Bob Foos
Summer will end for Webb City R-7 students on Monday, Aug. 19, according to the 2024-2025 calendar that was adopted Monday by the School Board.
Board members recognize it’s better to make the first week of school a short one – instead of starting it on a Monday. But the state won’t allow school to start more than 14 days before Labor Day. And waiting a couple of days would endanger the full week off for Thanksgiving and two weeks off for Christmas, which students and parents have gotten used to. The new calendar also includes a full week off for spring break. School will end May 23, 2025 – the Friday before Memorial Day.
Back to 2023-2024, the board approved summer school dates, starting May 30 and ending June 26.
Eden Pagan and Carson Judd attended the meeting to tell board members about their first-hand experiences with the MOSO CAPS program.
Applications are now being accepted to participate next year in MOSO CAPS (Missouri Southern Center for Advanced Professional Studies).
Twenty-two Webb City students have applied so far, which has been normal during the first three years of the program. However, Superintendent Tony Rossetti said he’d like to see all of the 35 spots Webb City has been alotted filled.
In other action, the board:
• Slightly changed its policy for accepting volunteers by having the district’s director of safety and security (as opposed to an outside firm) conduct the required background checks for all volunteer applicants.
• Approved the purchase of four buses from Central States Bus Sales, Fenton, Mo.
Three buses will be used: two 2022 83-passenger buses for a total of $99,485 and a 2020 77-passenger bus for $82,740.
The fourth bus will be the district’s first air-conditioned bus. It will be a 2025 69-passenger bus designated for used to transport special education students, some of whom are more affected by high temperatures. Its purchase, at a cost of $188,735, will be delayed until the next budget.
The fleet will increase by two since two buses will be disposed of.
• Agreed with the recommendation to hold the annual MAP Banquet, for students who did will on the MAP test, on April 1 in the Cardinal Dome.
• Received appreciation from the Webb City Community Teachers Association for the board’s leadership. Representing the WCCTA were Andrea Parsons-Briley and Adam Hogan.
• Congratulated two All-State band members presented by Butch Owens, band director. They are:
– Senior Ella Dodd, first chair alto saxophone in the Missouri All-State Jazz Band.
– Senior Addison Phillips, third chair horn, Missouri All-State Honorable Mention Band.
• Extended contracts for 21 administrators (years of service in the district):
– High school – Jeff Wilke, principal (5); Jeff Brown, assistant principal (4); Flave Darnell, assistant (6); Courtney Escoto, assistant (3).
– Junior High – Tammy Ponce, principal (22); Darrell Hicks, assistant (26), Scott Roderique, assistant (10).
– Middle School – Jonathan Wengert, principal (8); Keith Robertson, assistant (4), Nathan Dingman, assistant (also Webster) (12).
– Eugene Field Elementary – Dusty Allen, principal (31).
– Mark Twain Elementary – Jonathan Derryberry, principal (6).
– Carterville Elementary – Jarrett Cook, principal (10).
– Harry S Truman Elementary – Jody Bennett, principal (18).
– Bess Truman Primary Center – Alicia Zornes, principal (21).
– Webster Primary Center – Amanda Eggleston, principal (23).
– Madge T. James Kindergarten – Miranda Hendrick, principal (16).
– Heritage Preschool – Traci Coleman (16) and Jenny Parker (26) directors.
– Franklin Center – Jackson Boyer, director (17).
– Virtual Classroom – Angie Broaddus, director (23).
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