School board reorganizes, set to tackle budget

Brandon Dunham
Brandon Dunham

The Moniteau County R-1 School District's Board of Education restructured April 11, adding two newly elected members, saying "good-bye" to long-serving members and electing new officers.

Jay VanDieren and Paul Bloch chose not to run for re-election. They leave the board after six and 16 years of service, respectively.

After accepting the election results from April 3, the board welcomed Allison Kruger and Brandon Dunham as new members.

Philip Burger was elected president, Joe Kirby vice president, Craig Ash treasurer and Susie Gorrell secretary.

Elementary School Title 1 teacher Angela Butts-Althoff represented the staff salary committee to present its recommendations for the next school year.

The committee proposed a $250 raise to the base salary for certified staff, which would make a starting teacher's salary $34,250. The is well within the mid-range compared with other schools in the Tri-County Conference, Superintendent Dwight Sanders said.

For non-certified staff, the committee requested a 5 percent increase for secretaries, maintenance and paraprofessionals and a 10 percent increase for custodians and cooks. Sanders said, compared with other conference schools, their pay was "significantly less."

The board will discuss the proposal at its annual budget meeting at 6 p.m. April 29 at California Middle School.

The matter of partnering with the city to bring in a School Resource Officer (SRO) is still on the table. The City Council did not discuss it in-depth at its April meeting. But the school board is hopeful by the council's May meeting it will have more information to consider a partnership.

"We feel this is a good time to partner with the city to provide an SRO," Sanders said.

If the council approved the position at its May meeting, Sanders said he believed the position could be filled before school started back in August.

The partnership would allow the school to have a fully-trained law enforcement officer with access to emergency vehicles and other tools. It would also offer the SRO full-time employment, as the school would not need his services during breaks.

Outgoing President Ash added that relying on the California Police Department for the selection of a quality individual was important, too.

Sanders also updated the board on the recent active shooter training for all employees, as well as invited community members and local law enforcement, by Strategos International.

He said the community members expressed relief after seeing what type of training and structure is provided, in case of such an event.

In other business, the board:

Accepted resignations from fifth-grade teacher Lisa Milligan, fourth-grade teacher Mazie Osman and second-grade teacher Corey Blackburn.

Noted the annual California Lions Club Track Meet will be 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. May 4, drawing up to 1,000 students from the area.

Learned it will cost $37,000 to add another bus route. Sanders said he hopes he can negotiate only an afternoon route.

Set the next regular board meeting at 6 p.m. May 16 in the high school library.