Your World Today

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the High School Library. At the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed said three candidates have filed for the two open positions on the R-80 School Board: Sandy Parker, Phillip Mercer and Calvin Malone. Incumbents Dustin Howard and Bernie Sirois elected not to run again. Reed said all the school districts discussed the 2022-2023 school calendar and came up with three different options, but no decisions were reached. Reed stated she would report on this at the next meeting. Reed said she met with food service staff in anticipation of the board discussing possibly letting out an RFP for food service to discuss what options would be available for current staff. All the principals gave reports on their school. Dr. Tori Snitker told the board the high school is revamping the alternative school program that affects about five kids, opening up their afternoons to let them pursue more career-oriented paths. The board did not set any dates for the CSIP program and will await a guidance letter from DESE before setting any definitive dates. The board approved the bid on replacing the gymnasium floor from Missouri Floor Company in Maryland Heights for $162,900. The bid includes a completion date by August 5th. The price increased over the last few weeks due to the increased costs of the subfloor and Assistant Athletic Director Clay Moody said the school would put out bids for a flooring sponsor for 10 years and possible for new mats to help offset the increased costs. The board heard from Tonya Voss from Opaa Food Management about putting out a request for proposals to do the food service work for R-80. Superintendent Reed said current food service workers could stay with the district or work for the food service company, whichever would be best for them. Reed said if the board would elect to contract out food services, she said the contract would begin May 31st to allow the company a soft opening with summer school before the next full school year. The board asked if the food service management companies would work with US Foods and Voss said that could be arranged. Reed said the soonest the board could vote on any RFP would be at the March board meeting. The board approved to put out the request for proposals for the food service. The board discussed at length the Safe Return In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan and finally decided to go with any student or staff testing positive for COVID-19 would have to be isolated. Those students who came in close contact with someone who tested positive would have their parents notified, and it would be the parent’s choice if the asymptomatic child returned to school or stayed home, and if they did go back, if would be up to the parent if the child should wear a mask. The board accepted the resignations of High School Junior Class Sponsor Robyn Taylor and Linda Gibbs in food service. The board heard from Pamela Haldiman from FEMA about a grant to create a public area/multipurpose building at the Upper Elementary School that would cost 2.7 million dollars. She said the board would need to apply for procurement documents and contract management to fill out, and then submit an application to FEMA for the grant which is a 75-25 match. It normally takes over a year for FEMA to review the grant application, and if approved, the board would have six months to prepare the documents to finish Phase 1 of the funding. Once that was approved, the school would have 30 months to bid and build the project in Phase 2. The government would pick up $2,025,000 of the building cost while the school would have to come up with $675,000. The board approved moving forward with the FEMA project. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Director’s meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. In the summary of operations for the month of December, the hospital had 60 inpatient admissions with 205 inpatient census days. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $933,206 and had an excess of expenses over revenues of $838,563. During the month, there were 628 emergency room visits, there were 211 ambulance runs where 147 patients were transported. In December, there were 25 surgery cases, 1,390 outpatient registrations, 4,853 lab tests, 1,071 radiological procedures, 618 rehab treatments and 200 home health visits with 19 home health admissions. The Long-Term Care Center has 16 residents with two vacancies. The days cash on hand went down to 30 days while 53 is average for Missouri Critical Access Hospitals. The hospital had a cash decrease during the month of $1,803,815. The hospital is expected to receive just over one million dollars from the American Relief Fund. Chief of Nursing Ashley Sullins gave the Acute Care Staffing by Patient Acuity report that showed the average acuity was 16 per day with an average of seven patients per day. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas reported that as of January 14, there were 213 active COVID cases in Dent County with a positivity rate of 30%. He said Dent County is currently showing 31.4% of the residents are completely vaccinated and 35.2% have initiated the series. At the hospital, six employees are out with COVID, 45% of the staff is completely vaccinated while 61 employees are unvaccinated with 49 having approved exemptions. With the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Vaccination Mandate, health care employees have until February 13 to get their first dose and until March 15 to have their second dose of the vaccine. Lucas gave the Chief of Staff’s Report that recommended reappointing all medical staff privileges. The board approved the recommendation and also approved Dr. Tiffany Bland’s appointment to the Active Staff. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards gave an update on the laboratory. The lab has completed all the Individual Quality Control Plans for the current analyzers in use. The Medtox analyzer for urine drug screens has been validated and has received final approval from CLIA to begin patient testing. The final validations are expected to be complete by the first of February. The lab is currently operating without a Lab Director and is short on lab techs and phlebotomists. There have not been any applicants for these positions. The hospital has run out of PCR Covid tests and have not been able to reorder. District 3 election filing ended on December 28th with Wanda Tatom being the only candidate to file for the seat currently held by Dennis Fiebelman. There will be no election since Fiebelman will not seek re-election and there is only one candidate. Lucas reported that the hospital has been approved to participate in the Delta Regional Community Health System Development Program. They are one of only nine hospitals in the Delta Region that was chosen to participate. This program is a collaboration between the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services to enhance health care delivery through intensive technical assistance to providers in rural communities. The program will target improving financial operations, implementing quality improvement activities to promote better health outcomes, increase telehealth, enhance coordination of care, strengthen the local health care system, provide social services to address broader socio-economic challenges, ensure access to emergency medical services, and identify workforce recruitment and retention. The board approved the purchase of a rooftop air conditioning unit for a cost of $16,200 from Victor Heating and Cooling and an ice and water dispenser for $4,648 from Scotsman. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem R-80 Boad of Education will be meeting tonight in the high school library. Superintendent Dr. Lynn Reed will report on board candidate filings, give a current Covid update along with a review of the 2022-2023 school calendar and an ESP project update, food service report, and an update on the FEMA grant. The board will the hear reports from the all the building principals along with reports on athletics, activities and facilities. In new business, the board is expected to set CSIP meeting dates, consider bids to replace the gym floor, consider the short-term leave policy and SRCSP program, and approve the RPF for food service. The board will then adjourn and move into executive closed session. The regular meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Area Arts Council will be holding a jewelry class where participants will learn how to make copper leaf necklaces with Margie Moll tonight from 5:30 until 7:30 at the Creative Arts Center. You can try your hand at creating jewelry out of copper using a ball-ping hammer and torch. All the supplies and safety equipment will be included, and the cost is $25. For more information or to register, call 247-0651 or 247-5306 or e-mail salemartscouncil@outlook.com.