More projects such as renovated Chuck Barnes Field are being conducted and planned by the Webb City R-7 School Board. After the ribbon-cutting at the ballpark Thursday, April 8, board president Dave Collard deferred to board members who were baseball Cardinals, Stephen Crane, on the mound, and Jason Woodmansee behind the plate, for the ceremonial first pitch.
School Board and American Legion come to agreement on their swap of building and land
The building and land swap between the Webb City American Legion and Webb City R-7 School District is close to being finished.
At their regular meeting Tuesday, School Board members approved a contract with the American Legion, which spells out how the school district will pay $950,000 for the American Legion building and adjacent property at 1000 N. Main St.
Also in the deal is the district’s donation of property for the American Legion to construct a new building that will face Main Street. That property is north of the Webster Primary Center playground and south of the American Legion building.
The American Legion and VFW share a building since the VFW sold its building, which eventually became the district’s Heritage Preschool building.
Except for houses fronting Main Street, the district will own the entire block, including Chuck Barnes Field, the baseball field, which was built by the Legion and named for its former commander. It was previously purchased by the school district.
The Legion will stay in the building until its new one if finished.
The district has not specified a purpose for the 18,000-square-foot Legion hall.
Superintendent Tony Rossetti says the building is attractive to the district because it would cost the district $3.6 million or more to construct a new building that size.
The board also approved a $2,074,995 construction project at the high school.
One phase is the expansion of the swim center on the south for boys and girls locker rooms and restrooms.
The other phase is an addition to the east side of the high school to primarily be a shooting range for the archery team and JROTC. It will also include classrooms, which will free up the two JROTC classrooms in the main part of the building.
Also, administrators were “green lighted” to plan for construction of six new tennis courts, which would be located on school property between the middle school and kindergarten center. It would open for community use.
The board will meet in special session at 5:15 p.m. before the regular 6:30 p.m. meeting time on May 11. Rossetti proposed the session to “plan for resources (unexpected funding) that will be coming our way.”
Two other spending items were approved.
Sign Designs will build a new sign with digital message screen at the entrance to the high school. Adam Bell, director of technology, told the board that the current sign is old and doesn’t work anymore. The cost will be $51,000.
A new emergency communication system that will connect all buildings will be purchased for $65,000.
The board reorganized after re-elected members Lisa Robinson and Jason Woodmansee were sworn in.
Stephen Crane was elected board president, and Dan McGrew was elected vice-president.
Cheryl Chaney was re-elected board secretary, and Kevin Cooper, assistant superintendent of business operations, was re-elected treasurer.
In other action:
– Sarah Neldeberg, junior high counselor.
– Kerri Myers, Carterville Elementary kindergarten teacher.
– Gabrielle Martin, middle school special education teacher.
– Travis Bard, high school math teacher.
– Melissa Huff, middle school assistant principal. She’ll be an assistant superintendent at Monett.
– Hailey Derryberry, high school counselor.
– Amber Davidson, Webster Primary Center art teacher.
– Macyory Calderon, high school Spanish teacher.
– Caitlin Good, Carterville art.
– Dakota Newby, high school math.
– Jason Brown, high school social studies.
– Paulina Banta, high school Spanish.
– Jacob Burdick, Webster first grade.
– Rachel Monda-Snyder, middle school special education.
– Jamie Williams, junior high special education.
– Alexandra Mauch, junior high communication arts/social studies.
– Hanna Million – junior high special education.
– Corbin Roderique – Harry S Truman Elementary fourth grade.
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