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The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday night at the District Administrative offices for the January meeting. Superintendent Steve Carvajal recognized the school board members for School Board Recognition Week that is held January 26^th through February 1^st. He wants to introduce the board members during an upcoming basketball game in February. John Clancy then updated the Board on the construction work at the school including the rock preparation and the pouring of the concrete pad at the junior high. He stated the bar joists would be in February 10^th and the roofing materials will be in the week of February 10^th. The roofers will be on-site the week of February 17^th. He said workers plan to do some preliminary interior framing next week where they can rough in the electric and plumbing, plus get the walls ready for the windows that should be in next week. If they don’t arrive, they will put plywood over the holes until the windows come in. Caravajal said five candidates had applied for the school board including incumbent Steven Morton, Susan Jordan, Larry Maxwell, Drew Whitaker and Holly Erway. Signups will continue until Tuesday at the close of business. He reported the Judson Young Foundation donation this year was $20,000. Assistant Superintendent John McCulloch reported on the “revised” state assessment plan that changed what the school was originally told back in the fall on testing. This is the criteria for the MAP tests the school gives. Now for English Language Arts and Math, there will be a half-hour test in grades 3, 4, 6 and 7 instead of the extended hours proposed for each subject. In the 5^th grade, the MAP tests will be comprised of four hours with English and Language Arts, three hours with math and 2.5 hours on science. In the 8^th grade, it stays at four hours with English and Language Arts, goes to 3.5 hours for math and stays at 2.5 hours for science. In the high school, the school will be teaching the common core standards with the State of Missouri paying for every junior to take the ACT test. The “revised plan” decreased testing time 9.85 hours over the original plan. The principals reported on happenings in their buildings for late December into January. High School Principal John Smith reported that two more students scored a 30 or higher on the ACT test which makes seven now for the year, plus Haley Cason would be singing with the All-State Choir on Saturday, January 25^th. Smith said the high school ended the 1^st semester with a 95.11% attendance rate, which is the highest in eight years. Upper Elementary School Principal Melanie Wisdom reported attendance at her school is at 94% about 90% of the time. Smith then reported that 67 students took the EOC government test in December and 63% scored proficient or advanced. Last year, students scored 58% proficient or advanced on the December test and the state average is 54%. Smith said students usually score better in the spring on that test and he felt this year the students could beat the 68.9% who scored proficient or advanced achieved last year. The board then went into closed session to discuss personnel. During the session, the board unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Steve Carvajal’s contract one year.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released their reports. On Thursday, January 16^th, deputies conducted a search warrant at a residence located near the 400 block of County Road 4122. Dent County Deputies were assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Salem Police Department, and the Rolla Police Department K-9 Units. During the search of the residence, two small plastic baggies were located in the upstairs or loft of the shop building, which is used as a bedroom. Both baggies contained a crystalline substance that field tested positive for Methamphetamine. As a result, 47-year old Jesse P. Freeman and 44-year old Tabitha Freeman, both of Salem, were arrested. Jesse is being held on a $100,000 cash only bond and Tabitha is being held with a $20,000 cash only bond. On Friday, January 17^th, deputies conducted a "knock and talk" in the 8500 block of Highway 68. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with a female subject inside the residence. While talking to the woman, approximately one gram of a crystalline substance was found in plain view in the living room of the residence. The crystalline substance then field-tested positive for methamphetamine. The deputies then arrested 31-year old Amy Murr of Salem. Murr is being held in the Dent County Jail on a $15,000 cash only bond. On Saturday, January 18^th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 32 and Babb Lane. The operator of the vehicle, 23-year old Michael Wethy of Salem, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Cole County. Wethy was also arrested for a 2^nd offense of driving while suspended and possession of under 35 grams of marijuana. The marijuana was found during a consent search of the vehicle. Wethy was able to post bond on the warrant and he was released with summons to appear in court for the other charges.

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