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Friday, February 14, 2020
REPUBLICAN-TIIMES T RENTON
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 156th Year - No. 48
Trenton, MO 64683
TRENTON R-9 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Twelve Pages & 1 Insert CITY OF TRENTON Lease Approved
Teachers Make Salary Proposal
Summer School Handbook Approved The summer school handbooks were approved and a certified staff salary/insurance coverage proposal was heard by the Trenton R-9 Board of Education during a meeting on Tuesday night. On a vote of 5-0, with Brandon Gibler and Corey Leeper absent, the board approved the parent/student and staff summer school handbooks, which include several changes in the discipline policy to address concerns expressed by staff and administration following last year’s summer school session. TMS Assistant Principal Jackie Price, who serves as the summer school principal, had told the board at an earlier meeting that she wanted the policy changes in place as soon as possible to give parents plenty of notice about the changes. In the classroom, students who violate a rule will be given a reminder of the rule by the teacher on the first occurence, with the consequence of a continued violation being moved to a safe seat, losing recess time or spending lunch time in detention. Before returning to the group, the teacher will talk to the student to make sure he/she is able to identify the undesirable behavior and the rule violated. If the behavior does not change, the student will be
sent to the office. The first office referral will include a parent conference and the student being sent home the rest of the day. A second referral adds OSS for the following three days after a student has been sent home. A third referral results in the student being sent home for the rest of the session. In regard to causing physical harm to another (student/staff) by being involved in a physical altercation, a first offense will result in a parent conference, the student being sent home and three days of OSS. A second offense sends the student home for the rest of the session. Summer school will be held at Rissler School, beginning on Wednesday, May 27 and continuing through Friday, June 26. Although no action was taken, the board heard a presentation from the Salary and Welfare Committee regarding a certified personnel salary/benefits proposal for next year. The committee is asking for approval of a $700 increase to the base salary on the salary schedule as well as increasing the amount the district pays for employee health insurance to $650. The $700 would be added to each step on the salary schedule and would set the base salary for a teacher
with a bachelor’s at $33,000. All teachers would be affected by the proposal. Sixth Grade Social Studies Teacher Kelli Griffith, who spoke on behalf of the committee, said committee members were concerned that if 100 percent of the health insurance were not paid, employees would begin to opt out and insurance costs would continue to rise. Mrs. Griffith said the committee suggested $650 for insurance, but understands actual cost could be more when bids are sought and hopes the board would look at paying whatever the amount might be. The district currently pays a premium of $601 per month per employee. Board member David Whitaker indicated the district wants teachers not to have to pay for their health insurance, but added coverage may have to change based on costs. To make sure teachers would not have to pay for their insurance, Whitaker said coverage may need to change. Another member, Cliff Roeder, suggested looking at a higher deductible in an effort to lower the premium or keeping it the same. Mrs. Griffith said a survey could be done to get
Laredo R-7 The Laredo R-7 Board of Education approved the extension of the administrator’s contract during a meeting on Monday night. According to information provided by Administrator Misty Foster, the board agreed to extend the contract for Ms. Foster by one year, giving her a three-year contract through the 202223 school year. Her salary will be set during the budget process. Approval was given to the district calendar for 2020-21, with the first day of classes being Tuesday, Aug. 25 and the last day being Wednesday, May 12. Classes will start each day at 7:55 a.m. and be dismissed at 3:30 p.m.
Improvements to the city airport dominated discussion at Monday night’s Trenton City Council meeting, with members voting to support a plan that would include a public and private partnership. Council members reviewed cost estimates to construct a new hangar that would house eight airplanes at the airport, replacing two buildings currently used that are in dire need of major repairs and/or replacement. The project, which includes extensive dirt work that would elevate the hangar building four feet above its current level, has an estimated cost of just over $1,444,500. It was noted that the city will have just over $1 million available for the project through 2023, including a $559,000 block grant from the FAA/Missouri Department of Transportation the city received in FY20 as well as $450,000 in FAA credits for airport work by 2023. This would leave project funding around $385,500 short of what is needed, which is where private participation would be used. Pilots who use the airport, two of whom were at Monday night’s meeting, have agreed to look at financing construction of the hangars, which would be built on airport property the pilots would lease from the city. The pilots would actually own the hangar space, paying no rent to the city except for the yearly lease payment for use of the land. The cost for the hangar building has been estimated at $585,000, which includes a steel building, footings, flooring and sidewalls and electricity to the structure. The city would be responsible for all dirt work. It was noted by several council members that without the pilot participation, the project could not be done. Councilman Larry Crawford said the project comes down to whether or not the city wants to continue having an airport. Members agreed to support the plan on a vote of 7-0, with Cathie Smith absent. The plan will now go back to the pilot’s group, which will now determine whether or not they can finance their portion of the project. Approval was given to a lease agreement between the city and Aaron Landes d/b/a Landes Farms to farm land the city owns in north Trenton. The agreement, which is for one year with up to four oneyear extensions, is for $192.52 per acre for approximately 65 acres ($12,448.80). The lease includes a lost crop reim-
See Boards, Page 3
See Council, Page 3
See R-9, Page 3
Briefs... Preside ent’ss Day Holid day Several offices and businesses have announced their plans to close on Monday, Feb. 17 in observance of the President’s Day holiday. Closed will be the Trenton City Hall/Trenton Municipal Utilities, the Grundy County Courthouse, the Grundy County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce/License Bureau, the Grundy CountyJewett Norris Library, the Grundy County Health Department, the North Missouri Children’s Advocacy Center, the North 65 Center, Green Hills Regional Planning Commission (the Career Center will also be closed), Community Action Partnership of North Central Missouri, Grundy Electric Cooperative/Grundy and Livingston County Public Water District offices, Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri, Farmers State Bank, Citizens Bank and Trust, US Bank and BTC Bank. The Trenton Post Office will be closed and there will be no mail delivery or box mail. There will be no classes in the Trenton R-9 School District or at North Central Missouri College and offices will be closed. The Ketcham Community Center will be open. The Republican-Times newspaper office will be open regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Co ountty Commiission Me eeting The Grundy County Commission will hold its regular weekly meeting on Tuesday at the courthouse. According to the announced agenda, the day will begin with a 9 a.m. meeting with Grundy County Health Department Administrator Elizabeth Gibson to discuss an appointment to the board, followed by the regular weekly meeting with Ambulance Director Steve Tracy at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m. the commission will meet with Jackie Soptic of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission to discuss contracts and appointments to the RPC board.
