R-II board learns of grant

Marion County R-II students will be getting some new tech devices, thanks to a grant received by the school.

Superintendent Jason Keilholz reported on a recent connectivity grant the school applied for and received during the recent R-II Board of Education meeting, at which the board also discussed the temporary expanded lunch and breakfast program, coaches’ and substitute teacher pay and a graduation date.

According to Keilholz, the district received a $9,000 Missouri Student Connectivity-Connect Grant, which is part of the CARES Act.

The grant will be used to purchase devices.

In other business Keilholz said Sydney Copenhaver has applied for the school to have all students ages 18 and under in the school district will received free lunch and breakfasts until the end of December or when funds run out.

This is an extension of the Seamless Summer Grant through the USDA.

The board also approved increasing the substitute teachers pay to make it more competitive with other local schools.

“After looking into it, we felt we needed to increase pay,” said Keilholz, adding the district has not had any trouble getting subs. “In fact, we have not had to use many subs this year. I believe a lot of this can be attributed to our four-day week.”

Pay was increased to $80 for certified and $75 for non-certified substitute teachers.

The board also discussed the possibility of paying the coaches in one lump sum after a sport is over since there is the possibility of not having a sport because of COVID-19.

In the past, the district has paid coaches over a 12 month period.

Looking ahead, the board discussed some possible graduation dates, including Sunday, May 30, and Friday, May 28.

Keilholz will be discussing those options with the seniors, and he and Savannah O’Bryan, principal, will report back to the board.

The board also:

• discussed Bus #9 which is no longer in use and the generator being put up for sale; and

•  adopted mandatory changes to Board Policy per MCE.