PB R-I board rolls back mask policies, seeks grant for $1M Culinary Arts building

Artist rendering of proposed Culinary Arts building

The Poplar Bluff R-I School Board voted Tuesday to roll back mandatory COVID-19 prevention procedures and return to normal operations as of May 24.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill reported the district had zero active cases and only five people under preventive quarantines.

“We want to get back to normal for summer school,” Dill said. “If something changes, then we’ll adjust at that time.”

The board also voted to change student face mask requirements for the upcoming graduation ceremony to “recommended but not required.”

S1M culinary arts building

The next phase of plans for the construction of a state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Center at the Technical Career Center was also discussed.

The board received a preliminary design concept and initial cost estimate from Dille Pollard Architecture.

The cost at this time is estimated at $942,775. The district is working with Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission on an application for a Community Development Block Grant of up to $500,000 to be applied to the cost of the center.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Amy Jackson said the remaining building funds would need to come from the district. She is working on incorporating that amount into the next fiscal year’s budget, which the board will discuss next month.

In addition to the building itself, the district is also applying for a Delta Regional Authority States’ Economic Development Assistance Program Grant of up to $200,000 to purchase the necessary equipment for the Culinary Arts program.

If funding and construction go as planned, the new center could be open for students by Spring 2023.

In other business, Dill announced the USDA would be extending its waiver to provide student meal funding, which means all pre-K through 12 grade students will receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2021-22 school year. The price of adult lunches will increase by five cents to $3.25.

Coaches get raise: “I want us to be the destination for the best coaches and sponsors in the state.”

A 5% increase to the stipend for athletic coaches and extracurricular program sponsors was approved. Those types of positions that were formerly paid through fundraising will also now be paid at a salary commensurate to the district percentage of the base compared to the set rate. “I want us to be the destination for the best coaches and sponsors in the state,” said Dill.

Teaching partnership

The board approved a teaching partnership between the district and FCC Behavior Health for an instructor for high school students in the credit recovery program at Mark Twain School.

This position will teach five periods of academic subjects along with two periods of evidence-based curriculum designed to help students with life skills, coping strategies and behavioral health.

Dill said if this initial program is a success, there is a possibility of expanding this model to other schools throughout the district in the future.

Summer school

Dill announced enrollment for the July summer school session was at 250 students and would be capped at 275 to allow for the cleaning plan at O’Neal Elementary to be carried out before the start of fall classes.

He also reported that approximately $1 million in federal COVID relief funds would be used in the next year for professional development and training for district employees.

At the beginning of the meeting, Cathy Burnett from Eugene Field School was recognized as the District Teacher of the Year. Dill presented her with a proclamation from the Missouri legislature noting her achievement.

Skills USA

Also recognized were students from the Skills USA organization who had competed virtually in the district and state competitions.

Seven students won their categories at state and will move on to compete nationally. They are:

• Christina Cunningham for Customer Service

• Austynn Dover for Nail Care (secondary)

• Hunter Pierce for Barbering (secondary)

• Amber Brawley for Cosmetology (secondary)

• Kristen Laird, Emily Northern and Kitiara Melton for Community Service Team