AREA SCHOOL BOARDS
R-T Photo/Ronda Lickteig
Abigail Lovell, left, and Liza Curtis were among the many area residents who were taking “A Walk in Chocolate Heaven” on Tuesday evening at the annual fundraiser for the Green Hills Animal Shelter. The seventh annual event drew entries featuring 40 chocolate creations as well as a silent auction, a live dessert auction and a 50/50 giveaway. Addisyn Freeman’s rainbow cheesecake with chocolate ganache took the grand prize in the youth category, winning for both presentation and creativity, while McKenzy Dolan’s chocolate brownie s’mores won the category for taste. In the adult division, the Black and Gold Coffee Shop at Trenton High School was the overall winner with their cake pops, winning for presentation and creativity, while Taylor Richardson’s chocolate cupcakes won the “taste” category. The event raised over $4,300 to be used to meet needs at the shelter.
Pleasant View R-6, Laredo R-7, Princeton R-5, Tri-County R-7, Newtown-Harris
Administrator Contracts Are Offered Administrative contracts and school calendars topped agendas of meetings held this week by the Pleasant View R6, Laredo R-7, Princeton R-5, TriCounty R-7 and Newtown-Harris boards of education. Pleasant View R-6 The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education agreed to hire an additional teacher for next year during a meeting on Tuesday night. According to information provided by Superintendent Rebecca Steinhoff, the board approved employment of an additional elementary teacher for the 2020-21 school year, with the grade level/subject to be designated later. Also approved was the purchase of a supplemental reading program, “Pathway to Reading,” at a cost of $3,000.
The board voted to allow the seventh and eighth grade science fair winners to attend the regional science fair in St. Joseph and the first and second grades to take a field trip to Crowder State Park and Fast Lane Bowling Alley on May 1. There was discussion regarding health insurance costs next year, with the current provider, Ozark Schools Benefits Association, anticipating a 10 percent increase to the district. The board also discussed the possible construction of an addition to the school. No action was taken on either topic. Instructor Kylie Davis gave an update on the school year as well as the annual Pleasant View Extravaganza, which will be held on March 21. The event includes a dodgeball competition
featuring staff, students and parents along with an open tournament open to alumni, parents or friends of the school. The school’s junior high cheerleaders will perform along with the junior cheerleaders, featuring students in grades kindergarten through four. There will also be a live auction of donated items such as quilts, desserts and baskets made by each classroom. Mrs. Steinhoff reviewed several upcoming dates with the board, including an early-out on Feb. 14, no school on Feb. 17 and the end of the third quarter on March 6. She also discussed the fifth and sixth grade basketball schedule. A previously announced executive session was not held. The next regular board meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10.
National Weather Service
Temperatures will rise over the weekend, reaching 47 before a chance of snow moves in on Monday. Lows will be around 30. The high on Monday, Feb. 10 at Trenton was 42, Tuesday’s high ws 43. The high on Wednesday was 35 with a low of 15 and 2.5 inches of snow was recorded. The high on Wednesday at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 33 and the low was -1 with 4 inches of snow recorded.
What’s Inside... The NCMC men’s basketball team had its 18-game win streak snapped on Wednesday night. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for a recap of the matchup with Division Iranked Indian Hills Community College.
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RISING TEMPS!
Council Backs Airport Project
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What’s Inside
Sports.............................page 2 Local News ....................page 3 Opinion/Editorial .........page 4 Community ...................page 5 Agriculture....................page 6 Thank a Farmer ...........page 7 Comics ...........................page 8 Dear Annie ....................page 9 Crosswords....................page 9