The Grundy County Commission and COVID-19 Relief Fund Task Force have distributed the $1.15 million in CARES Act funding the county received in early May. Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray reports the funds were distributed to entities impacted by COVID-19 based on a formula that utilized assessed valuation and accounted for the portion of each taxable […]
The Grundy County Commission approved COVID-19 fund allocations on December 15th and received several fiscal year 2021 budget proposals. COVID-19 Relief Fund approved expenses included for the Jewett Norris Library of $6,122.44, Grundy County $19,052.42, the Senior Tax Board $432.37, the Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled $9,181.97, the Sunnyview Nursing Home of $103,605.56, […]
The Missouri Board of Education voted Tuesday to avoid using 2021 standardized test results for state and federal accountability. Members still want the state’s K-12 public school students to take statewide tests next year, but they do not want the results to count against schools for funding and accreditation purposes. The move might lower the […]
About $76 million in federal money will be heading to Missouri’s k-12 schools, once Governor Mike Parson signs the supplemental budget bill. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, says the $1.27 billion supplemental budget includes $75.6 million for school nutrition services. “i.e., paying for meals in k-12 education,” Smith says. “So this […]
The Missouri House voted Tuesday to give preliminary approval to a proposed $1.27 billion supplemental budget, a supplemental that is the reason for the special session. The supplemental budget includes funding for school nutrition programs, job training grants, $1 million for witness protection funding, and money for child support payments. Governor Mike Parson (R) called […]
Missouri schools continue to struggle with having enough teachers available to educate kids in traditional classrooms this year. The Show-Me State has had a chronic problem with teacher shortages, but COVID-19 has made the can of worms open even more. Missouri has about 70,000 pre-K through 12 teachers instructing roughly 900,000 public school students. Many […]
The Missouri Association of School Nurses says school nurses are playing an even more critical role during the COVID-19 crisis. The state had about 1600 school nurses among Missouri’s more than 500 K-12 public school districts. Linda Neumann (pronounced newman), executive director of the association, says school nurses have been going above and beyond the […]
Missouri’s governor has announced that he is releasing about $133 million in funding that was previously withheld, saying the state’s unemployment rate has improved and state revenues outpaced expectations. Governor Mike Parson (R) made the announcement Wednesday afternoon in Jefferson City while addressing Capitol reporters. He’s releasing $95 million in CARES Act funding and $40 million […]
The Grundy County Commission voted to modify the county employee handbook, accepted a resignation, and approved Coronavirus Relief funding. The modification to the employee handbook states employees must submit all required paperwork to the county clerk’s office. The information must be verified prior to their first day of employment. A resignation was accepted from Blake […]
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) wants to create a new program designed to shape high school students into future teachers. It is requesting $200,000 dollars in its FY2022 state budget to launch the “Grow Your Own” program. During a state Board of Education meeting, DESE Chief Budget Officer Jennifer Jordan says […]
The State Emergency Management Agency announced more than $9 million in grant funding has been approved to build tornado safe rooms in six Missouri school districts. The federal grants for school districts in Dunklin, Henry, Ozark, Shannon, Texas, and Wright counties will pay for 90 percent of the cost of the safe rooms, which are […]
The state Board of Education is expected to vote today on proposed changes to the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program, or MOCAP. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) received hundreds of public comments about the proposal. The part that has garnered the most attention deals with the time it takes […]
Many Missouri schools have kicked off fall classes and others will soon start. Missouri Board of Education President Charlie Shields says board members have been impressed with the plans schools have made to reopen this fall amid a pandemic. “The thing that we have been impressed with is the local schools, the school boards, and […]
Classes began Wednesday, August 26th for more area school districts. Trenton R-9 reports an opening day enrollment of 1,093 in kindergarten through 12th grade, which is up by 24 from last year’s first day. One thousand thirty-two students are attending in person. Sixty-one are attending classes virtually, which is about five and a half percent […]
The Missouri Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education is drafting a letter to send to Gov. Mike Parson to request temporary removal of school districts serving as the gatekeeper of Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program, or MOCAP. Due to COVID-19, more families are choosing to move their kids to virtual learning. During a committee […]
The Missouri Board of Education has voted 6-2 today in favor of temporarily giving substitute teacher candidates an alternative to get certified. The proposal was offered to help reduce an expected shortage of substitutes during the COVID-19 outbreak. Under the plan, candidates can go through 20 hours of state-approved online training or complete the traditional […]
The Mosaic Life Care Foundation Board of Trustees approved a change in the emPowerU fee structure for the next five years. EmPowerU educational programming will be offered free of charge through the next five years for school districts in the Foundation’s 31 county service region in northwest Missouri and adjacent counties in Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. Foundation […]
Missouri is in the market for more K-12 substitute teachers during the COVID-19 time. The level of need varies around the state depending on the district, grade, subject, and region. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the number of candidates preparing to become full-time teachers has been declining steadily over […]
Distribution of backpacks and school supplies is just one activity planned for Thursday, August 13 when Bright Futures Trenton’s Grundy County holds a Back-to-School Event. Bright Futures Trenton Co-coordinator Lynn Griffin says backpacks and supplies for Trenton R-9 students will be given out in the First Christian Church Activity Center from noon until 6 o’clock. […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education set the district’s tax rate prior to the regular board meeting the evening of Tuesday, August 11th. The proposed property tax rate was approved at $4.4135. That includes $3.5135 for the Incidental Fund and 90 cents for the debt service. This year’s tax levy is 28.65 cents higher than […]
