The Salem R-80 Board of Education met for its monthly meeting Wednesday, Oct. 15, with a presentation from Youth Prevention Coordinator Carlos Lopez, along with a presentation from Assistant Superintendent Dan Copeland on EOC data. In attendance included board members Dru Howard, Sammi Parker, Andrew Wynn, Phillip Mercer, Marjorie Pyatt, and Chris Heavin. Also, in attendance included Superintendent Nathan Wills and Copeland.
Student recognition
William Lynch Elementary Principal Herman Blau congratulated and recognized students that had received the Student of the Month award for the month of September, including Erik Lindberg, Korbin McClain, Finley Adams, Mateo Labastida, and Jovanni Christiano. Those that were recognized were acknowledged for being safe, respectful learners and setting great examples for other students. When awarded, the students are provided yard signs, along with a special lunch with the football team and cheerleaders. The students led the board and those in attendance in saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
Lopez presents on HDC's Prevention Coalition
Lopez of the HDC Prevention Coalition presented on data provided by the 2024 Missouri Student Survey of Dent County. Comparing the county data gathered from 2022 to county data gathered in 2024, the amount of students who answered “yes” to using electronic cigarettes within the past 30 days dropped from 20% to 7.9%, emphasized Lopez.
“I wanted to point out and make sure that everyone in this room knew and understood that it would not be possible without our administration,” Lopez said, regarding the current board of education members and administrators. “It wouldn't be possible without the principals and the counselors and the teachers giving us their classroom time, allowing us to come in for two weeks, for an hour each, to present ‘Too Good For Drugs’ to their students.”
Lopez emphasized that he and other members of the prevention coalition were grateful for the administration for allowing the teaching of prevention based curricula to the students of Salem R-80.
In addition, Lopez requested that a student be approved by the board to attend an out-of-state trip to a Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. The student was approved for participation by the board.
EOC presentation
Assistant Superintendent Copeland provided a presentation to board members on the EOC test scores, remarking that scores received were overall impressive with several high performing instructors observed. In addition, Copeland remarked that in his studies of individual student reports there were a substantial number of students who were within just a few points of the next performance level—he shared that this could be the difference of a bad night’s sleep, disconnecting Chromebook, or just getting distracted.
Superintendent’s report
In Will’s report, he updated board member:
• The FEMA building is close to completion with a ribbon cutting for the community to be planned for December
• Copeland has been organizing staff recognitions, with September’s “Staff Member of the Month” and “Teacher of the Month” being Jenn Moss and Heather Maglothin. October’s “Staff Member of the Month” and “Teacher of the Month” was given to Danelle Roos and Jennifer Bass.
• The track was sprayed and painted faster than anticipated
• Water work was completed on the baseball and football fields and is expected to save Salem R-80 approximately $20,000 within the first six months, according to estimations provided by the city
• Several bids have been received from food service providers with discussions expected to continue with vendors
• The Upper Elementary roof is expected to begin Nov. 1
• Meetings with the Superintendent Coaching Group have been going well, shared Wills, with many perspectives provided and Superintendent’s from the surrounding area available for questions or concerns. Meetings are conducted quarterly. In addition, Wills will be attending a Superintendent’s Academy in year two and three for two days every semester in Jefferson City.
• Baseball dugout started recently with the tin roof being removed with plans for renovations and additions. It is anticipated that one dugout will be completed this semester with the second to be completed in the spring before baseball season.
• Wills and Copeland met with the student advisory council. The council consists of one male and female student from seventh through twelfth grade. The students are nominated by principals with a variety of perspectives aimed to be reflected within the group. Administrators ask for the students’ opinions on a variety of subjects, including food quality and school cleanliness, among other subjects.
• School board filing starts Dec. 9 and ends Dec. 30. Wills will be offering a workshop Dec. 2 for anyone interested in running for the school board and invited board members to attend in order to answer any questions from attendees.
• MSBA Belcher Scholarship applications will be ready for board members at the next board meeting in November
Administration reports
William Lynch Elementary Principal Herman Blau
Blau commended Head Cook Charlene of William Lynch Elementary for her and other food staff’s efforts in keeping the kids fed every single day. Meanwhile, William Lynch had a Parent as Teachers event with over 100 people in attendance just recently, with participation picking up, observed Blau. The elementary is preparing for parent teacher conferences on Tuesday and Thursday this week. There was plenty of collaboration with other rural schools in Dent County at the last PD day. In addition, this week, a roundtable with eighth graders, featuring a boy and girl from each of the rural schools, will be meeting to discuss their transition to high school.
Upper Elementary Principal Branden Piatt
Many teachers were trained in Envision recently, with Piatt remarking that Envision is a great program that he’s used before in Branson. Since the training, he’s observed teachers utilizing different parts of the program that he believes will lead to students being more successful. Parent teacher conferences are this week with teacher preparation underway.
Middle School Principal Rachel Green
Parent teacher conferences are this week, also shared Green. She shared the goal for this week’s conference is for teachers to emphasize the ways students are succeeding as well as showcase ongoing student projects. Green also announced that the Book Fair will be returning this year for the parent teacher conferences. In addition, parents will be able to ask questions in the cafeteria on different aspects of middle school life.
High School Principal Jody Heavin
National Honor Society inducted 30 new students this year, shared Heavin. These students are top performers and participating in leadership programs and engaging with the community, she emphasized. She also discussed Kim Thompson’s “Life Skills” class, in which students are encouraged and taught to be more independent and function as young adults.
