The Cole County R-1 School Board held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 19, due to Parent/Teacher conferences on Thursday, Oct. 21.
The Board adopted the agenda. The administrators presented their reports and moved on to the consent agenda. Under new business, the Board voted to approve the consent agenda as presented and a payroll fund transfer of $205,000.
The Board approved the District Testing & Performance Report as presented by counselors Nancy Kruse and Cherri Williams. The district test scores have improved these past two years and are comparable to the other area schools.
The Board approved the new Mission Statement and Motto. The new mission statement is: Our Mission is to educate all students and develop the foundation of tomorrow's community by expecting excellence today. Our motto is: Expecting Excellence.
The Board approved a coaching stipend for Coach David Volkart to coach the fifth and sixth grade girls' basketball and a new anti-idling policy for the buses as suggested by DNR. The Cole Co. R-I School District Anti-idling Policy is as follows:
- When drivers arrive at loading and unloading areas to drop off or pick up passengers, they will turn off their buses as soon as possible to eliminate idling time and reduce harmful emissions. (Unless special permission is given otherwise) The bus should not be restarted until it is ready to depart and there is a clear path to exit. Exceptions include conditions that would compromise passenger safety, such as extreme weather conditions and idling in traffic.
- Limit the idling time during early morning warm-up to what is recommended by the manufacturer (generally 3-5 minutes) in all but the coldest weather.
- Extreme weather conditions if outside temperature is: Above 20 degrees F, up to five minutes maximum; between 20 degrees and - (minus) 10 degrees F, up to 15 minutes minimum; below - (minus) 10 degrees F, up to 30 minutes maximum.
- Buses should not idle while waiting for students during field trips, extra-curricular activities, or other events where students are transported off school grounds.
- If there are any questions about idling, see the transportation supervisor or superintendent.