Editor’s Note: The minutes for the Aug. 18 meeting of the Salem R-80 School Board were not published due to a filing error. Summaries of the Aug. 18 and Sept. 15 meeting are included with this article.
The Salem R-80 Board of Directors met Aug. 18 for a tax rate hearing and regular board meeting.
Members and administrators present included, president, Steven Patterson; superintendent, Lynne Reed; vice president, Holly Erway; assistant superintendent, Nathan Wills; secretary, Amanda Walker; high school principal, Tori Snitker; treasurer, Andrew Wynn; middle school principals, Rich Parks and Sarah Russell; upper elementary principal, Melanie Wisdom; elementary principal, Herman Blau; high school assistant principal, Brandem Piatt; and members Chris Heaving, Phillip Mercer, and Sammi Parker.
Reed explained the tax rates proposed by the Salem R-80 School District. The recommendation was a continuation of the $2.75 operating levy and a $0.45 debt service levy for a total tax rate of $3.20 for the district. The motion passed 7-0.
Reed shared updates of summer maintenance of facilities and maintenance.
Wills shared information on new Tiger Training for certified staff in the district, as well as restraint and intruder training being completed.
Thank you cards and an appreciation letter complimenting Sheila Adamick were shared.
At the Aug. 18 the board also approved:
• the consent agenda consisting of all previous minutes and bills;
• the 2021-2022 ASBR;
• policies GCBDA, GDBDA, GDBDAA, GCBDAA;
• an out of state trip for choir in 2023 to Orlando, Florida;
• contracting with HTK for preliminary plans for a new elementary school, with Steven Patterson abstaining.
• resignations: Randi Mackley, Kim Harris, Janae Williams, Alisha Gallagher
In closed session Aug. 18, the board approved Phillip Karr as a middle school PE teacher; Kim Moser as William Lynch Elementary Librarian/Art Teacher; Kathleen Palmer as a Special Education Teacher at Salem Upper Elementary.
Sept. 15
The board met Sept. 15 for its regular meeting.
Leading off the meeting was Sherman Odom, on behalf of the Youth Opportunities Program tax credits for the Construction Trades Program Building intended for the grounds of the high school.
Odom explained a bit of the back story of the past eight or so weeks since it was thought the tax credits would not reach the required amount of over $300,000 to be able to use the YOP.
Several concerned community members met and enlisted the assistance of Odom to revive the efforts to raise the money.
A dinner was held Aug. 22 for potential donors, and over $42,000 was pledged at that time. Donations of $25 to thousands of dollars all helped reach the goal and allow the constructions trades building project to move forward.
Some who donated did not require or qualify for the YOP tax credits, so there are still credits available, according to Odom.
“The community support is out there, and I want to see the school board members be mentally, physically, and monetarily invested with this project,” he said.
An estimate of $90,000 from Stack Design and Consulting Group was given previously to cover design and construction management costs only. The board discussed Sept. 15 and voted to open a new RFQ for other options. A decision based on that information will be made at the October meeting.
Reed reported the tin gym project is moving forward as permits and licenses are obtained. She also said the HVAC and other maintenance projects are substantially complete.
Matt Patterson, of HTK Architects, will do a site visit to the Salem Upper Elementary with principals Herman Blau and Melanie Wisdom, and Reed to begin renderings and identify a basic cost to move forward with a new elementary school.
In addition, the cost of $2,200 in materials to repair the softball field at the city park will be paid by the district. The city parks and recreation staff will provide the labor.
Eleven staff members completed enrichment grant applications, focusing on the social emotional health of our students. Total funds were $4,000 ($2,000 from George & Liz Gruendel, $2,000 from Dr. Wills and Dr. Reed, plus a donation from an anonymous donor) to fund the grants.
“There were some incredibly, creative ideas…I was impressed,” Reed said of the projects submitted by teachers.
Approved were:
• A Meal and a Moment, Karla Tiefenthaler. Students will work collaboratively to create a healthy meal and then spend time together eating and discussing a range of teacher and/or student-generated topics related to school, daily life, etc.
• Interactive Sensory Hallway, Melynda Dillon. Create an interactive sensory hallway to promote a colorful, creative, and playful way for Upper Elementary kids to build connections in the brain that are responsible for sight, tough, sound, etc., which enables kids to complete complex, multi-stage tasks.
• High School Assembly, Heather Johnson. National speaker Carey Portell, survivor of a drunk driving accident, will present “Thrive Big - What Choice Will You Make?” to the high school student body.
• Expressing your HeART through Art, Makayla Schafer and Angela Dingess (two separate proposals, but similar in their use of sketchbooks). This is an initiative to allow each art student to always maintain a sketchbook. They will sketch during lessons, between projects, and in their own time. They will use the sketchbook to use art to express their feelings and what is going on in their world.
• Cultural Enrichment Field Trip, Scott Joplin House, Chris Jessen. HS music appreciation students will visit the Scott Joplin House and participate in a guided tour and discussion with the docents from the Missouri Park Service. They will also have lunch on “The Hill” and discuss the impact of Italian Americans on the musical and cultural life of Missouri.
• STEM Units and activities, Jessica Parker and Marybeth Patrick. They will implement STEM units and activities with a variety of tools and open-ended materials that foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Preschool age children have a natural curiosity that is unmatched by any other age group. They want to take advantage of this magical time.
• Multi-Sensory Play, Lauren Prugh and Krista Hair. Purchase activity walls for the William Lynch playground. Benefits to students’ social-emotional health include nurturing creativity and self-expression, and helping to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
• Butterfly Garden, Jeanel Tomnitz. Students in her life skills and resource classes will maintain the garden in front of SMS. They will plant flowers specifically to attract butterflies. Learning to care for a living thing will encourage empathy in the students’ social emotional health, and the project will include lessons on being gentle and not harming the butterflies. This activity will give the students a sense of belonging, pride, and security, as they create something together.
• Wonders of Wildlife Museum, Liv McCluskey, Yvie Pressley, Shelia Adamick. Students in Ms. McCluskey’s life skills class will take a field trip to the Wonders of Wildlife Museum.
Preliminary MAP results were discussed by Wills. Future data will be available after final results are received. Wills discussed using benchmark assessments month-to-month and more discussion in similar subjects across grade levels.
In building reports, all principals reported the school year was off to a good start. COVID positive numbers are dropping in all buildings.
Salem Middle School has instituted a hat day, each Friday, as students pay $1 to wear a hat to school.
Salem High School Principal Tori Snitker said department meetings have gone well. The cell phone policy has been supported, for the most part. Eight students had violations in the first month of school.
In upcoming months, a technology report will be heard from Mark McElvy.
Resignations were Paige Aguilar (para), Emmogene Welch (food service), and Sandra Lakes (food service). Chris Jessen submitted a letter of retirement effective at the end of the school year.
