• Several EFES staff members are already busy with professional development opportunities this summer. (Holly Brady)
  • Custodians are busy on their summer projects. Maintenance staff have been working on replacing carpet, updating lights, and installing motion sensors. The field renovation is complete. There is some fine-tuning of the irrigation system left to do on the field. (Ron Wilson)

The Board received a report on 2011-2012 funding for the Missouri Pre-school Project (MOPS). Unfortunately, state officials have reduced the MOPS funding that each participating school will receive. Maryville R-II is expecting to receive $72,250—a $12,750 decrease for this school year.

The Board approved the addition of a part-time certificated staff member to the Title I programming at Eugene Field Elementary. The goal of this position is to increase interventions and support to students who are struggling readers. This position, as well as the current Title I teachers, will be paid for from federal funds that must be used in the Title I program.

The Board approved the 2011-2012 preliminary budget. The budget shows a loss in the Assessed Valuation (AV) of $4,861,451. As a result, local taxes are expected to be almost $200,000 less than last year. The operating budget shows a deficit of $167,300. There were some expenditure reductions to the budget—primarily in the areas of maintenance projects and technology purchases for 2011-2012. Each building budget was reduced by $10,000, and professional development saw a small reduction. The budget does include movement for all qualified staff on salary schedules and an additional $100 to each step on the teacher schedule. Associated schedules (such as school nurse, supplemental, and paraprofessional, educational support worker, and educational diagnostician) have been adjusted to reflect the change to the teacher schedule. Staff members not on a schedule will receive a 1.7% increase (that’s the average returning teacher salary increase). Movement on their schedules results in an average increase of 1.86% for secretaries, 1.87% increase for maintenance/custodial workers, and 2.15% for food service employees. (Salary schedules will soon be posted to the District’s website.) As additional information is received, adjustments will be made to this preliminary budget. The final budget will be presented at the August Board Meeting after a public tax rate and budget hearing.

The following personnel items were approved:

  • Resignations
  • Ron Eckerson resigned as Vocational Resource Educator at NTS after 35 years of employment.
  • Sarah Schieb resigned as dance team assistant coach at MHS.
  • Kenna Toombs resigned as SACC site coordinator at EFES.
  • Employment
  • Michael Nolde was hired as evening custodian at EFES effective June 7.
  • Andrea Allen was employed as receptionist/secretary at Central Office effective June 13.
  • Jennifer Miller was hired as 1st grade teacher at EFES.
  • Ashley Myers and Katie Hornickel were hired as part-time summer school teachers.
  • The 2011-2012 AEL teachers and substitutes were hired.
  • Supplemental assignments for spring activities were approved.

A personal note—Maryville R-II has been a GREAT place for me to be. I have appreciated the outstanding folks I have had the opportunity to work with over the years. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and am confident that you will continue on with our important work. Many people ask what I will do in my retirement so I included some references in this summary to the more exciting “projects” for the upcoming months. Our annual family vacation to visit my sister in Wisconsin is at the end of July. A friend and I will be traveling to Jackson Hole in mid-July. I have a new bicycle that needs to be ridden, and I begin full-time teaching at Northwest in August. HOWEVER, my most important “project” is my granddaughter Madison. We are both looking forward to more time together.

I will miss being a daily part of Maryville R-II, but I will be watching from across town. And as we all know…..Once a Spoofhound, always a Spoofhound.

Vickie