R-I early childhood construction complete, board approves pay measures

The Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center is 99% complete with only some landscaping left.

According to school board documents, all parking lots and drives are complete for the center. Straw and seeding started April 7.

The board approved the payment of $34,617.05 for the latest work on the project. The district has $319,111.46 left in the $5,959,900 contract.

Originally, the completion date for the project was Nov. 1, but it is now 103 days past that completion date with 75 weather days submitted.

Dr. Scott Dill, superintendent, said the district is planning to have an open house and ribbon cutting event for the center. The items were discussed during a meeting of the board Thursday.

“We will make a big deal out of this because No. 1 it is a big deal — early childhood education is vital to what we do — and we are immensely proud of the fact that we were able to build this facility out of balances,” Dill said. “You bet we will show this thing off.”

One of the summer projects for the district is to get the early childhood classrooms moved into the new facility. The Mark Twain campus, where early childhood currently is held, will be used as the campus for alternative classes.

Salary adjustment

The board approved a step for the classified employees salary and an adjustment for bus driver pay.

For classified employees, this is not a change to the base salary, but to move the people in those positions up a step on the pre-set pay scale. Depending on where the employee is, this step can reflect anything from a 25-cent to $7.10 per hour increase.

Bus drivers are currently on a set rate, according to board documents, but the board approved a 20-cent per hour increase to that rate, from $12.89 to $13.09.

Dr. Amy Jackson, assistant superintendent of business, explained this will not impact the other benefits bus drivers receive. For instance, drivers receive a $500 bonus to sign up or return and receive an attendance-based bonus at the end of the school year.

“The total for all staff by giving them a step would be right around $910,000, which is less than I had initially anticipated,” Jackson said.

Reports

The board received reports from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title I/Federal Programs departments.

According to board documents, the goal of ADA is to “ensure that people with disabilities are afforded accessibility to all programs and services that the district offers.”

The department is responsible for working on a case-by-case basis to ensure compliance is being met.

According to the report, the district’s “compliance is working as well as can be expected with the age of the buildings.”

Going forward, the department will evaluate all campuses for compliance issues and work toward eliminating barriers during new construction and remodeling.

According to the board documents, the goals of Title I/Federal Program include to “develop and enhance quality educational/instructional programs to improve performance,” to attract and retain qualified staff, provide appropriate instructional resources and promote involvement in educational programs.

The department is responsible for following student improvement, providing classroom size reduction and provide resources — including or health and wellness — for students.

Going forward, the department will continue research, increase emphasis on parent involvement, provide professional development for staff and continue federal funding allocations.

New board member

Retired educator Tim Gaebler has been sworn in as the new board member. He will finish out Heather Tuggle’s term, which expires in 2021.

Gaebler is a third generation school board member.