Local News – Monday, March 23rd, 2020

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting tonight at the city hall council chambers at 6:00. At the meeting, the board will hear Bill #3442 that would create an ordinance that would repeal Ordinance #3438 and amend Chapter 515 Electricity, Chapter 705 for Water Regulations and Chapter 710 on Sewers of the municipal code of the City of Salem pertaining to the prompt payment discount and the delayed payment penalty. The board will also hear Bill #3443 that would create an ordinance that allows the mayor to declare a State of Emergency due to the coronavirus and the authorization of temporary protocols and practices for the city during the State of Emergency. A proclamation to declare the State of Emergency will then be read followed by the reading of Bill #3444 that creates an ordinance adding new provisions relating to the Emergency Employee Sick Leave Act according to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The board will finally hear Resolution #5-2020 that would adopt a new policy for a payment plan for utility customers to replace the previous payment plan adopted by Resolution #1-2018 for the City of Salem. The meeting is open to the public but there may be some restrictions due to the required social distance requirement.

The local Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit wants to remind anyone needing assistance with their utility bill, because of job reduction or cuts, to please give us a call at 729-8163. As always, they are here to help local residents in this time of uncertainty. To anyone wanting to help, we are always taking financial contributions, not just during the Christmas season. Your donation will stay local to help your neighbors. With your continued help we will be able to offer much more assistance to each family. Donations can be sent to P.O Box 190, Salem or dropped off at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday night at the Salem R-80 District Administrative Offices. Board members Carrie Snyder and Holly Erway joined the meeting via Zoom. Superintendent John McColloch stated summer school is scheduled to start on May 18th and last 14 days until June 5th for those in Kindergarten through the 6th grade. This may be changed or eliminated depending upon when or if school starts again this semester. McCollloch also said the state has cancelled all testing for the rest of the year. McColloch also reported on the health insurance premium for the school. For the current insurance carrier, the cost would jump from $456.53 to 598.06 per employee which is a 31% increase. McColloch has received some other bids and is currently matching those up against the current carrier. He said the board would have to make a decision before April 1st as that is the last day the school could let their current carrier know they are going with someone else. McColloch added that the LED lighting project at the schools is moving along nicely as the high school and middle school are about 50% complete and about 20% complete at the Upper Elementary. He did say the workers should be able to make good progress with the schools closed and hopes to complete the project ahead of time. McColloch did say the school is still looking for a local investor or investors to make $150,000 donation to get the tax credit offered when the school was approved for the YOP program. If no one steps forward, he said he may have to look at out of town investors. In old business, the board approved the setting of the school year with an additional 15 minutes being added to each day from August 24th and ending on May 14th. The board tabled the organizational meeting for the board since the Municipal election has been moved back to June 2nd. The board approved the MSBA Policy Service Agreement at a cost fo $3,479 per year, approved the tuition rate for the 2020-21 school year at $7,487.41, approved the MSBA 2019C Board Police Updates, and accepted the bid from CDWG for 350 Chromebooks at a cost of $214.01 per Chromebook. The board approved the resignations of high school physical education and head track coach Brian McNamee; high school science teacher Jessica Crites; middle school football and assistant boys’ basketball coach Rockey Wade; Jillian Doddema as the assistant track coach, Sarah Sullivan as a middle school math instructor; Dale Sandlin, JR as a middle school physical education teacher, middle school basketball coach and assistant track coach; and Chelsie Fulton as the high school student council sponsor. In closed session, the board approved hiring all probational teachers from William Lynch Elementary to the high school, Kaylie Jay as a speech pathologist, Kristen Williams as the new high school head volleyball coach and physical education, Bryson Barnes as a high school business instructor, Emily Atkinson as a high school science teacher, Jody Heavin as the fall cheerleading coach, Chelsey Tune as well as all high school club instructors and the athletic team coaches. The meeting was then adjourned.