Jobs for America’s Graduates-Missouri, known as JAG-Missouri, recently received a number of contributions totaling more than $100,000 – one of the best fundraising periods in the organization’s recent history. JAG is a 40-year-old national nonprofit organization that has helped more than 1.5 million students reach their full potential by ensuring they graduate from high school […]
Tag: districts
Audio: Jesus’ name invoked by both parties as Missouri House approves $34 billion budget, without Medicaid expansion
After a heated floor debate that included numerous biblical references, the Missouri House voted Thursday afternoon to give final approval to a $34.1 billion state operating budget. The House budget does not contain funding for Medicaid expansion. The operating budget now heads to the Missouri Senate, and Medicaid expansion supporters hope senators will include the […]
Audio: Missouri House passes school open enrollment bill
Missouri could become a school open enrollment state. Eighty-two members of the House of Representatives have voted in favor of an open-enrollment bill – the bare minimum number of votes required to pass. Representative Brad Pollitt, a Republican from Sedalia, says his hope is to have students in districts they want to be in and […]
Audio: Missouri Representatives want reporting requirement about student access to broadband
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) could be required to report annually about the number of K-12 students with limited or no access to high-speed internet at home. During a House committee hearing, Representative Louis Riggs, R-Hannibal, said he is proposing to require the department to include the total number of students […]
Candidates for Trenton R-9 Board of Education answer questions on recruiting and retention of teachers, and what is expected of board members
One question posed to the five Trenton R-9 Board of Education candidates at March 18th’s forum was what their plans were to address recruiting, and retention in the district and not let Trenton be a stepping stone. Michael Voorhies said teachers coming and going each year was a major issue, and any business does not […]
Audio: Missouri House gives initial approval to open enrollment bill
The state House of Representatives has given initial approval to a bill that would make Missouri an open enrollment state. Representative Brad Pollitt, a Republican from west-central Missouri’s Sedalia, is sponsoring the plan. He served in the public school system for about 34 years, including as a teacher and a former School Superintendent in Sedalia. […]
Groundbreaking ceremony set for Caldwell County’s Little Otter Creek Reservoir March 19, 2021
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Missouri, Caldwell County Commission, USACE, and Caldwell County SWCD will host a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the beginning of construction on the Little Otter Creek Reservoir on March 19th, 2021. After over two decades of planning, design, reviews, and permitting, the Little Otter Creek Reservoir will begin […]
Audio: Good turnout for teacher vaccinations in rural northeast Missouri
Monday marked the first day of the next tier of Missouri COVID vaccinations, a tier that includes teachers. WGEM’s Frank Healy reports the Lewis County health department in northeast Missouri brought shots to a public clinic and to two school districts. The new tier includes teachers. Canton School Superintendent Jesse Uhlmeyer says when […]
Audio: Missouri has one of lowest number of K-12 students learning remotely: Online substitute training yields big results
All but 25 of Missouri’s more than 550 public school districts and charter schools are learning at least partially in-person. During a board meeting this week, State Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven says the American Enterprise for Institutes ranks Missouri as having one of the lowest numbers of K-12 students learning remotely. Of the […]
Audio: Statewide MAP testing period extended for Missouri K-12 public schools
Missouri K-12 public school students and teachers are gearing up for statewide tests this year. During today’s Missouri Board of Education meeting, state education Assistant Commissioner Blaine Henningsen says the spring testing period has been extended to June 15. Missouri could offer a fall MAP testing period if districts cannot meet the state’s […]
Four chosen for Grundy Electric Cooperative Youth Leadership Program
Four delegates have been selected for Grundy Electric Cooperative’s Youth Leadership Contest. They are high school juniors Kate Rogers of South Harrison R-2, Colton Roy of Trenton R-9, Kinslee Stokely of Princeton R-5, and Marissa Meek of Ridgeway R-5. The leadership conference in Washington, D. C. Was canceled due to COVID-19. Each delegate will receive […]
Twelve Months Later: Despite pandemic, Missouri moved forward
Since the first presumptive positive COVID-19 case was detected in Missouri one year ago, Governor Mike Parson and his administration have worked continuously to combat the virus, keep Missourians safe, and move Missouri’s economy forward. “Since COVID-19 struck Missouri one year ago, we have worked nonstop to take a balanced approach, fight the virus, and […]
Missouri Senate confirms Phil Hoffman to Coordinating Board for Higher Education
The Missouri Senate confirmed three appointments for new members to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. Governor Mike Parson last week announced the appointment of Phil Hoffman of Trenton, Anne-Marie Clarke of Saint Louis, and Hollie Elliot of Fair Grove. Hoffman will represent District 6. He has served as the manager of the Hoffman Reed […]
After outrage over unused vaccines at rural clinics, Parson vows more KC, STL events
(Missouri Independent) – Last week, multiple mass vaccination events in rural areas neared the end of the day with hundreds of doses still on hand — prompting health departments to take to social media and encourage anyone to come for fear doses would be wasted. “We have ample vaccine still available that needs to be […]
Missouri State Auditor releases monthly reports on municipalities and special district financial information
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway recently issued monthly reports detailing the compliance of municipalities and other political subdivisions with financial reporting laws. One report includes cities, towns, and villages, while the other lists political subdivisions such as water, fire protection, and other taxing districts. These entities are required to file annual financial reports with the State […]
Missouri Department of Conservation offers hunter education in schools despite COVID-19 challenges
COVID-19 presented considerable challenges to Missouri schools, staff, and students in 2020, including closures, cancellations, remote learning, and more. The pandemic also presented challenges to schools and instructors teaching the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) hunter education courses. “Many schools were closed for much of the year, which reduced the number of kids who could […]
Joshlin and Addie Yoder receive Missouri Leopold Conservation Award
Joshlin and Addie Yoder of Leonard, Missouri, located in Shelby County have been selected as the recipients of the 2020 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award®. The award, named for renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes farmers, ranchers, and foresters who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private land. In Missouri, the $10,000 award […]
NCMC teacher education students conduct “Merry Mittens” service project
North Central Missouri College students enrolled in the Teacher Education Program, and the Student Missouri State Teacher Association members recently conducted their annual “Merry Mittens” service project. Hats and gloves were collected for children and distributed to three area school districts, Tri-County R-7, Laredo R-7, and Grundy R-5. “February has proven to be a very […]
Missouri State Auditor begins citizen requested audit of Marshall School District
State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced that her office has begun audits of two school districts in western Missouri. The Marshall School District and the Smithville R-II School District’s reviews were requested through petitions submitted by residents of those districts. “The petition audit process allows citizens to demonstrate that they want to be engaged in ensuring […]