W.P. School Board discusses budget, meal prices

Budget items were a major topic during the June meeting of the West Plains School Board of Education. The board also approved breakfast and lunch prices for the 2024-2025 school year and surplus property bids.

 

Superintendent Dr. Wes Davis presented the 71-page budget to the school board and highlighted a few items included. Items of interest in the budget included money for seven school resource officers, four new busses, and more money for the school kitchens. Each school kitchen received $5,000 for kitchen equipment and West Plains Elementary received a large commercial dishwasher at the cost of $80,000. Dr. Davis told the board that currently the only debt the school has is a lease for windows and roofs from 2019 that goes out to 2029. The budget also included the canopies for the middle school and South Fork Elementary.

 

A position was approved for the high school Family and Consumer Sciences position. This position is through Southern Missouri Technical Institute and also teaches high school students. This education helps prepare students for family life, work life, college, and careers. Job vacancies in the district were for a paraprofessional, computer/technology specialist, custodian - second shift, full-time and substitute bus driver, and an educational sign language interpreter.

 

There was good news about breakfast and lunch prices. These prices will not change from the current prices for the 2024-2025 school year. Student breakfasts are $2.20 and student reduced breakfasts are $0.30. Student lunches are $3.25 and student reduced lunch prices are $0.40.

 

The board did approve the sale of one surplus item during the meeting. A bid from Fairview R-11 was received for one of the two diesel fuel dispensers. The board accepted the $2,500 property bid.

 

Dr. Tiffany Young gave the teaching and learning report for the month. In professional development, three math teachers attended a regional math conference that focused on increasing engagement in math classes and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education math updates. Over 70 West Plains school educators have signed up to attend the Greater Ozarks Cooperating School Districts Innovation Summit set for August 1 and 2 in Branson, Missouri. The 2023 summit had 70 school districts and 6 universities participate and pulled in over 900 attendees. Dr. Young also announced she would be attending a meeting on June 26 for school administrators on artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in education. She was recently chosen as the West Plains School District AI director.

 

The next West Plains School Board of Education meeting is scheduled for July 16 at the high school library. Open sessions typically begin at 5:30 pm and are open to the public.