R-II board to consider financial opportunities

The Marion County R-II School District board of education will be looking at ways to ensure financial stability in the future.

Superintendent Jason Keilholz discussed some ideas with the board during their recent meeting, at which they also heard a report from new principal, Savannah O’Bryan concerning alternative teaching plans.

According to Keilholz, while no definitive steps have been taken, the board is looking at new financial opportunities, such as grants and other programs to help ensure the financial stability of the school district.

“We also talked about constructing a structured maintenance plan to ensure that upgrades made to the buildings and grounds from our last bond are maintained for the future,” he said.

Keilholz also asked the board members for their suggestions on what they would like to see for the future of the school district.

Also in his report, Keilholz gave the board an update on returning to school on Aug. 13.

The plan is to return as normal as possible, but he added, there will be an increase in sanitation and cleaning.

While the plan is to go back to school as normal, the district has begun discussion of a Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) plan.

O’Bryan presented a basic idea of what school might look like if they should have to close again.

“The AMI is a very vague plan we are still developing,” said Keilholz. “We have not completed the plan or shared any details with our staff yet, so we were just informing the board of the process and the continued work on it. We will have more information on it after the next board meeting.”

In other business, the board discussed changes to the vo-tech handbook adding that if a student is removed from the program (for example because of grades or attendance issues) they would repay the district for vo-tech fees.

The board also accepted the resignation of Jessica Redd as the Parents as Teachers educator.