Local News – Monday, June 24th, 2024

The Salem R-80 School District held its regular board meeting last Thursday. Shortly after the meeting began, Kyla Salyer addressed the board with her concerns regarding the new mandatory ROAR class at the Salem Middle School. This class which stands for Respect, Ownership, Attitude and Resolve, is replacing what used to be an elective selection by the student. Kyla asked the board to reconsider the implementation of the ROAR class, stating that it would be detrimental to students who will no longer be able to enroll in a combination of Art, Band, or Choir, instead having to select one of the three. Furthermore she feared that this could reduce attendance leading to possible removal of one or more of these elective classes in the future. After her presentation, the board thanked her for her time. The board moved on to the Superintendent’s report headed by Dr. Lynne Reed and Dr. Nate Wills which highlighted the 2024 – 2025 budget. In a letter to the board from Dr. Reed, she stated this budget was prepared with the most accurate data available and supports the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan created in 2023. She noted the budget is a working document and will change throughout the school year as needed. Some of the key Budget Assumptions included the operating levy estimated to be $2.75 and the debt service levy $0.45 per $100 of assessed valuation, an increase in the State Adequacy Target used in the budget of $6,760, and the Prop C revenue expectation to be about $1,513 per weighted average daily attendance, known as WADA. Also estimated were the Classroom Trust Funds at $618 per ADA to which 96.24% of said funds is coded to Fund 4 and is estimated to hold a value of $638,263. Regarding staff salaries, the teacher base salary will remain at $32,000 however the district can utilize funds from the Baseline Teacher Salary Grant, with a one time payment to qualifying staff to raise their overall compensation to $40,000. It was discussed that utilizing these funds to raise wages, while available through the grant, was ideal. Furthermore, support staff wages were set to increase to $12.01 an hour. It is anticipated that the district will not run a deficit during the 2024-2025 school year. Regarding the insurance claim, bids are still under consideration for the roof repairs and will be voted on at a later date. Building principals gave various end of year and summer program updates to the board. The positive impact of the Love Thy Neighbor program, good summer school attendance, grant utilization for student hygiene products, student recognition and their awards were all brought to the board’s attention. In new business, the board approved a transfer of 7% WADA from Fund 1 to Fund 4 for the purpose of paying the ineligible costs of the FEMA building, approved participating in the state baseline salary grant, approved amending the 2023-2024 budget to reflect actual expenditures and revenues, and approved the certified staff salary schedule and non-certified staff salary schedule. The board also approved the 2024-2025 budget as presented, approved the revision to board policy JG-R2, approved the revision to the high school attendance policy procedures, and approved the Healthy Dent County sponsorship. As this was Dr. Lynne Reed’s last meeting in her current role, it was approved for Dr. Wills to use the log-in access to approve payroll files at the Bank of Salem. The board approved updating the signature cards for the debt service account, petty cash account, and YOP account at the Bank of Salem to include Traci Wulff and Nathan Wills. Payment of customary bills that may need to be paid between the board meeting and June 30th, 2024 was also approved. In closed session, some student attendance appeals were heard, discussed, and those appeals were approved. The board approved the hiring of Phillip Karr as the Athletic Director and for Credit Recovery, Shelia Sullivan-Myers as a Special Education instructor, Lonnie Lee as a Health instructor, Bella Jadwin as a PE teacher, Kim Moser to teach Spanish and English, Cody Nichols as an Art instructor, Heather Maglothin as a middle school Special Education instructor, Lori Terrill as a middle school English Language Arts instructor, and John Smith for Title Reading. The board approved a 5-day extra duty contract for Mindy Dillon, approved Lonnie Lee on the salary schedule, and approve Ashton Mink as the Freshman Volleyball Coach and Assistant Middle School Volleyball Coach, Wes Hampton as JV Boys Basketball Coach, and Lonnie Lee as the Middle School Football Coach. The meeting was then adjourned.

You are invited to attend the next Salem and Dent County meeting of “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” this afternoon at 5:30 in the evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory! “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” is an international non-profit 501(C).(3) organization that builds, assembles and delivers new beds to children in need, who do not have a bed. The Rolla Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace is already helping to provide new beds to children in need in our Salem community, and we are hoping to start a Dent County Chapter. They are looking for volunteers if you are interested! For more information about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, contact Patti at 703-964-6495. You can also e-mail Patti at pmckeown1200@gmail.com.

An accident occurred Wednesday morning at 5:50 in Texas County on Highway 63 five miles north of Cabool that left a St. James man with serious injuries. According to the highway patrol report, a 2018 Ram 3500, operated by 41-year-old Joshua Cantrell of St. James, ran off the right side of the roadway where the Ram struck a guardrail and overturned down a steep embankment, coming to rest on its side. Cantrell, who according to the report was not wearing a seat restraint, was ejected from the Ram. He was transported by the Texas County Ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital for the treatment of his serious injuries. The Ram was totaled and removed from the scene by Midway Towing at officer’s request.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday morning just before noon in Maries County on Highway 68 about five miles north of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado being driven north by 61-year- old Debra Neidert of St. James, swerved to avoid a deer in the roadway. The vehicle then traveled off the left side of the road, struck a culvert and went airborne. Neidert, who was not wearing a seat restraint, suffered minor injuries and was taken by the St. James ambulance to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. The Silverado had moderate damages and was taken from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.