WP School Board refuses Carmichael bid

Only a single bid was received for the purchase of the Carmichael School building, and it was refused by the West Plains Schools Board of Education during their meeting on March 18. The school also discussed the effects of the March 14 tornado and approved the minimum seating they will require for students to participate in activities this fall. 

 

In a rare move, the board voted not to accept the one bid offered for the Carmichael School building. The building is currently the home of the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area and sits at 613 W. First Street. The board declared the building as surplus property in December. According to Superintendent Dr. Wes Davis, the bid wasn't strictly to purchase the property but, as a “kind of rental” with the possibility of lease/purchase in the future. He suggested the board to decline the bid so that he may place the building up for bid again, with more advertising. The board voted unanimously not to accept the bid. 

 

The school board voted unanimously for grades 5-12 to have a minimum of four seated classes in order to participate in activities. Dr. Davis told the board that monitoring this. “would be tough”. The change makes it so that all core classes, math, English, social studies, and science, must be seated. Other classes that would count toward this include all college courses, SMTI NEAT program courses, SMTI courses, work experience courses, and students fully enrolled in the Early Degree program. “I would plan on, after some legislation that goes through this year, that we will change this for the '26-'27 school year,” Dr. Davis told the board.

 

The March 14 tornadoes and storm damage knocked out power across much of southern Howell County and damaged the homes of many students. The school worked to assist the other schools that were affected as well as their own students. The South Fork school was out of power until Monday night and the students were sent to the middle school on Monday for meals and recess and held classes at the First Baptist Church – South Campus. SF Principal Seth Huddleston spoke on how good the day went, noting how many of the kids loved being on the bus so much. Dr. Davis told the how they helped Howell Valley and Glenwood schools after they lost power, storing nine loads of frozen food at their buildings. During the student spotlight, students from the Zizzer Pride Academy talked about their trip to help clean up the Glenwood campus of trash, debris, and tree limbs. “It was pretty heartwarming the way people turned out to help,” Dr. Davis told the board. He had received multiple calls from Missouri Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger and from their state supervisor. 

 

The next West Plains Schools Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday, April 14 at 8 pm.