News – Tuesday, December 23rd 2025

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held its regular meeting Thursday evening at the administration building. Following the unanimous approval of the meeting agenda and consent agenda, Dr. Rachel Green recognized the Middle School Student Leadership Team, honoring teacher Lori Wilson and students Jermaine Watson, Zola Mendenhall, and Tayah Terrill for their leadership and involvement. During the superintendent’s report, Dr. Nathan Wills provided updates on district improvement goals, food service operations, and the Annual Performance Review. He also informed the board on student leadership initiatives, recent building visits, and ongoing facility projects, including roof repairs at the Upper Elementary and track drainage repairs at the senior high school. Dr. Wills thanked the Judson Young Foundation for its generous donations benefiting the construction trades program, the chamber choir, and the district as a whole. Additional updates were presented on Missouri’s average total spending per student and its national ranking, school modernization efforts, and the Missouri State Board of Education’s support of open enrollment. Administrative reports were also presented by district principals and department leaders. In new business, the board unanimously approved MSBA policy updates, a memorandum of understanding for the School Resource Officer program, FFA student trips to the Washington Leadership Conference and Industry Leadership Tour, and the district’s 2026–2027 tuition rate.The board recognized the hiring of Janine Edwards as a high school paraprofessional and accepted the resignations of Ron Light, Chastity McConnell, and Rowdy Mackley. The board then entered executive session to discuss personnel and student matters before adjourning.

Time is running out if you have not yet visited the 2025 Trees and Trains “Candy Cane Lane” display at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource center on 202 South Main Street in Salem. The display will be open today from 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. Tomorrow, which is Christmas Eve, they will be open for the final day of the display from 9:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. These beautiful and unique tree displays come from many organizations and businesses is truly a Christmas gift to our community. The fun trains that run around the exhibit hall adds to the festive atmosphere. There is no charge to attend the exhibit. However, donations are accepted at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center. The Salem Area Community Betterment Association wants to send out their thanks to all the volunteers who give their time during the holidays to make this event special.

The DCFPD members, their families, and close friends of the DCFPD met the evening of December 13th to honor volunteers and celebrate Chief Dennis Floyd’s retirement. Rookie of the Year and Firefighter of the Year, which is chosen by the Firefighters, went to Firefighter Dell Hoffmeister. Firefighter Sarah Montoya was named the Firefighter of the Year, which is an Officers’ Choice award, plus the Top Responder with 186 calls responded to. The Officers’ award of Top Responder went to Assistant Chief Derrick Marfitt with 136 calls. The Firefighters Choice Officer of the Year was also awarded to Marfitt. Lt. Greg Thies was awarded the Officer of the Year, which is an Officer’s Choice award. Fire Chief (Retired) Dennis Floyd was celebrated after having served the DCFPD for 33 years. Floyd was presented with multiple gifts, including a retired ceremonial pickhead fire ax from DCFPD’s original aerial snorkel truck, an award from the Missouri Division of Fire Safety, his retired firefighting helmet, a shadow box containing his firefighting coat, and a newly commissioned sign proclaiming the department’s training room as the “Fire Chief Dennis L. Floyd Training Center.” 

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced the driver and written examinations normally held in Salem at the Salem Community Center@The Armory on Wednesdays will not be held on Christmas Eve, December 24th. They also want to remind everyone that all driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on Thursday, December 25th and Friday, December 26th in observance of Christmas. For more information, call 573-466-1740.