In an effort to keep you informed of the decisions being made and considered in the McDonald County School District, we will be featuring a few of the highlights from each McDonald County Board of Education meeting.
The following points of discussion are from the board meeting on 9/9/2021:
Freeman School Telemedicine -
The board watched a presentation from Freeman Health System on the School Telemedicine program. Currently, there is one telemedicine unit at Anderson Elementary with another one planned to be installed at the High School in the next few weeks. Freeman officials say all schools in the district should be equipped with telemedicine units by the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
7th and 8th Grade Intramural Basketball Program -
Board members heard an update on the possibility of implementing a 7th and 8th Grade Intramural Basketball Program across the District. After discussing challenges with gym space, game schedules, and player availability, the board decided to hold off on going forward with the idea. However, the board was told if an after-school program is able to be created through the upcoming ESSER III funding, the basketball project could be a part of that program. That option may be explored at a later date.
COVID Update -
Board members received the latest numbers and levels of COVID across the District as well as discussed protocols for contacting families affected by the virus. The board approved a minor change in the District’s COVID plan to include some necessary verbiage from the Missouri Department of Education. The change does not affect any actions the District has previously lined out in its plan.
Bids for turf on softball and baseball fields -
The board gave the approval to begin seeking bids to install turf on the High School’s baseball and softball fields. This is part of the ongoing effort to improve facilities across the District. The board will consider the bids before moving forward on any changes to the fields.
Capital Improvement Plan -
The board agreed to schedule work sessions on a capital improvement plan. Discussions will range from large projects like tornado shelters for most grade schools and improvements to school farm buildings to smaller items like paving teacher and staff parking lots at several schools and installing an awning at the Alternative school. Look for those work sessions on the plan to happen sometime in early October.
You can view a recorded video of the meeting by clicking the following link:
September School Board Meeting