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The Salem R-80 Board of Education held a tax rate hearing, budget hearing and their regular monthly meeting Thursday evening. During the tax rate hearing, the assessed real estate tax amount for 2009 of $49,211,920 is up from  $48,443,370 for 2008, and the 2009 assessed personal property of $14,737.452 is down from $15,632,783 from 2008. The amount left owing on the current bonds is $525,000 and the interest would be $21,175 if paid off next year. During the budget hearing, the ending balance as of June 30, 2009 for the General (Incidental) Fund was $2,107,020.30, the ending balance of the Debt Service Fund was $526,853.01 and the ending balance of the Capitol Project Fund was $1,874,728.40. The Salem R-80 district ended the year about $97,000 less then in 2008. The proposed budget for the 2009/2010 school year based on revenue, to prepay the bonds and capitol projects will end with a $183,000 deficit, with the money being in reserves to pay off the bonds in 2010. At the start of the regular meeting and after approval of the agenda, the Board went straight to old business in regards to the approval of the pest control bids that were tabled at the last meeting. The Board heard from Steve Plank with Advance Pest Control and then from Frank Brooks with PrestoX Pest Control. Both men addressed the Board and answered questions. After discussion, the Board then agreed to accept the bid from Frank Brooks with PrestoX Pest Control for a total of $1,620 by a 4-3 vote. Superintendent Steve Bryant then addressed Professional Development Days, which included Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Boot Camp, that this year included the non-certified staff as well. It was noted that everyone that attended was charged-up and ready for the start of school. Thursday was the first day of school for the 2009/2010 school year and the attendance on the first day was 1,508, which is down from last years’ opening day total of 1,563. The Lower Elementary recorded 278 students, the Upper Elementary reported 369 students, the Junior High had an attendance of 386 students and the Senior High counted 475 students. Bryant then reported that the MSBA fall meeting and conference would focus on legislation and several were considering attending one or both of those meetings. During the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) report, it was reported that the High School Communication Arts scores jumped to 75.7% compared to the state score of 59.2%. In new business, the program evaluation on climate was tabled and will be presented in the next month or so. The Board then approved the tuition for the 2009/2010 school year of $6,179.66 for grades K-8 and $7,037.40 for grades 9-12. The tuition is expected to generate $1.7 million in revenue for the 2009/2010 school year compared to $1.9 million in 2008. Per Bryant’s recommendation, the Board then approved the 2008/2009 Annual Secretary of the Board Report (ASBR), which was presented earlier during the budget hearing. The Board then considered a resolution to prepay and pay off the bonds in March of next year, which would save the district about $7,000. After a roll call vote, the Board approved paying off the bonds early. During the tax rate hearing and budget hearing held prior to the meeting, and Board was presented the real estate and personal property tax revenues as well as expenditures and all other sources of revenue and expenses and after discussion and numerous questions, the Board then approved the tax rate of 2.75 cents per $100 assessed valuation for the general fund and 0.1074 per $100 assessed valuation for the debt service levy. The Board then voted to amend the 2009/2010 budget. The Board voted to approve the Performance Based Teacher Evaluation Plan (PBTE) regarding descriptors and forms, which the teachers were involved in writing up. During resignations, the Board accepted the resignation of Upper Elementary Para-professional Cathy Malone and Food Service worker Tammy Parker. After certification of the election results, the Board then went into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel.

An accident occurred at 12:50 Sunday morning in Dent County on Highway 19 south about two-tenths of a mile from Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Yamaha Motorcycle driven by 45-year-old Frank Ganschinietz of Salem was traveling south on Highway 19. The accident occurred as the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Ganschinietz suffered moderate injuries and was airlifted to St Johns Hospital in Springfield by St Johns Helicopter. The Yamaha sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by a friend of the driver.

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Funeral services for Eva Schafer Thompson of Salem, age 93, will be held today at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Visitation will be from 11:00 this morning until service time. Interment will be in the Green Forest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Seville Care Center Activity Fund.

Funeral services for Peggy Sosa of Edgar Springs, age 68, will be held Monday night at 7:00 at the Fox Funeral Home in Licking. Visitation will be from 6:00 tonight until service time.

Funeral services for Mabel Carmollete “Dollie” Dillon Kuncel of Salem, age 104, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00; with an Eastern Star service at 7:00 pm. Interment will be in the St. James Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Salem Eastern Star or the Masonic Lodge 225 Widows and Orphans Fund.

Graveside services for Betty J. Fiebelman of Rolla, age 88, will be held Wednesday at 2:00 at the Boss Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla. Memorials may be made to the ALS Association-the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter at the Wake Forest ALS Clinic.

Funeral services for Marian J. Szwiec of Salem, age 73, are incomplete at this time, but are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.

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