Dexter R-XI School District Superintendent Amy James informed the board at the July 21 meeting that the school’s re-entry plan will be released to staff this week and to the public next week.
James, Assistant Superintendent Gavin Miller and school board members along with the health department and building principals have held six meetings to discuss the re-entry plan for the upcoming school year, according to James.
“We have been talking about COVID-19 everyday since it started in March,” James said.
A draft of the re-entry plan for the 2020-21 school year was reviewed by the board during a closed session.
James said the district sent out surveys to parents of district students concerning the pandemic and the return to school in the fall. They included questions about students who planned to ride the bus and how many homes have an internet connection.
One thousand one hundred eighty-three surveys were returned and only 61 respondents said they didn’t have access to the internet.
The district is looking at options to create WiFi hot spots in all school parking lots and at Lighthouse Church, W.W. Wood Products in Dudley, the USDA building located between Dexter and Bloomfield and in Pyletown should online learning be necessary in the fall.
James said 536 students plan to ride buses.
A survey was sent to district employees, seeking their thoughts on returning to school during the pandemic. James said most are ready to come back with only a few voicing concerns. She said the district will meet with those employees to discuss their apprehension.
Online registration for the upcoming school year begins Wednesday. Information will be available at dexter.k12.mo.us.
James said the school buildings will be open to help parents who have questions about completing the registration information. She plans to have each school open two days a week at different times, so parents with multiple children can visit all necessary schools.
New buses
Miller said the district was approved for another round of funding from this year’s Missouri Department of Natural Resources/Volkswagon emissions school bus grant.
The program was designed to get buses with higher-emission diesel engines off the road.
Miller said the district was approved to replace three buses with a grant of $22,500 each.
The district had already ordered two buses, and Miller recommended the district take reimbursements for each.
The cost for the two buses is $220,164. With the $45,000 in grant money, the cost would be reduced to $175,164. Miller said the district would need to buy another bus next year.
Another option would be to buy three buses this year that would cost the district $30,605 more than it intended to spend.
He said in these uncertain times, the first option would be more fiscally responsible.
The district will follow Miller’s guidance.
Summer school
James said 540 students in kindergarten through the eighth grade attended summer school, and 42 high school-age students took online courses.
“We tried to make things as normal and typical as possible,” James said. “The students were happy to be here.”
James said no students tested positive for COVID-19 and none showed any symptoms. She said two students were sent home because a member of their family had tested positive.
Meeting date changed
The council voted to move the Aug. 18 meeting to Aug. 27, the date of the tax rate hearing. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. right after the hearing.
Closed session
The board approved returning substitute teachers and five new ones for the upcoming school year: Jessica Cox, Sherry Morgan, Christina Smith, Ethan Stevens and Mariah Walker.
• The board approved the hiring of Tashan Bittaye as an assistant football coach.
• The board approved a transfer request by Cara Hartlein, who will leave her middle school special services aide position to become high school secretary.
• The board approved resignation letters from Eva Edwards, special services paraprofessional; Hartlein; Julie Rybold, accompanist; and Lindsay Woods, middle school cheer coach.
• The board approved the hiring of the following special services aides: Brooke Anderson, Hailey Anderson, Megan Crosby, Phyllis Daniel, Hannah Hale, Marife Smith and Diane Vaughn.
• The board rescinded the motion of approval from the June 9 special board meeting for the employment of Kayla Anderson.
• The board approved granting permission to Superintendent Amy James to hire a parent educator and other special services aides, pending favorable background checks prior to the August board meeting. The purpose of this urgency is to allow for training of the individuals and adequate staffing for the return of students on Aug. 24. The names of these individuals will be formally presented at the August board meeting.