Despite few construction delays, R-1 is ready for students’ return to classes

NEW MADRID, Mo. - As the clock was ticking toward the start of school, it was down to the final details for the New Madrid County R-1 School Board at their August meeting..

During the meeting, Cory Bextermueller presented a construction update and start of school contingency plan to the Board.

According to Dr. Sam Duncan, superintendent, all the buildings in the district, even with the construction work not completely finished, look good.

“Everything is ready and clean,” he said about the schools where classes began Aug. 23. “The only hold up to construction is because of materials that were back ordered or not produced.”

Some of the items delayed included wooden doors and new air-conditioning units.

“We have improvements that are significant and high quality,” Duncan said. “I believe our patrons are going to be proud of the things that have been done through the Safe and Secure Bond Issue.”

In a related matter, after reviewing four bids, the Board accepted a bid from Zoellner Construction Co. for the Central High School football field/track concession stand. Duncan said some ground work will be under way in September with construction of the new building to be completed by the spring.

During the meeting, Jayne Dees with the New Madrid County Health Department presented information regarding COVID-19 and quarantine guidelines.

Duncan praised health department personnel for their efforts throughout the pandemic. According to Duncan, the R-1 District will work to follow the health department’s guidance.

Also the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction Continuity of Services Plan and committee structure were discussed during the meeting. Details of the plan are available on the New County R-1 website, www.nmceaglenation.com.

Currently, in accordance with federal mandate, masks are required on school buses but are optional in the classrooms. Temperatures of students will be checked as they board buses and those who arrive by car will have their temperatures checked as they enter the buildings.

“We want our students to be in an environment where they are comfortable and happy about returning to a traditional schedule,” Duncan said.

Should there be an outbreak of illness, the District’s principals shared their current plans for after-school tutoring in each building.

Duncan said some of the money received through ESSER 3, a federal government relief fund for education, will be used to offer after-school tutoring for students needing additional assistance in their classes and those who have missed classes due to time in quarantine.

On-line options or physical packets of schoolwork were considered, Duncan said, before it was decided the after-school program would be best.

“We have talked about it a lot. There is no replacement for the teacher right there with a student. That is what we plan to do. This is not enrichment. This is not babysitting. This is for the students with highest need and catching students up (who have been in quarantine),” Duncan said.

The tutoring sessions will end at 4 p.m. Buses will be provided to transport students home, according to the superintendent.

As part of the federal funding requirements, the District Leadership Team presented a proposed list of individuals to consult on ESSER budgeting. The 17-member team is made up of teachers, students, administrators and the Community Teachers Association president and will consider what items are needed to best improve the education of the District’s students, Duncan said.

Like many school districts, the R-1 District is increasing salaries for substitute teachers. The pay for non-degreed individuals with a substitute certificate will go from $65 to $90 and the salary for degreed individuals with a substitute certificate or a certified teacher will increase to $100 from $75.

The increase was determined after Central High School principal Justin Polley surveyed what other districts are offering substitute teachers.

“We went for the top we could afford,” Duncan said. “If we have teachers out, we have to have school and we want the best (substitutes) we can get.”

Also during the meeting:

• The Board employed the following: Jazzma Thompson, school resource officer at Matthews Elementary; Kayla Tubbs, special education assistant; Carlee Keene, special education aide; Leslie “Shelly” Johnson, flag corps coach at Central High School; Melanie Crow, archery coach; Jessica Harris, assistant archery coach; Casey Rost, high school yearbook sponsor; Dallas Allen, assistant high school yearbook sponsor; and Madison Bond, assistant softball coach at Central High School. Tyler Fullhart was transferred from baseball at Central Middle School to assistant baseball for Central High School.

• Building principals shared updated handbooks and discuss changes made for the 2021-22 school year.

•  The Board approved Beussink, Hey, Roe and Stroder, LLC, to perform the audit for the 2020-2021 school year ending June 30. The firm will audit the financial statements of the governmental activities, each major fund and the aggregate remaining fund information, including related notes to the financial statements.

• The CD investments were reviewed.

• A request from the Lilbourn Park Board for use of the Lilbourn Elementary gym on Sept 25 in the event of inclement weather was approved.