Local News – Monday, February 21st, 2022

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening in the regular monthly meeting. The board heard from Nicky Stringer about the school’s SRCSP policy hoping the school board would consider requiring the CDC guidelines concerning close contact and quarantine. She would prefer to see the quarantine period and mask mandate be reinstated to keep children safe. The board heard from Chris Salzman and Doug Adams from ESP about the Tin Gym renovation where the main reasons to make the change was the appearance of the building, the odor from all the years of kids working out and the indoor air quality. The renovation would include a new HVAC system, rubberized floor and new Astro turf, but would not include water, restrooms, ice machine, coach’s office or interior equipment. ESP provided three options to the board that include an expansion that ranged for $187.50 per square foot that would come to just under 1.5 million dollars, up to $238 per square foot that would come over budget. They also talked about the locker room renovation that would come to about $300,000. This would gut the locker rooms and would recreate them using basically the same footprint. They would like to be able to squeeze in a training room within the locker room proper. The board approved them moving forward to getting material hard quotes on both projects. Superintendent Lynne Reed said three companies attended the mandatory walk through to bid on the food service contract. She also said she will bring health insurance numbers to the March meeting for the board to review. On the next agenda, the board will vote to change the policy on the number of days before a parent or person can request to be put on the agenda from five to three days, and they will discuss streaming meetings. After the principal’s report, the board voted to approve changing insurance payments to be paid “the month of” instead of a month ahead, approved the 2022-2023 school calendar, and approved the revised technology support staff job description. The board selected Toth and Associates from Springfield to be the management firm for the FEMA grant safe room at the Upper Elementary as they were the only ones to submit a request for qualification for that purpose, and the board approved to use HTK Architects from Kansas City as the architectural firm for the project. The board approved the multi-step bid process recommended by Assistant Athletic Director Clay Moody for sponsorship of the new High School Gym Floor. Each sponsorship element will be bid separately. Bids on the floor must be submitted by March 14th. The board approved the resignations of Lisa Elliott in food service, Erin Wilson as a 3rd grade teacher at the upper elementary, and Elizabeth Hogan as the basketball cheerleader coach. The board then went into closed session.

A couples or singles paint-n-sip with Danielle Norris will be this Friday from 6:30 until 8:30 @ the Creative Arts Center as a makeup from the February 11th date that was postponed. Let Danielle lead you step-by-step through a dreamy painting. Bring a beverage and a friend or family member to enjoy and evening away from the stresses of the day or week! All the supplies for the class are provided and the cost is $25. For more information or to register, call 247-0651 or 247-5306 or you can e-mail salemartscouncil@outlook.com.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their February meeting Tuesday night at 6:00 in the hospital library. Hospital Interim Administrator Bill May will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of January as well as hear the Chief Nursing Officer report from Ashley Sullins and auxiliary report. The board will also hear a report on the hospital foundation, as well as the marketing and community perception report. In old business, the board will hear how COVID-19 is affecting the hospital, a report on the Cerner conversion, and a lab update. In new business, the board will discuss any purchases. The board may vote to go into closed session. The SMDH Board meeting Tuesday night at the hospital library is open to the public.