Local News – Wednesday, May 15th, 2019

The Salem Park Board held a special meeting Thursday evening, May 9th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Park Board President Stan Podorski reported that Tye Lydon’s last day was May 8th and temporary replacements have been found to continue the park’s summer programs. Melissa DuBois will be taking over the Summer Camp and Summer Food Service Program, Jared Patterson will be helping with the pool and also the Softball, T-Ball and Baseball programs. Field Supervisor Don Smith will act as the Interim Park and Recreation Director until a replacement can be found. All Park Pavilion rentals and Pool Parties are to be booked though the Healthy Dent County office at the Salem Community Center@The Armory where people can also buy their pool passes until the pool opens on May 25th. Their number is 729-8163. The board also said the Opening Day Ceremony for the Baseball, T-Ball and Softball program will be held as scheduled as numerous members of the park board will step up and help to coordinate the efforts on May 23rd. There was a request to see if the back gate could be open for the ceremony to allow easier exiting from the event. That will be checked out. The board then voted to go into closed session to discuss real estate.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold their regular meeting at 6:00 Thursday evening, at the Salem District Administrative Offices Boardroom. At the meeting, the board will hear an update from Superintendent John McColloch. The Board will review and approve all previous minutes and bills, approve the attendance report, approve the Food Service report, approve the substitute list, and approve Program Evaluations for Curriculum and PDC. After the Principals’ Building Reports the Board will address new business including; consideration of renewal of agreement with Healthy Dent County, approve meal prices for 2019-2020 school year, approve preliminary budget for 2019-2020, approve surplus property list, consider Chromebook bids, consider upper elementary HVAC Bids, consider out-of-state trip requests for FFA and FBLA, consider copier lease bids, consider revisions to Board Policies IK, JED, and JGR, plus consider K-5 Comprehensive Reading Program. The Board will hear resignations and then adjourn and move into an executive session. The May regular monthly meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

Montauk State Park invites the public to an informational meeting at 4:00 Saturday afternoon, May 18th. The public is invited to share comments about the park and its operations. Staff will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. These informational meetings, which are being held in all state parks and historic sites, help create two-way communication with the public. The meetings give staff the opportunity to let people know the current status and future plans for the parks or historic sites, and they offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities. Montauk State Park is located 22 miles southwest of Salem on Highway 119 in Dent County. For more information about the meeting, call the park at 573-548-2201. For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit the web at mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.