Rotation schedule, replacement iPad purchases approved for FY23

SIKESTON — Project iLearn will continue for students at Sikeston Junior High and High School as the purchase order for iPads was approved during Tuesday’s regular monthly school board meeting.

As part of its rotation schedule and regular replacement of devices, the Board approved the purchase in the amount of $276,410 for iPads, cases, chargers, charging cables for use by Sikeston Junior High and High School students in the 2022-2023 school year.

“We need to order the iPads now to ensure they arrive for the new school year,” R-6 Finance Director Cheryl Essner told the Board.

The approved purchase for will be a line item in the fiscal year 2023, and the cost was $3,875 under budget, according to Essner.

In other action, by the Board, the office supply bid was awarded to Office Essentials for $12,000, and the bid for construction paper was awarded to School Specialty for $3,420.

Also on Tuesday, the Board approved 42 eligible 2022 graduates to receive A+ program benefits, and it approved the social studies curriculum for grades K-6 and 7-12.

In her finance report, Essner also provided the Board with a list of items (outside of the normal budgeted items) the district was able to purchase because it has ESSER, or Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, funds.

“The ESSER money doesn’t go directly to pay for these items, but because of that money, we are able to afford these things that we probably wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise,” Essner told the Board.

The list of projects totaling $6.2 million includes: McKinstry projects: Junior High insulation replacement; Field House roof; restrooms at the Alternative Center, A building, Field House and Southeast and Middle School secure entrances; remaining restrooms, upgrade windows at Buildings B, D and G and mechanical upgrades at the Middle School; Kindergarten safe room; Field House: classroom furniture and technology; projector and screen; weight rooms equipment and floors; other: SCTC printer, three new buses (25% paid by grant) 2021-2022; Dittronics-mobile GPS UHF walkies; band uniforms; new maintenance truck; fiber optics move and install at high school; three new buses 2022-2023; summer school 2021; and summer school 2022 (transportation and extra teaching staff for learning loss.

Essner said the district has will spend $6.2 million of the approximate $14 million in ESSER funds it’s received.

Board member Matt Tanner noted the district wants to save as much as it can.

R-6 Human Resources Director Connie Dement clarified last month’s amendment to Board Regulation R4320-personnel leave. She said the line, “forfeiting days over 150” was removed and replaced with “upon retirement, employees will be paid up to 150 days of PTO at $40/day” which was effective for the 2021-2022 school year.

Superintendent Shannon Holifield informed the board of a partnership opportunity between the district’s Crisis Response Team and the suicide prevention/awareness group, Walk Bes;de Me based in Sikeston.

“We would like to partner to bring motivational speaker, Kevin Hines, who will give three separate events tailored to each group: SHS students, faculty and community,” said Holifield, who recently accepted a position on the Walk Bes;de Me Board.

Walk Bes;de Me would pay $12,000 of the $15,000-fee, and the district would pay for the staff meeting which would come out of the district’s professional development training funds, she said.

Also on Tuesday, Holifield presented the district’s career ladder report.

For 2021-2022, there were 31 teachers in stage 1; 24 in stage 2; and 121 in stage 3 for a total of 176 participants in career ladder and a total of 9,951.5 hours. The total cost to the district was $363,250.

Next years career ladder estimates include: 35 in stage 1; 33 in stage 2; and 133 in stage 3 for a total of 192 participants.

“I’m excited the state has decided to make some changes with career ladder,” Holifield said. “We don’t have guidelines on that yet. Those are coming soon. Once we figure out what those guidelines and funding will look like from the state, it will change what we do and how we do it. We’ll communicate that as we get those guidelines.”