R-II board discusses summer school, insurance

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Marion County R-II will be offering a summer school intervention thanks to new COVID funds.

The R-II Board of Education discussed the funds and the summer school during their meeting last week, at which they also discussed the MO Beef program, health insurance, an upcoming community health event and a new school bus.

According to Superintendent Jason Keilholz, $179,745 in ESSER funds have been released to the district. 

Those funds are to be used for COVID-19 related expenses, and the intervention summer school would fall in that category.

The three weeks summer school consisting of 12 days at 3 1/2 hours a day, would be for any student at or below grade level in reading and math, Keilholz said.

The school would involved hiring six staffmembers, two each at elementary and upper elementary and two teacher aids.

Classes would start a week after school is let out for the summer.

In a related matter Keilholz said the schools will be able to expense ESSER III funds through September 2024, but those allocations are not available yet.

In other business, Marion County will also be starting the Mo Beef program for the first time next school year.

Ken Disselhorst, who is with the Lewis and Marion County Cattlemen Association, helped get the program set up at the school Keilholz said, although it is not known at this itme, who will be donating beef to the program.

However, he added, Lumely Locker in LaBelle will be processing the meat for the school.

The board also approved new health insurance rates for the district.

New rates came back with an increase of 8.6 percent, Keilholz said and will be going to $564 a month. The board currently pays $519 a month

The board also learned Dr. Jennifer Blacksmith will be at the school to do a community presenation about healthy brain activities.

The psychologist had presented a program to the faculty at an in-service in March, but will be doing this program for anyone in the community who is interested.

In conjunction with that presentation, the MCR-II PTO will be hosting the a meal from the Rebel Pig that evening.

It was also reported the district recently purchased a used school bus with $12,000 miles on it from Midwest Transit.

Funds from the Missouri State Disel Emission Reduction Act Program, were used to pay for that purchase. That program encourages schools to trade in vehicles for ones with lower emissions.

The board also:

• learned Key Club will be sponsoring an elementary school dance on May 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.;

• recognized FBLA, baseball and track members at a recently assembly for their participating in those activities;

• learned around 250 people attended the PTO sponsored Easter egg hunt; and

• learned the band had received a I rating at a small schools festival in Paris, Mo.;