Maries R-2 board conducts virtual meeting

District confirms serving 4,720 meals to area students

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 4/1/20

BELLE — The Maries County R-2 School District confirmed March 26 that they served 4,720 meals to students during the week of March 23, since the Phelps-Maries Health Department encouraged …

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Maries R-2 board conducts virtual meeting

District confirms serving 4,720 meals to area students

Posted

BELLE — The Maries County R-2 School District confirmed March 26 that they served 4,720 meals to students during the week of March 23, since the Phelps-Maries Health Department encouraged schools to close on March 19 to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

“We will do it again next week,” said Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham. “The smallest pickup place is Vichy. This week, more picked up Tuesday night.”

Basham had speculated during the first week of closure that interest in the meals would probably taper off the longer school was out of session. During the first three days students were out of school on March 19, 20 and 23 and officials served an estimated 1,542 meals that included both breakfast and lunch. During the second week of closure, that number more than doubled.

One OPAA! official helping to pass out the meals said parents told her they were giving the food supplies to their babysitter to help offset the cost of providing their child with two extra meals a day.

Meal bags include breakfast and lunch for the week with heating directions for each option.

Pickups are available on Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Belle Elementary School only.

Pickup at all three locations including Belle Elementary, Bland Middle School front door, and Rusty Bucket Antiques & Gifts located at 14957 Hwy 63 S in Vichy will be available from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

Anyone who would like to begin participating in the meal service but have not completed a Family Survey should contact the Administration Building at 573-859-3800 or email Basham at lbasham@mariesr2.org and provide the number of children you will be serving and the location you need for pickup.

Participants are not required to be students, ages one through 18-years-old are eligible.

In other news, the board also accepted resignations from four staff members, one coach, and a retirement letter on March 26 during a closed-door meeting that the public could attend virtually.

The board met at the Administration Building behind closed doors due to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and State of Emergency guidelines set to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The virtual open session meeting lasted about 12 minutes, with six board members present and Director Amy Kiso attending virtually.

During the resignation portion of the meeting, the board accepted the resignation of High School Principal Lea Hickerson and middle school teacher Mollie Maples with 4-3 votes.

“I am against these because I don’t want to see them go,” said Director Tom Kinsey.

The virtual format only showed two or three directors at a time, making it unclear who voted for and against each individual.

Resignations for third-grade teacher Joni Grellner and family and consumer science teacher Lana Koelling were both approved with 7-0 votes.

Evan Farris resigned as girls volleyball coach. A retirement letter from Constance Smith, elementary school counselor, was approved with a 4-3 vote.

The board also approved the employment of Ashlee Johnson for special education, Chandler Hicks-Kleffner for the elementary, Heather Ryerson for middle school nurse and Amber Hendrix- for adult education (GED) classes.

An old agenda item that was revisited involved the Missouri School Board Association’s policy updates that were reviewed in January and February with one additional revision.

“Starting in 2023-24, incoming freshmen and graduates will be required to have 26 credits rather than the previous required 25 credits to graduate,” Superintendent Dr. Basham said in the board story.

A one-year extension was also approved for Mid-America Bank to continue with the district’s banking needs.

The board plans to hold its next regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. on April 23.