WS School Board hears about special ed grant, discusses on-campus advertising

The special education department is anticipated to receive a $400,000 grant, heard the Willow Springs R-IV School Board last Wednesday night. Special Education Director Marlenia Barker described the anticipated funding. The federally funded Stronger Connections Community Grant, once officially approved, will release $400,000 to the department over three years. Initial planning for the funding is centered on personnel, such as a behavioral analyst, Barker said. The purpose of these funds is to support students’ mental health needs.

 

The board discussed advertising on campus and on district-owned sports facilities. Superintendent Dr. Marty Spence introduced the topic by explaining there is a current policy in place that permits advertising and sponsorships.  

“You can advertise on district facilities, but it’s up to the board to say what’s okay and what’s not,” Dr. Spence said. 

 

The plus side is the additional funding coming into the district, he said. The downside is, “You’ve got somebody’s logo in your school…Clearly there are some businesses we wouldn’t want to have sponsorship.”

 

The board raised concerns about making sure the business or services advertised would be school-appropriate. Board member Brent Colley suggested he would like to see sponsorships tied to specific needs, for new gym mats, for instance. There was a concern that too many advertisements would look crowded or create unnecessary competition among businesses in town. 

 

On the other hand, board member Jeff Lovan acknowledged that inviting businesses to support school programs, which would most likely be athletic in nature, would have a positive impact on community outreach. He mentioned local businesses might prefer to spend their advertising dollars directly supporting school programs.

 

Dr. Spence and Athletic Director Robert James are expected to present specific suggestions at a later date. 

 

As part of the consent agenda, the board approved resignations from Hope Berry, elementary teacher, Tanner Barnes, middle school teacher, Glen Cox, middle school teacher, Jenny Hayward, Communication Director, Emmalee Laymen, paraprofessional, and Cassy Jones, PAT. These resignations are effective at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. 

 

Also under the consent agenda, the board approved the following hires: Lauren Weyrauch high school teacher, Courtney Day, high school teacher, Brandon Day, high School teacher, Jeff Fisher, middle school teacher, Karen Binkley, middle school teacher, Timothy Rolen, elementary teacher, and Emilee Daniels elementary teacher for the 2024-2025 school year.  

 

In other actions:

-Incumbent school board members Mac Gum and Scott Foster were sworn back onto the board. Gum was re-elected school board president. Matt Hobson was re-elected Vice President. 

 

-The board voted to keep the out-of-district tuition at $7,000.

 

-The board passed a slate of policy revisions in accordance with MSBA and the policy committee recommendations.

 

In other discussion:

-Incumbent Debbie Bryan was re-elected to a one-year term. She was absent and could not be sworn in at the meeting. The board tabled nomination of the MSBA delegate until the next meeting, due to her absence. 

 

-Building administrators gave updates, mostly centering on end-of-year activities. 

 

-AD Robert James gave an annual update, first thanking the “behind the scenes” people who support the athletics events and programs, before reporting that from August to May, 402 athletic events have been scheduled for 25 teams across the district. He listed some highlights from spring sports, including an 11-3 softball record and 35 PRs from the track and field team. 

 

-Senior project presentation night is April 25.