Local News – Monday, November 21st, 2022

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the administrative office boardroom. The board heard an audit report from Ken Schultz of Schultz, Wood & Rapp, PC. In the report, Schultz said the district received a ”clean” opinion from the auditor stating the financials were reported accurately for the “cash basis” of accounting the school uses. Schultz said the district received $16,074,000 in revenues in fiscal year 2022 with $14,146,120 in expenses leaving a change in the Net Position of $1,928.007 showing better fund balances in fiscal year 2022 than in fiscal year 2021, when the district received $16,668,000 and had expenses of $16,321,494 leaving a change in Net Position of $346,746. Schultz also said if the district is still looking at a bond issue, they could borrow up to 15% of the assessed valuation of the district which comes to $8,271,000. In the Superintendent’s report, Dr. Lynne Reed discussed the cash flow analysis done through MOCAAT but recommended keeping the investment funds at the Bank of Salem. She said locker room renovations as part of the Tin Gym renovation will begin in December. She reported she will discuss tuition calculations for the rural schools at the January meeting as they will be done differently than in the past. Reed also has sent out letters to those who invested in the Construction Trades Program to make sure they get the YOP tax credits. Reed also asked the board if they were against going to a four-day work week. The board requested further information on that option. Reed said the CSIP progress will be reviewed in the second semester after the holidays for Salem and she has been reviewing other districts reports. Dr. Wills compared the Salem R-80 MAP and EOC scores to the other SCA schools and Salem is falling in the middle of the pack. The middle school common areas will be commercially cleaned thoroughly over the Thanksgiving holiday. IT Supervisor Mark McElvy discussed five different phone systems and he recommended the GrandStream system for $29,000 which also has a leasing option of $900 per month for 36-months. His recommendation will be reviewed by the administrative and technical staff. McElvy also said some old servers that are still usable at the Salem Hospital have been donated to the Salem R-80 schools and he will be getting those this Friday. After hearing from the building principals and other administrators, the board approved setting the filing dates for the April Municipal election starting December 6th and ending on the 27th, set the graduation date of May 19th at 7:00 with a rain date of May 21st at 2:00, and approved the audit report given earlier in the meeting by Ken Schultz. The board took no action on MOCAAT investments but did approve to purchase the SpedTrack software for special education which is what the surrounding schools all use. The board took no votes in closed session and meeting was then adjourned.

An accident occurred Saturday morning around 11:00 in St. Louis County on Interstate 70 in The westbound lane near Florissant Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2010 Dodge Avenger driven by 31-year-old Sierra Williams of St. Louis, struck the right rear of a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 30-year-old Cody Schwartz of Fenton. The Chevrolet then struck a 2005 Honda Accord being driven by 33-year-old Heather Elpin of Salem, that was parked on the shoulder. Williams suffered serious injuries and was taken by the Northeast Fire Protection District to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. A passenger in the Dodge, 32-year-old Terrell Marshall of St. Louis, suffered moderate injuries as did Elpin. They were both transported to the SSM Health Depaul Hospital by the Northeast Fire Protection District. The Dodge and the Honda were both totaled, the Chevrolet sustained extensive damage and all vehicles were removed from the scene by A and A Towing. The report goes on to say Marshall was not wearing a safety restraint, but Williams and Elpin were.

An accident happened at 5:40 Thursday morning in Laclede County on Interstate 44 at 141-mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, 22-year-old Logan Gibson of Springfield, was driving a 1999 Toyota Camry westbound when he fell asleep driving and struck the backside of a 2004 Peterbilt Tractor Trailer unit driven westbound by 57-year-old Doil Richardson of Salem. Gibson suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Mercy Air Ambulance to the Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Gibson was wearing his seat restraint at time of the accident. The Camry was totaled and removed from the scene by C&S Towing. The Peterbilt sustained extensive damage and was left roadside. Richardson was wearing his seat restraint at time of the accident and suffered no injuries.

A one vehicle accident happened Thursday evening at 10:30 in Iron County on Highway 21 and Highway 32 at Belleview. According to the highway patrol report a 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis being driven east by 47-year-old Britani Glenn of Viburnum failed to stop at an intersection and traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a ditch. Glenn suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Iron County Medical Center. The Mercury had extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Adams Custom Auto. The report went on to state that Glenn was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident.