R-I board OKs winter sports/activities plan

The public will be limited to 25 percent of the schools’ gyms’ capacity to attend winter sports and activities, according to a plan adopted by the Palmyra R-I Board or Education.

The board approved the plan during last week’s meeting, at which they also heard an update on Parents as Teachers and school transportation  and discussed the annual school board retreat.

Under the plan, participants (players, cheerleaders, etc…) at Palmyra High School events will receive four tickets for family and friends, according to Superintendent Kirt Malone.

Participants at middle school events will receive two tickets for family and friends. 

“Some of the middle school games will be moved to PHS when there is not a scheduling conflict at the high school,” Malone said. “We will send that information out at a later date.” 

If those games are moved to the high school participants will receive four tickets for family and friends as four tickets will be issued for all games held at PHS. 

“Only those people who have a ticket may attend events at PHS and the middle school this winter because of COVID-19 restrictions limiting attendance to 25 percent of capacity in our gyms,” Malone added

For those who do not received a ticket and still want to watch, basketball games and wrestling matches at the high school will be available for free on the NFHS streaming system. 

All the games at the high school will be live-streamed through the NFHS system for anyone who would like to watch from home. 

Malone noted more information will be sent out to Palmyra R-I families as soon as everything is finalized with NFHS.

In other business, Kathy Nicholson presented information on the Parents as Teachers (PAT) program.

According to Nicholson, Palmyra R-I PAT serves 215 families this year, with 280 children. 

The group has identified 88 children who are eligible to be in kindergarten next year. 

Last year, the Palmyra PAT made 1,060 personal home visits and completed 247 screenings, and before the pandemic arrived, PAT provided a variety of group connections for families, including a Teddy Bear Clinic, Kids in the Kitchen, weekly playgroup, as well as elementary programs and events. 

She added that during the spring building closures through the end of June, thePAT staff delivered 135 meals daily to 11 childcare facilities.

The board also heard an update from Brian Wosman, transportation director, on R-I transportation.

According to Wosman, the Palmyra R-I transportation department has approximately 364 daily riders with buses traveling about 577 miles each day on their routes.  

Buses have driven 13,951 total miles on regular routes so far this year (as of last week), Wosman added, noting the district has 11 regular bus routes and one early childhood route.

In addition bus interiors are disinfected regularly and there is hand sanitizer available on each bus, as well as face masks for students to have and use while they are on the bus, he said.

The board also discussed the annual school board retreat and work sessions for Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon.

During those work sessions, the board uses the annual retreat to review portions of the comprehensive school improvement plan as well as looking forward to plan for the future of the district, Malone said. 

Agenda topics include facility needs, program needs, school finance, school governance, staffing and legislative issues in Missouri.

The board also:

• discussed the annual Missouri School Boards Association meeting that was held virtually this year;

• approved MSBA policy update 2020A;

• accepted the resignation of Angel Powers from Parents as Teachers;

• approved additions to the substitute teacher list; and

• heard reports from the building principals.