Willow school, YMCA to partner for new facility

The Willow Springs school board agreed on August 8 to partner with the Ozarks Family YMCA in its pursuit of a new facility.

The YMCA approached the board in March regarding use of property owned by the school located behind the former Missouri Department of Transportation District 9 headquarters buildings, near the corner of Tenth Street and Forest Lane. Discussions have continued since that time, with the YMCA hoping to construct and operate the facility on school property. 

At the board meeting August 8, member Adam Webb reported on a meeting held between representatives of the school board, YMCA, and city of Willow Springs. Webb said discussions centered on a 1.24-acre piece of property and expressed the desire was for the school to retain a residential lot that fronts 10th Street. He said in that small group meeting, a five-year agreement was discussed with the YMCA to allow them time to pursue grant funding, with an annual review of progress.

“They need something from us saying we will partner with them,” said Matt Hobson, who also represented the school board at the smaller meeting.

Chad Watson, executive director of the YMCA, agreed with Hobson. “We need an agreement that the land is there for us to use,” said Watson. That agreement, he said, is critical in being able to apply for grant funding. “We can’t grow the Y where we’re at,” he said.

Watson explained that it will be a lengthy process and that he’s hoping to form a local community committee to help steer it.

“I feel like this is the right way for the school and community to go,” said board member Scott Foster. “I’m in favor of it.”

The board ultimately agreed unanimously to the partnership, with a more formal agreement to be approved at a later date. 

 

In other business:

• The board set its annual tax levy at the state minimum of $2.75 per $100 assessed valuation. A tax levy hearing was held before the regular board meeting, with no district patrons on hand to discuss the issue. Superintendent Dr. Marty Spence gave a brief history of the district’s tax levy, which has been at $2.75 since the late 1990s.

• The board heard administrative reports from building principals, with all focused on the beginning of school on Monday, August 22. Spence pointed out that all administration this year is new, with Chris Rodgers as elementary principal, Jon Johnson as middle school principal, and Nick Schmitt as high school principal. Johnson updated the board on the heating and air project at the middle school. “They do have the system on and it is functioning at all three levels,” he said. Both Johnson and Spence reported the project is expected to be complete by the beginning of school.

• The board approved modifications to the “Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service Plan” for the upcoming school year. A plan in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the plan had adopted federal requirements for all students on school buses to wear a face covering. That requirement has been lifted at the federal level and was removed from the school’s plan, along with COVID testing requirements that had been in place to comply with rules from the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). Spence said more revisions likely are warranted but can be approved once the school year is under way.