Willow’s school year to begin Aug 21

Preparations for the first day of the 2023-2024 school year were among issues discussed at the monthly meeting for the Willow Springs school board on July 10.

The school year begins for students on Monday, August 21, according to superintendent Dr. Marty Spence. He updated the board on summer projects at the board meeting.

Spence said the school maintenance staff, custodians, and technology personnel are “rock stars” who have accomplished a lot over the summer. 

Big projects for the summer have included work on the elementary school roof, an overhaul of the middle school library, and renovations at the new Career Technical Education facility. That facility is located in the former Missouri Department of Transportation District 9 headquarters. 

Spence showed the board photos of the remodeled facility, which will house the district’s new carpentry and law enforcement programs, along with Bear Media Productions. Spence said he would like to walk through the facility with the board at the August meeting.

 

In other business:

• The board set a summer retreat for 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, for the purpose of board-superintendent relations.

• The board approved the resignation of Michelle Ferguson as school nurse, along with the employment of middle school teacher Laurie Earls, middle school teacher Sara Tice, choir teacher Clifton Burrell, and paraprofessional Scooter Osborn.

• The board set its annual tax rate hearing prior to the August board meeting at 5:45 on Monday, August 14, in the board conference room.

• The board gave final approval for the 2024 budget as presented and as discussed for the past several months. The board also wrote off negative balances in student activity accounts for a total of $22,073.89.

• The board discussed attendance at the Missouri School Board Association, scheduled for November 2 through 4 in Kansas City to feature Henry Winkler as guest speaker.