R-9 Installs Security System

As the Trenton R-9 School District prepares for the start of classes next week, members of the board of education on Tuesday night heard information regarding a new security system installed to increase safety of students and staff.
Director of Supportive Services Dennis Gutshall said the system has been installed at the high school, middle school and Rissler Elementary School and will be in use when classes start next Tuesday. Buildings will be locked at 8 a.m. each morning and persons wanting to enter the school will have to “buzz” in at the front door of each building before they will be admitted (there will also be a camera at the commons area door at the high school). Gutshall said monitors have been installed on the desks of secretaries at each building and it will be their responsibility in regard to letting persons into the buildings. If a person coming to the building identifies themselves, states their business and are recognized, they will be admitted. Otherwise, more information will be required and, if necessary, an administrator will be summoned to either approve admittance of the individual or personally admit the person into the facility.
Gutshall said that outside buildings on the high school campus (music, art, vo-ag) will be locked and that teachers in those buildings will be responsible for admitting persons into the facilities. Students late to class and needing to enter those buildings will have a secretary call to those buildings so that someone can let them enter. Gutshall said that doors will be unlocked at the end of classes.
Gutshall reported that last year’s food service program lost just over $26,000, with much of that attributed to an increase in food costs due to meeting federal guidelines as well as the need to hire a long-term substitute due to illness. Gutshall said some monies should be made up this year through an increase in lunch prices approved last month as well as additional federal revenue the district is to receive for free and reduced price lunches. However, Gutshall said he also anticipated food prices to continue rising as federal guidelines continue to be revised.
This led to a discussion concerning food options that might be available to students. Board member David Whitaker again voiced concern that guidelines are not providing enough food for those students who are active in sports and other activities and need the additional calories. He asked about the addition of an a la carte menu at the high school, allowing students to purchase additional food “that the kids would eat.” It was noted that nearly 60 percent of students in the district are in the free and reduced lunch program.
The board asked Gutshall to look into the possibility of having an a la carte menu available, including costs associated with its operation. He will bring information back to the board at its September meeting.
Park Superintendent Jason Shuler and Park Board President Don Altes visited with the board concerning work at Griffin Field and left with a commitment from the school board to work with the park system on improvements to Johnson Field. The park board, R-9 Board and North Central Missouri College are providing funding for the improvements being done at Griffin Field, which will not be available for use this fall while the outfield grass takes hold and work to the dugouts is completed. Several games scheduled to be played on that field this fall have been moved.
Similar improvements are planned at Johnson Field, Shuler said, adding that the work could begin once the softball season is over in mid to late October. This would give officials time to do laser grading to the infield and redo the outfield before winter. Dugout work is also planned.
In other business, the board:
• set the tax rate levy at $4.26 on the $100 assessed valuation. This is nearly 10 cents lower than a year ago and, with an increase in the assessed valuation, is anticipated to raise about $3,218,686 in local revenues. Of the $4.26, 90 cents is for the debt service while $3.36 is for the incidental fund.
• set graduation for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 18 at the Ketcham Community Center.
• approved the conflict of interest policy, Annual Secretary of the Board Report, budget amendments and the Special Education Compliance Plan.
• accepted the resignations of Gayle Hall and Jamie Beverlin as paraprofessionals.
• approved early graduation for Sierra Howrey, Patricia Russell and Madison Stone and part-time attendance for Alexis Fender and Caitlyn Harris to attend NCMC.
• approved dispersal of $2,777.52 from the Frank Drake Estate to the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library (the R-9 District is custodian of those funds).
• approved current board of education and CSIP goals and will come back in September with a recommendation to form a committee to review those goals.
• reviewed summer school information, which showed 189 students enrolled and an average daily attendance of 85 percent. Pre- and post-testing showed academic improvements in all areas.
• was presented handouts regarding HB 253 which, according to the information presented would cost the district around $665,000 in revenues if the governor’s veto is overturned during the Veto Session in September.
• heard a report on summer projects and technology improvements, which included the installation of a new fiber optic system at the middle school/high school complex, allowing speed up to four times faster.
• Following an executive session for personnel, the board hired Barbara Elliott as third grade teacher, Terri Figg as part-time speech teacher at Rissler, Kameron Cool as a paraprofessional at the high school, Sarah Pauley as a paraprofessional at the middle school, Marcia Gutshall as part-time assistant elementary principal, Colleena Johnson as fifth grade teacher and Kathy Hollinger as a paraprofessional at the success center. They also approved the resignation of Ruby Walker as middle school volleyball coach and moved Amanda Pickett to that position.