Cassville School Board met August 20
August 26, 2020
Mary Hagens
The Cassville Board of Education held its annual Tax Rate Hearing and regular school board meeting on August 20, 2020. Highlights of the meeting included amending the agenda to accommodate an additional closed session, announcing the move into the new Early Childhood building, adding virtual options to the school year, and making a change to the Return to Learn plan.
The Tax Rate Hearing is part of a yearly process to approve the tax levies for the new fiscal year. Dr. Asbill reported the assessed valuation for Fiscal Year 2021 as $191,562,816 and recommended tax levies of $2.9906 for operating; $0.00 for teachers; $0.4747 for debt service (unchanged); and $0.00 for capital projects, a total of $3.4653.
Students will find changes in procedures and facilities when they return to classes. The Early Childhood wing is now open. Water fountains have been replaced with water bottle filling stations. Students will have assigned seats on the bus, in the classroom, and in the cafeteria. Lunch times will be staggered. Teachers have made preparations for both online and seated instruction. The staff is taking additional steps in sanitizing the buildings and equipment, and all employees will be required to use face coverings.
District transportation services, grants, and Summer School reports were provided to the Board. In other business, the minutes and the administrative, financial, and vendor reports were approved. Director of Learning Traci Mitchell reported that 69 students requested online instruction. Director of Learning Eric White said Emmy’s Lemonade Stand donated $150 to the Bright Futures Program, and the school was approved for a grant from the Department of Agriculture’s No Kid Hungry program. The Board accepted the resignations of Brandon Burns, high school Communication Arts instructor, and Debra Roberts, food service. At this point, the Board went into Closed Executive Session to review personnel matters.
After the closed session, the Board voted to employ Patrick Ritchie as a custodian and Jamie Lee and Jenalyn Ray in food service. They approved a new substitute list and adjustments to the rate of pay for substitutes--$100 per day for regular substitutes and $110 per day for retirees. Substitutes must be over the age of 21, and they must complete a 20-hour course and pass a test.
The Board approved transportation routes, amendments to the budget, the annual Secretary of the Board report, and the 2020-2021 tax levy rates. Additionally, they approved easements requested by the City of Cassville for sewer line improvements and voted to establish a scholarship fund with the Cassville Community Foundation--the Cassville Community of the Ozarks Fund--made possible by the J.D. Riddle Trust.
District trustees approved a change in the re-entry plan, requiring all employees to wear face coverings in response to the increased number of COVID-19 cases in Barry County. After receiving updates on board policy revisions and the Vision 150 Projects, the Board went back into closed session and adjourned the public meeting.
The Cassville Board of Education held its annual Tax Rate Hearing and regular school board meeting on August 20, 2020. Highlights of the meeting included amending the agenda to accommodate an additional closed session, announcing the move into the new Early Childhood building, adding virtual options to the school year, and making a change to the Return to Learn plan.
The Tax Rate Hearing is part of a yearly process to approve the tax levies for the new fiscal year. Dr. Asbill reported the assessed valuation for Fiscal Year 2021 as $191,562,816 and recommended tax levies of $2.9906 for operating; $0.00 for teachers; $0.4747 for debt service (unchanged); and $0.00 for capital projects, a total of $3.4653.
Students will find changes in procedures and facilities when they return to classes. The Early Childhood wing is now open. Water fountains have been replaced with water bottle filling stations. Students will have assigned seats on the bus, in the classroom, and in the cafeteria. Lunch times will be staggered. Teachers have made preparations for both online and seated instruction. The staff is taking additional steps in sanitizing the buildings and equipment, and all employees will be required to use face coverings.
District transportation services, grants, and Summer School reports were provided to the Board. In other business, the minutes and the administrative, financial, and vendor reports were approved. Director of Learning Traci Mitchell reported that 69 students requested online instruction. Director of Learning Eric White said Emmy’s Lemonade Stand donated $150 to the Bright Futures Program, and the school was approved for a grant from the Department of Agriculture’s No Kid Hungry program. The Board accepted the resignations of Brandon Burns, high school Communication Arts instructor, and Debra Roberts, food service. At this point, the Board went into Closed Executive Session to review personnel matters.
After the closed session, the Board voted to employ Patrick Ritchie as a custodian and Jamie Lee and Jenalyn Ray in food service. They approved a new substitute list and adjustments to the rate of pay for substitutes--$100 per day for regular substitutes and $110 per day for retirees. Substitutes must be over the age of 21, and they must complete a 20-hour course and pass a test.
The Board approved transportation routes, amendments to the budget, the annual Secretary of the Board report, and the 2020-2021 tax levy rates. Additionally, they approved easements requested by the City of Cassville for sewer line improvements and voted to establish a scholarship fund with the Cassville Community Foundation--the Cassville Community of the Ozarks Fund--made possible by the J.D. Riddle Trust.
District trustees approved a change in the re-entry plan, requiring all employees to wear face coverings in response to the increased number of COVID-19 cases in Barry County. After receiving updates on board policy revisions and the Vision 150 Projects, the Board went back into closed session and adjourned the public meeting.