(Missouri Independent) – It was just after 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, when the forms arrived from the state treasurer’s office. Without warning, and with little explanation, school superintendents discovered they were now required to certify their district had complied with Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s demands to drop all COVID-19 mitigation measures, such as […]
Joel Hultman with the Trenton Teachers Association presented preliminary research regarding a four-day school week during the Trenton R-9 Board of Education meeting February 8th. The board took no action on the matter. Hultman reported a survey of teachers showed many wanted more information on a four-day school week. None of the questions specifically asked […]
(Missouri Independent) – A Cole County judge kept intact most of the ballot summary Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft wrote for an initiative petition seeking to bar public funds from going to private schools. On Wednesday, Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem ruled that Ashcroft was correct to say in the summary that the […]
(Missouri Independent) – With the retirement of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer by this summer, President Joe Biden has said he will fulfill a campaign promise of appointing a Black woman to an open seat on the highest court in the land. A top contender, who was even vetted by the Obama administration in 2016 as […]
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office is suing 45 K-12 public school districts around the state for what it calls illegally enforcing mask mandates. All of Missouri’s charter schools have mask requirements but they are not being sued. Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, cites a recent Cole County Court ruling he […]
The Jamesport Tri-County R-7 Board of Education on January 10th approved a bid from Perkins for the demolition of a house and construction of a parking lot near the school. Secretary Heather Turner reports it is unknown how much the final price will be for the project because the board cut out some things in […]
The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education approved new COVID-19 protocols December 16th. The protocols include continuing to notify close contacts when a positive case occurs in a classroom. Any individual who has possible COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home until they have proof of a negative COVID-19 test, an alternate diagnosis from a physician, or […]
(Missouri Independent) – If school districts want to take advantage of a lower interest rate on bonds, Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is requiring them to certify compliance with a recent court ruling targeting local health orders before his office will approve of the deal. Fitzpatrick detailed the decision he described as “unprecedented” in an interview Wednesday […]
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education on December 14th approved an insurance quote for Missouri United School Insurance Council general liability coverage for the district. The cost for the standard policy is $37,804. A $4 million umbrella policy was also approved at $1,536. The board approved the Return to Instruction Plan and the test […]
(Missouri Independent) – As a growing number of Missouri school districts drop COVID mitigation measures under threat from Attorney General Eric Schmitt, at least two closed the doors on their fall semester early due to large numbers of staff and students out sick. Meanwhile, local public health departments said Tuesday they still have not heard […]
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education on December 14th approved a bid from H and B Farms for the butcher of a hog. The bid was for $1 per pound live weight. A butcher date is set for January. The board approved Missouri United School Insurance Council insurance renewal for 2022. Superintendent Rebecca Steinhoff […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on December 14th heard about the implementation of the SafeDefend system for the district. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported employee training for the system was December 6th. Law enforcement and fire and rescue members were also invited to participate. On-site employees were fingerprinted into the system, and it is now […]
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education approved the renewal of liability and property insurance December 13th. The insurance is through CPSK and the Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund for $77,762 total. That is an increase of $4,275 from the previous year. The board approved the annual auditor’s reports from Conrad and Higgins. A revised […]
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education on December 13th approved Missouri United School Insurance Council insurance renewal. Secretary Robin Griswold reports there is $4 million worth of coverage for a premium of $13,096 for the year. The policy covers property, general liability, buses, school board liability, compensation, bond, cyber, and pollution liability. The board approved […]
Reports highlight the agenda for a Thursday night, December 16 meeting of the Gallatin R-5 Board of Education. Among the reports on the agenda is a Vocational Report from Brant Burns and Amy Holder regarding the Gallatin FFA Chapter. Other topics are listed as the 2020-21 school district audit, the Belcher scholarship application, and an […]
(Missouri Independent) – Jackson and St. Louis Counties requested Monday that they be permitted to intervene and appeal a recent court ruling that they argue has “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. In a filing submitted Monday afternoon and obtained by The Independent, the two counties asked Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel […]
Following the Cole County Circuit Court’s decision in Robinson v. Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt this morning sent a letter to local public health agencies and school districts informing them of the decision and requiring them to stop enforcing any mask mandates, quarantine orders, or any other public […]
The Milan C-2 School District is planning for the 2022-2023 school year and is seeking feedback on the potential of implementing a four-day school week. A survey is available on the school’s website in English, Spanish, and French. The survey in English is available by clicking HERE, The survey in Spanish is available by clicking […]
The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education approved bids on November 17th for snow removal and high school roof repairs. The approved snow removal bid was from Will Salmon for $900 per snow removal, and if ice melt is needed $900 per application. Board Member Jesse Bird abstained from the vote. The board approved a discounted […]
The Jamesport Tri-County R-7 Board of Education on November 10 set the dates for filing for the board election on April 5, 2022. Filing can be done from December 7 through 28 from 7:45 in the morning to 3:45 in the afternoon Monday through Friday. The office will be closed on days school is not […]
