News – Thursday, June 26th 2025

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting Thursday at 5:30 in the R-80 Board Room. After the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance the Board will approve the agenda and the consent agenda. Stacey Hall, Angela Dingess and Alivia Parker will share information with the Board followed by student recognition. In the Superintendent’s Report CSIP Goals will be addressed in all reports, updates will be shared on the FEMA building, and the budget. Administration reports will be heard from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Athletics and Activities, Special Education, Technology, and Maintenance. In new business the board will consider a large number of approvals including a resolution to make all applicable transfers from Funds 1, 2 and 4, participation in the state salary grants, amending the 2024-2025 budget to reflect actual expenditures and revenues, the 2025-2026 PD Plan, the SLP-A Contract with Alcorn Therapy & Consulting, the contracts with Communication Development, LLC, authorization of Nathan Wills and Traci Wulff as the personnel for the Salem R80 lock box at the Bank of Salem, Jason Green as signatory on the general account for Salem R80 at the Bank of Salem and the removal of Phillip Mercer, request for a Construction Trades out of state trip, RTI consortium agreement, Cahills change order (hand dryers), Compass Health MOU, Developmental Preschool Lease, audit bid, UE roof bid, and the 2025-2026 budget.  Also, in new business the Board will hear the first read of MSBA 2025B policy updates and UE Policy updates, plus declare surplus property of 75 desks, 40 wooden chairs and #2 bus. The Board will address the transfer of Melissa Plank form 1st to 4th grade, the hiring of Teresa Wilken as UE paraprofessional, and resignations or retirements of Middle School secretary Shelly Kerr and WL paraprofessional Elizabeth Brown before adjourning and moving into Executive Session to consider personnel.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following incident reports in June. On Monday, June 16th, deputies responded to a call in the 1900 block of Dent County Road 6460 for the theft of building equipment. That investigation is ongoing. That same day, deputies responded to a call for stolen equipment from the 9000 block of West Highway 32. They found that a Bobcat and its attachments had been taken from the property. That investigation is also ongoing. On Wednesday, June 18th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of Dent County Road 4190. The driver was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and was arrested. On Thursday, June 19th, the sheriff’s department received a call for the theft of farm equipment in the 200 block of Dent County Road 6550. The investigation is ongoing. On Friday, June 20th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 69 and 19. The driver had an outstanding active warrant and was subsequently arrested. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241 if you have any information about any ongoing investigation.

Repairs to the low-water crossing on Dent County Route TT are now expected to be complete July 3. The Missouri Department of Transportation closed Route TT again June 16 to finish work that was postponed due to material shortages. The low-water crossing was damaged and closed in April 2025. It reopened in mid-May after critical repairs, but additional materials were needed to complete the work. Those materials have now arrived. During the closure, motorists must use alternate routes. MoDOT warns drivers to never move or drive around barricades, which are placed for safety. Moving barricades endangers both the driver and others who may encounter damaged roadways or floods without warning. MoDOT asks motorists to buckle up, put phones down, obey traffic signs, and slow down in work zones. For traffic updates, call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT or visit the Traveler Information Map. Information is available 24/7 via social media.