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The Salem R-80 Board of Education met at the district administrative offices Thursday night. Superintendent Steve Bryant indicated that legislative priorities for 2009 would focus on early childhood education and transportation funding. He said that the applications for the MUSIC scholarship have now been available to students, and he informed the board they have until January 20^th to decide if they want to put the bond issue on the April 7^th ballot. He said that part of the stimulus package that has been suggested by President Elect Barrack Obama deals with public work projects and that may include schools. Bryant said that he has sent the Salem building construction plans to the national association so it could be included in the mix. He said that incumbent Chris Heavin has filed for one of the two 3-year board positions, and incumbent Joe Howard has filed for the one 2-year position available. The board heard the program evaluation on the Vocational Agriculture program and on the Family and Consumer Sciences. Both programs had increased interest from students this year with FFA having about 170 students and FCS having about 160 students. Also part of the vocational education at Salem are the programs at RTI and RTC where 51 students attend.  Bryant reported that Salem R-80 provides community education through its partnerships with the Salem TCRC, RTI and RTC in Rolla, the Salem Area Community Betterment Association, SBU of Salem, and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. This is paid for by mostly federal funds. Budget adjustments were discussed and Bryant stated that expected revenues have been decreased by about $18,000 and expenses have been increased by about $7,000 to increase the deficit spending by about $25,000. The board approved the by-laws for the new Salem R-80 Foundation that calls for seven board members. Steve Watson will serve as the president of the foundation with Trish Connelly acting as the secretary. The foundation will serve as an umbrella for other groups such as Project Graduation to use for non-profit purposes. The Missouri United School Insurance Council assessment for Salem would normally be $155,000 but they were issued a credit of $13,187. With this coverage comes 2.5 million dollars of liability umbrella coverage. Bryant suggested that they increase the liability coverage to five million dollars for an additional premium of $5,055 and the board approved. The board set the tentative graduation date of May 22^nd with the last day of school scheduled for May 15^th. He also told that the board that they would begin earlier on the calendar for the next school year earlier than before to work in an early release schedule that will benefit the Professional Learning Communities. He proposes that one day each week students will be released about 20 minutes early to give teachers the extra time for the PLC. He said this would eliminate the half-day teacher in service the district currently uses. The board accepted the retiring of Spanish Teacher Angel Edgar at the end of the school year, and they accepted the resignation of the Upper Elementary School Nurse Kendra Mobray effective December 20^th. The board then went into closed session where they employed Ron Wyble as a bus driver, Ruth Warren in foodservice, and Nathan Derrickson as a long-term substitute resource teacher. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit will be adding days of bell ringing at Wal-Mart and Country Mart in an attempt to reach their 2008 goal of $20,000. Remember, these funds are used here in Dent County to help those in need during the 2009-year and contributions to date are behind. Volunteers will be standing at the kettles today and Tuesday from 4-8 pm and all day Christmas Eve until 8 PM.  If you would like to be volunteer to be a bell ringer for the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign on Tuesday or Wednesday, call Jim and Diane Boulware at 729-6685 or Sherry Lea at 729-8163. The Salvation Army Dent County Unit wants to thank those that have already rang the bell at a kettle, donated to a kettle, or by mailing in a check. Any additional donations you can make will be warmly welcomed as they continue their quest to reach this year’s goal. Make your donations at the red kettles at Country Mart, Dollar General and Wal-Mart; the counter kettles around town; or you can mail in your donations to the Dent County Unit of the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 229, Salem, MO   65560. Your support is greatly appreciated!!

Sports [TOP]

C. J. Smith scored 28 points and pulled down 10 rebound to help lead the Salem Boys Basketball Tigers to a 69-38 pasting of Potosi. Grant Gordon added 12 and Phillip Moser netted 10 as Salem evens their record at 3-3. They will play at West Plains Tuesday night at 7:00. That game will be taped delayed and played back after the Missouri-Illinois Basketball game.

The Salem Lady Basketball Tigers improved to 3-2 on the year with a 52-45 win over Newburg Friday night. Jennifer Herndon scored 15 points, Danielle Connell netted 14 points and Hannah Kettner scored 13 points in the win. The Lady Basketball Tigers will host Houston tonight at 6;00 with the JV game with varsity game to follow. You can hear the varsity game on KSMO.

The Missouri Tigers defeated Stetson Saturday evening at the Mizzou Arena by the score of 78-44. DeMarre Carroll led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds with Matt Lawrence adding 12 points. Missouri is now 9-1 on the year and will face Illinois tomorrow night at about 6:30.

Rookie Blake Wheeler scored twice as the Boston Bruins doubled up the St. Louis Blues, 6-3, at the Scottrade Center Sunday night. Roman Polak registered a goal and an assist, and Manny Legace stopped 24-of-26 shots, as the St. Louis Blues doubled up the Minnesota Wild, 4-2, at the Scottrade Center on Saturday night. Patrik Berglund and David Backes also scored for the Blues who will be at Detroit Tuesday.

Shaun Hill tossed two touchdowns in less than a three-minute span late in the fourth quarter as the San Francisco 49ers pulled out the season sweep of the St. Louis Rams with a remarkable 17-16 come-from-behind victory.

Chad Pennington's second touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano snapped a tie with just over four minutes remaining and lifted the Miami Dolphins to a 38-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at a frigid Arrowhead Stadium.

Obituaries   [TOP]