrolled in summer school. Middle School Principal Scott Roberts said the “Teachers of the Year” voted by the students were for 6th Grade, Mrs. Kristi Steelman; 7th Grade, Ms. Jennifer Headrick; and for 8th Grade, Mr. Chris Kamprath. High school Principal Marty Anderson reported that Jody Dean would be the new board liaison for the 2019-2020 school year and that 22 high school students would be attending summer school with 10 of them taking personal finance. He went to say that five 9th graders, two 10th graders and five 11th graders would also be attending summer school for other reasons. He further reported that driver’s education this summer will have 30 students participating. In old business, Larry Maxwell gave an update on the Athletic Advisory Committee who will be meeting again Tuesday night at 7:00. The board approved renewing the partnership contribution with Healthy Dent County for $10,000, approved the surplus property list at the school that be on the school webpage and where bids will be accepted until the June meeting, agreed to purchase 350 Chromebooks from CDW at a cost of $80,489.50 that includes the license fees, approved the purchase of a 20 ton HVAC unit from Victor Furnace Company at a cost of $30,000 for the Upper Elementary School, approved the copier bid for all R-80 schools from MARCO for a cost of $3,075 a month, approved a K-5 comprehensive reading program through Collaborative Classroom and approved a new Cum Laude system that will replace the current Salutatorian and Valedictorian system by 2023. The board also approved out of state trips for the FFA, to Indianapolis for the National Convention, the FBLA trip to Birmingham, Alabama, and Chamber Choir trip to Washington, D.C. next year, plus they approved board policies IK, JED and JGR dealing with student credit for courses if they are on an out-of-school suspension. The board discussed and approved a preliminary 2019-2020 budget with anticipated revenue of $13,430,621.78 and anticipated expenditures of $13,147,884 that includes a step up in the salary schedules that will cost the district about $77,000, a $20,000 increase in athletic equipment, $35,000 for the HVAC unit at the Upper Elementary, $75,000 for the Construction Trades program, a 12% increase in Health Insurance premiums and $36,000 for Ag Enhancement Grant that was applied for. The board also approved lunch prices for adults for the 2019-2020 school year at $2.25 for breakfast and $3.75 for lunch. The board accepted the resignations of Brian McNamee as head football coach and Natalie Sellers as a high school math teacher, as well as assistant girls’ basketball and softball coach. In closed session, the board employed Stephanie Floyd as the ECSE; Raylene Wilson as a Kindergarten instructor; Kelsey Wyrick as a 1st grade teacher; John Brewer for Intervention; Dale Sandlin, JR as a middle school P.E. teacher; Sarah Sullivan for middle school math; Amy Sanders as a high school math instructor and Dylan Wyrick for in-school suspension. The board sloe employed Rockey Wade as the assistant boys’ basketball coach; Dale Sandlin JR as the head volleyball coach, 7th grade boys’ basketball, and assistant track; Bryan Carty as the head boys’ basketball coach; Kriste Steelman as the assistant volleyball coach; Kristiana Bermudez as the middle school volleyball coach; Nick Frillman as an assistant girls’ basketball coach; Darcy Reardon as an assistant softball coach; Jerry Adkins as the 9th grade boys’ basketball; Dylan Wyrick as the head football coach; Jenny Summers for middle school cheerleading; and Leannette Beeson will become the assistant band director. The meeting was then adjourned.

An accident occurred on Saturday evening at 6:25 in Maries County on Route U and county road 426. According to the highway patrol a 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan driven by 61–year old Angelo Sgroi of Salem was traveling westbound and failed to negotiate a curve. The Kawasaki traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch. Sgroi suffered serious injuries and was transported to Phelps Health. Sgroi was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Kawasaki sustained minor damage and was towed from the scene by Owen’s Towing.

The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Commissioners has called a Public Hearing and Meeting for Monday at 6:30 in the City Hall Council Chambers. The purpose of the meeting is to hear a request to rezone from Residential to Commercial 600 South McArthur Avenue owned by Joshua and Lorie Greenwood. The Board of Commissioners will also receive an update on the Planning and Zoning Map and Amendment 2. The regular meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman will follow starting at 7:00. The public hearing and the meetings are open to the public.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 4122, 4155, 6400 and 6460. He said only grading would be done on county roads 5600 and 5680 while materials would be added to county road 5615. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated that materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3300, 3310 and 5300 while only grading would be done on county road 2130. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported he attended a County Commissioner Association of Missouri meeting in Jefferson City where they are preparing to review this past year’s annual meeting and begin preparations for the 2020 annual meeting. He said CCAM received a legislative update but there was not much that was done this year that would affect counties. He did say there was a budgeted increase for the allocation in the per diem for counties, but specifically for those with electronic monitoring. He said the jail per diem reimbursement is still at $22.00 per day that is paid to counties from the state when they send persons to the Department of Corrections. The Commission opened chip and seal bids at 10:00. The county received bids from Blevins Asphalt and West Contracting for this year’s work. Blevins Asphalt came in at $1.15 a square yard while the bid from West Contracting was $1.60 per square yard. The commission called Blevins to verify some details, and while they were on the phone, approved their low bid. The commissioners have tentatively set the first of August for chip and seal work to be done in the county, but that may be moved up if the county can get the roads ready earlier. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the depository bids for the county. The bid packets were sent to all the local banks in Dent County and were for the next four years beginning July 31st. Williams received bids from the Bank of Salem, Riverways Federal Credit Union and Progressive Ozark Bank. Town and County Bank declined to bid. After the bids were opened and compared, Williams recommended going with the bid from Progressive Ozark Bank that would provide the county with an interest rate of the current Federal Funds Rate less 0.35%. That is currently at 2.50% and that rate can be adjusted quarterly. The commissioners approved the recommendation of the county treasurer with a 3-0 vote. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Congressman Jason Smith announced the local finalists for the annual 8th Congressional District Art Competition for high school students across southeast and south central Missouri. Congressman Smith’s office accepted more than 120 submissions from local high school artists, and today Congressman Smith congratulated Kullen Myers from Salem High School and Michelle Woodley from Rolla High School as the Rolla regional winners. The two entries from the Rolla office will now head to a “Best of Show” competition. The winner of the 8th Congressional District Art Contest will receive two round-trip plane tickets to attend the national recognition reception in Washington, D.C. The winner’s artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.