Local News – Monday, May 22nd, 2023
The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the district administrative offices. The district was awarded a safety grant earlier in the month for $150,000 and they will be purchasing security cameras, some entrance doors, radios, cameras and GPS trackers for the school buses. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed said the Tin Gym project and Locker Room renovation is all but completed and the HVAC work is about done. Reed said the legislative session ended May 12th and the bills that could have damaged public education failed to pass. There were several positives coming from the session including full funding for the $38,000 teacher salary, Career Ladder, and full transportation funding. Reed updated the board on the budget, including a prepayment of about $800,000 on the lease purchase for the tin gym, which will be fully prepaid by July 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances. The school principals gave their reports and the hi-light was that teachers at the upper elementary and William Lynch Elementary have participated in some very intense LETRS training on the science of teaching reading, which will continue next year. It was announced 75 kindergarten students will attend summer school and 104 upper elementary students will also attend summer school. The board approved an amended extra duty stipend schedule for coaches and extra duty teachers, the Career Ladder Plan, the Shield Solutions contract and the Healthy Dent County Partnership renewal. The board went on to approved the CSIP draft, a contract with BSN for sports uniforms, a contract with Show-Me Therapy Services for occupational and physical therapy, and a contract with First Student to provide Early Childhood Special Education transportation that is reimbursed. The board approved requests for proposals for bus maintenance and a bank depository agreement. The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the University of Missouri for $5,000 for a college advisor that would be part-time and work virtually, plus approved accepting a bid on the baseball field renovation for $52,301 of which $40,000 is made up of private donations plus $10,000 from the Baseball Booster Club with the remainder provided by the school. The board took no action on the two bids received on the construction trades building until architect John Odom can speak with the bidders as the bids were still too high. The board declared three buses as surplus property and they are requested bids for purchase. The board accepted the resignation of middle school teacher Tonda Tomnitz, high school teacher as well as track and cross county coach Derek Freeman, high school teacher and assistant baseball coach Bryson Barnes, high school teacher and volleyball coach Kristen Barnes, and elementary teacher and softball coach Erin Wilson. The board then went into closed session.
Later today, Chief of Police Joe Chase and Dent County Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley will be presenting a check for the sum of $14,394.00 to Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams to be placed into the general revenue fund for Dent County. The money is the result of efforts by law enforcement involving the seizure of cash possessed in connection with the arrest and prosecution of Timothy Bruce Dooley for possession and distribution of heroin and methamphetamine. On January 6, 2023 the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. In addition to the criminal conviction, the seizure and distribution of personal property realized through the commission of a crime is authorized by Missouri law as a punishment and deterrent to persons that do so. This money will be used for the benefit of the local community.
At the Salem 138th graduation exercises held Sunday afternoon at the Salem High School Football Field, some senior awards were awarded presented by Assistant Principal Brenden Piatt. The first award was for the Senior Class Citizenship Award and it went to Easton May. The Best Female and Male Leader awards were then presented by Mr. Piatt. The Female Leader Award went to Katherine Jones and the Male Leader Award went to Easton May. One student this year from Salem was awarded the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy Award and that was Yadira Blanco. Congratulations to these students and the entire class of 2023!
An accident happened Wednesday evening at 6:45 in Phelps County on Highway D just south of Jerome. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Dodge Avenger being driven south by 42-year-old Priscilla Baltazar of Rolla crossed the center line and struck head-on a northbound 2017 Nissan Sentra being driven by 21-year-old Kami Dunlap of Dixon. Both drivers were flown to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment of serious injuries. Both vehicles were totaled in the accident. The Nissan was towed from the scene by C&C Towing and the Dodge was removed by D&D Towing. The report went on to state that Dunlap was wearing a seat restraint while Baltazar was not.
On Tuesday, May 30th from 5:00 until 8:00 at the Creative Arts Center, Barbara Johnson will teach a felted oven mitt class for those who are 13 years of age and older. There is a minimum of five people who need to sign up and no more than 20 will be allowed. Students will learn how to make handmade felt with vibrant colored wool fibers while learning the resist felting technique. The cost of the class is $35 and all supplies will be included. You can sign up online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and go to the Creative Arts Center link or email salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com. An additional $5.00 charge is added for tickets bought at the door.