NMC R-1 School District will upgrade website

NEW MADRID, Mo. - The New Madrid County R-1's district website will get a new look and a new vendor.

During the September Board of Education meeting, the district administration was authorized by board members to seek a new vendor for the website.

According to Dr. Sam Duncan, superintendent, the district's current vendor has advised it will no longer be servicing websites. District officials have already begun speaking with vendors which would not only host the site but also upgrade it, he said.

The Board accepted an offer of $15,000 for a vacant lot it owns on Davis Street in New Madrid. Because the New Madrid resident is still in the process of making the purchase, Duncan declined to name the buyer.

Bridget Masterson, director of special education for the District, was named homeless coordinator as well as the English language coordinator for the 2016-17 school year. Duncan explained these two roles "work hand in glove with special education."

Currently there are no homeless children in the district that would require these services. However, Masterson said the district has 12 students considered English language learners.

In a related matter, approval was given to the Special Education Local Compliance Plan for the 2016-2017 school year.

Employed by the board for the current school year were: Regina Jackson, custodian/part-time bus driver at Lilbourn Elementary; Tonya Nicole "Nicky" Lynn, special education assistant teacher at Matthews Elementary; and Stephanie Turner, assistant teacher at Lilbourn Elementary.

"It has been a great start," Duncan said about the school year. "All the buildings seem to be rolling right along. Hopefully we will continue to go right down that path of having school and doing right."