R-1 boosts salaries for 2021-22

Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Jeff Polk, left, and Mary Kay Davis, center, newly elected members of the New Madrid County R-1 School Board, recite the oath of office as it was administered by Kay Rebstock, board secretary, during the April R-1 Board of Education meeting.
Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

NEW MADRID, Mo. - Salaries are going up for New Madrid County R-1 School employees.

During the April Board of Education meeting, approval was given to increase the 2021-2022 salaries.

According to Dr. Sam Duncan, R-1 superintendent, the increase equates to a 5.88 percent hike for all employees. It will bring the base salary for starting teachers to $36,000; the base salary previously was $34,000.

Duncan said prior to making the increase, the Board studied the pay rates at other area school districts.

“We feel like our folks deserve to be compensated fairly . . . They work hard,” he added.

On another financial matter, Duncan said in May, the District expects to receive ESSER 2 funds. The funds were set aside by Congress for education as part of the CARES Act to address the impact of COVID-19.

With the first round of ESSER funding received in 2020, the District purchased additional Chromebooks, which were used to provide remote learning capabilities for more of its students.

Duncan said with the second round of funding the Board is looking at several options.

He said all the District’s staff was asked to submit a lists of needs. Among those mentioned by Duncan were cameras for the stop-arms of the District’s school buses and providing additional funds for the construction of the FEMA-funded building which will be part of the Middle School.

“We will be very careful how we spend money. We want to think it through and do what is smart,” he said, noting the District will have 30-plus months to allot the funds.

At the opening of the April meeting, the Board accepted the results from the April 6 election and newly elected members Mary Kay Davis and Jeff Polk were sworn into office.

Officer were elected with the board staying with their past slate of Ryan Eddy, president; Danny Parker, vice president; and Kay Rebstock, secretary/ treasurer.

Corey Bextermueller, the project manager with Navigate, presented an update on the progress of the Safe and Secure Schools construction projects.

According to Bextermueller several projects are already completed including new roofing at the Central High School, Middle School and Lilbourn Elementary as well as the tuck pointing at the Matthews Elementary. He added the work on the three elementary school playgrounds should be completed this month.

Construction is to begin as soon as possible on increasing visitor parking at the Central High School.

In addition, Bextermueller said the drainage ditch in front of the high school was surveyed. In an effort to alleviate flooding problems, a larger culvert is to be installed and a request made to the Missouri Department of Transportation to regrade the ditch.

Duncan noted construction projects are slated to get under way at every school building in the District the day after school ends. The construction is expected to be completed by August.

“Zoellner Construction has the plans and they are chomping at the bit to get started,” said Duncan. “I think they are going to do great job.”

Christie Kenedy presented an update to the Board on the District Leadership Team. The team, which meets monthly, is comprised of employees representing each of the district’s buildings.

During their meetings, they cover a range of topics, Kenedy said, including bench mark testing, instruction and especially this year COVID protocols. One of the benefits of the meetings, it was noted, is that team members learn what is going on at other buildings and work together to solve problems.

A Building Leadership Team update was provided by principals Angie Hanlin, Matthews Elementary; Toni Lawfield, New Madrid Elementary; Ashley Long, Lilbourn Elementary; Thomas Drummond, Middle School; and Justin Polley, Central High School. The teams, made up of representatives from their buildings, meet monthly providing reviews of teaching practices, bench mark data and interventions as well as celebration of successes.

Finally, Renee Smith presented an update on the Technical Skills Center and

Bridgett Masterson gave a report on the district’s special education efforts

Other items before the board were:

• Personnel: The Board approved the transfer of Leslee “Shelly” Johnson from elementary music to music/choir at the Central Middle School for the 2021-22 school year, Caitlyn Pavy from first grade to kindergarten at New Madrid Elementary for the 2021-22 school year and Rhiley Smith from second grade to fourth grade at Lilbourn Elementary for the 2021-22 school year. Roy White III was transferred from maintenance to maintenance/bus driver at Lilbourn Elementary.

The following resignations from full-time positions were accepted: Jessica Jordan, elementary teacher/cheer coach at Central Middle School; Kelley Lambert, music/choir teacher at Central Middle School; Camille Lancaster as speech pathologist at New Madrid Elementary; Lindsey Martindale, English Language Arts at New Madrid County Central; and Barbara Keown, who is retiring from her position after 30 years as a nurse at Matthews Elementary.

Also several resignations from extra duty were accepted. These included: Jarett Allen, wrestling coach at Central Middle School; Christopher Nance, assistant baseball coach at Central High School; Vicky Redden, yearbook sponsor at Central High School; Rebecca Treece, assistant yearbook sponsor at Central High School; and Dontre’ Jenkins, assistant track coach at Central High School.

• A parent request for their children to continue to attend Lilbourn Elementary due to daycare was approved

• Budget adjustments for the 2020-2021 school year were made and the District’s CD investments reviewed.

• The Board set April 27 as the date for the annual work session for the 2021-22 budget.

• Graduation will be at 6:30 p.m. May 18 in the Central High School gymnasium. The District will live-stream the ceremony, Duncan said.

• Duncan noted that despite the demands from dealing with the pandemic, the R-1 School district had recorded many achievements. The most recent was earned by the Academic Scholar Bowl team which won the District Championship and will host the Sectional competition later this year.

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