Your World Today – Monday, August 24, 2015
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NEWS: Monday, August 24, 2015
The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their public tax rate hearing Thursday afternoon at 5:50 to present their tax levy for the 2015 tax year. The school has set their operating levy at $2.75 per $100 assessed valuation which is the minimum required by law, and decided to keep the debt service levy at 45 cents per $100 assessed valuation to pay the school bonds although the district could have raised it to 50 cents. There were no questions presented and the hearing was closed. The R-80 regular meeting then got underway and after the consent agenda was approved, Assistant Superintendent John Smith discussed professional development days. Smith reported the 17 new staff came for their “Tiger Training” days on Thursday and Friday, August 13th and 14th. Smith said he was very impressed with the new additions to the Salem curriculum and felt these people will be great additions to the staff. The entire staff reported for meetings on Monday and Tuesday and the first day of school was Wednesday. Smith thanked Mrs. Moser who helped orchestrate a “Welcome Back Teacher Dance” Monday. Superintendent John McColloch said the MSBA Annual Conference will be held October 1st through the 4th and board member Holly Erway indicated she planned on attending. McColloch indicated that enrollment was up this year so far with a total of 1,412 students attending on Thursday. William Lynch recorded 262 students, the Upper Elementary had 314 children, the Middle school counted 235 students and the High School netted 601 students. Principals for the all the buildings gave information about their schools. Principal Kriste Crocker said that with larger than normal enrollment in August that a fifth kindergarten class had to be added to accommodate the children. Principal Melanie Wisdom reported the Upper Elementary is adopting math for their focus area of the DESE Statewide Collaborative Work Initiative. Principal Scott Roberts wanted to thank Mrs. Terrie Welch for painting the middle school gym over the summer. New High School Principal Charles Anderson discussed with the board a new student council liaison to the Board of Education. He presented the program to the board for their comments and review, the board was very receptive to the idea. Anderson also discussed the A+ program with the board and even though the legislature approved an increase of $2 million dollars to the program, there could be a $500,000 to 1.5 million dollar shortfall in 2016. There are two plans in place: the first would be the same reduction as for the year 2015 and the second would be that students must actively enroll 12 hours each semester (six for the summer term) and that the first A+ tuition eligibility would be a summer or fall term, not spring. The board approved the Secretary of the Board report that showed the school deficit spent last year to the tune of $67,000. It shows that Funds 1 and 2 combined showed a 21.63% composition of funds for the school which is solid. The CapitalProject Fund (Fund 4) was at 2.8 million dollars last year, but after paying for the school improvements, the balance is now $674,000. McColloch said the district would have to continue to contribute to the fund and slowly raise it back up over the next few years. He did say there was a restricted fund of $4,261 that must be used on professional development. The board approved the report. The tax rate of $3.20 per $100 assessed valuation discussed in the tax rate hearing was presented to the board which they approved, and they also approved the board policy updates. The board went on to approve a request for a home schooled child to come to school one hour a day for math. That family would have to pay $1,059.66 tuition for the child to attend the math class. The board accepted the resignation of 8th grade Social Studies Teacher Dustin Craft who also helped coach football and basketball, and also Lori Mendenhall from food service. Board President Bernie Sirois then presented to John McColloch a plaque for his years of service to the district as the Assistant Superintendent, and he also gave a plaque to John Smith for his years of service as the Salem High School Principal. The board then went into closed session.
Work to replace four culvert pipes will close Missouri Route J in Phelps County from Missouri Route M to Missouri Route P from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM on Wednesday, August 26th. Electronic message boards are up on both ends of Route J to alert motorists of the closure. Traffic will be detoured around the area. MoDOT appreciates the patience of travelers during the work. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).
SPORTS [TOP]
Eli Floyd’s returned his first interception of the game 36-yards to give the Salem Football Tigers the lead in the 4th quarter they would not relinquish as they went on to a 20-7 win over Kirksville Saturday afternoon. Zak Eplin rushed the ball 14 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns as Kirksville held Salem off the board until the 4th quarter. Salem had five turnovers in the game, but also forced five in the game that included interceptions from Taylor Shipp and another from Eli Floyd. Salem will be at Reed Springs Friday night at 7:00.
The Salem Lady Softball Tigers will be at St. James to start out their year this afternoon starting at 4:30.
Michael Wacha pitched six solid innings and Stephen Piscotty homered twice and drove in five runs to help the St. Louis Cardinals avoid a three-game sweep by beating the San Diego Padres 10-3 Sunday. Jason Heyward had three hits as St. Louis improved its major league-leading record to 78-45 and averted getting swept for the first time this season after losing big Friday and Saturday night. Wacha (15-4) picked up his fourth straight win and added to his career-best win total by allowing just one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked two. The Cards will be in Arizona tonight with Lance Lynn on the mound to face the Diamondbacks starting at 8:15 on KSMO Radio.
Mike Moustakas' two-run double capped a wild four-run ninth inning that carried the AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals to an 8-6 comeback victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Eric Hosmer tied the game with a two-run single as the Royals collected six hits against Boston closer Junich Tazawa (2-6). Chris Young (9-6) retired one batter and Wade Davis got the final three outs for his 11th save. Royals starter Edinson Volquez gave up six runs in 6 2-3 innings. RHP Kris Medlen (1-0) makes his first start since returning from Tommy John surgery tonight when the Royals host the Baltimore Orioles.
OBITUARIES [TOP]
Funeral services for Shirley Dee Welch of Salem, age 79, will be held Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. at the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Visitation for Shirley Welch will be held Tuesday night from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be held in the Pilgrims Rest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery.
Memorial services for Bodil I. Stewart of Salem, age 78, will be held Thursday at 3:00 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses. Visitation will be from 2:00 until service time. All arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem.
Memorial services for James (Jim) Dodds of El Paso, formerly of Salem, age 61, will be held Saturday, August 29th at 2:00 at the St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in El Paso.
WEATHER [TOP]
Today..Mostly sunny. High of 78,
Tonight..Clear, low near 52.
Tuesday..Mostly sunny, high near 80.
Tuesday night..Mostly clear, low of 54.
Wednesday..Mostly sunny, high around 80.
Wednesday night..Clear, low of 55.
Thursday..Mostly sunny, high of 83.
