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Friday, June 12, 2020

REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON

Trenton, MO 64683

75¢

per copy Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.

Ten Pages & 1 Insert

Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 156th Year - No. 81

TRENTON R-9 SCHOOL DISTRICT

GRUNDY COUNTY CARES Act Funding

Members Given Oath Of Office

Board Discusses Use Of iPads fThe Trenton R-9 Board of Education swore in new members and reorganized for the new year during a meeting on Tuesday night. Following the certification of the June 2 election results, Andy Burress and Corey Leeper were given the oath of office to serve a three-year term on the board. Brandon Gibler, who was also elected, was absent and will be sworn in at the next board meeting. Dorothy Taul was elected as board president, with Gibler elected as vice president. Cliff Roeder will again serve as board treasurer and Susan Leeper will be the secretary. MSBA delegates will be Ms. Taul and Gibler. The board discussed several issues regarding the start of the 2020-21 school year, including budget and instructional items (see sidebar). The board reviewed evaluations for the technology, A-Plus and activities programs. THS Assistant Principal John Cowling noted that the state waived the math EOC requirement and reduced tutoring hours required by students for this year due to the COVID19 pandemic. He also noted that attendance requirements were left up to school districts, with Trenton R-9 not counting days missed due to the pandemic against the student. Director of Supportive Services Kris Ockenfels said that the district would be using Mid-States as its sole Internet

provider this school year, but would continue with its MOREnet subscription for other available resources. Board member Dr. David Whitaker addressed the use of iPads for online learning during the school shutdown, stating he felt they had not been used as effectively as they could have been and asked if the district had considered using Chromebooks. It was noted that part of the issue involved not being able to update the iPads, which is why a purchase of new equipment was approved by the board earlier this year. Staff will also be receiving additional professional development regarding use of the devices in the classroom. THS Principal Kasey Bailey and TMS Principal Daniel Gott both stated they felt staff did a good job in making the transition to online learning, although Bailey noted the transition was not easy. Ms. Taul stated Trenton R-9 was not the only district in the same situation regarding online learning, with Bailey stating he had been contacted by area districts asking for information about how R-9 handled its online learning efforts. Bailey said R-9 administrators have devised an Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) plan that has been sent to DESE for approval. The plan outlines how the district will handle future online learning activities when needed. Activities Director Wes Croy said

TRENTON CITY COUNCIL

Absentee Property Owners Discussed

Fund din ng Piictture Un ncle ear While the Trenton R-9 School District financial picture is stable at the current time, Superintendent Mike Stegman told the board of education on Tuesday night funding cuts being made at the state level make it unclear where the local district may stand in the future. Stegman said work is under way on the 2020-21 budget, which he described as very staff-oriented with “not much fat.” The district has a healthy fund balance but because of recent actions taken at the state level regarding funding as well as more cuts anticipated in the future, Stegman said “it is hard to make decisions today when you don’t know what is going to happen in the next few months.” Board member Cliff Roeder said the district needs to be proactive and shouldn’t be afraid to make cuts if necessary. Stegman said he feels the district is in a good position at this time. Board member Dr. David Whitaker stated he wanted to make sure the district was as efficient as possible with its funds, noting that the education of students is the number one priority. He said that while the district has good reserves, “we need to be prepared as things can turn in a hurry.” The board will consider the budget at a special meeting on Friday, June 26. Stegman said he is meeting with administrators and health officials regarding plans for the start of school on Aug. 25. He noted that one of the staff in-service days prior to the start of school will involve training on assessing student readiness in an effort to determine where students are academically after being away from the regular classroom since mid-March.

participation in MSHSSA-sanctioned athletic/activities is steady, with 372 high school and 206 middle school students participating during the 2019-20 school year. He noted that the total was consistent with the five-year averages of 375 and 212 students, respectively. The report included baseball, boys and girls basketball, football, softball, boys and girls golf, boys and girls tennis,

until the June 22 meeting. Mayor Linda Crooks thanked outgoing council members Lou Fisher, Brad Chumbley and Larry Crawford for their service on the council. Chumbley, who has been serving as the council liaison to the Trenton Park Board, discussed the board’s decision last week to not open the aquatic center, stating there were several factors that went into what he referred to as a “tough decision,” including a lack of certified staff. He emphasized the pool not being ready or that the park board would lose money were not factors. Chumbley said that he

AREA SCHOOL BOARDS

boys and girls track, volleyball, boys and girls wrestling, cheerleading, scholar bowl and music at the high school and boys and girls basketball, football, softball, boys and girls track, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading and scholar bowl at the middle school. Approval was given to handbook See R-9, Page 3

Briefs...

Oath Of Office Given To New Councilmen New members were sworn in and discussions on various topics were held during a meeting of the Trenton City Council on Monday night. Following the certification of the June 2 municipal election results, the oath of office was given to Kevin Klinginsmith, Marvin Humphreys, David Mlika and Duane Urich, who will represent the first, second, third and fourth wards, respectively. They will serve for a two-year term. Third ward councilperson Cathie Smith was elected to serve as president pro-tem of the council. Committee appointments were postponed

More COVID-19 Case es

realizes that not everyone is in agreement, but asked members of the public to respect the board’s decision. The Administrative Committee will be asked to review efforts by the city to recover costs when mowing properties belonging to “absentee” owners. Code Enforcement Officer Wes Barone said the city is currently mowing five properties in which the owners either cannot be contacted or are unable to be identified, adding he expects that list to grow. The city currently pays an individual to do the mowing, which See Council, Page 3

The Grundy County Health Department has confirmed four more positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total for the county to eight. Three of the cases were announced on Wednesday while the latest was announced on Thursday. Health department officials report the infected individuals are isolating in their homes and that close contacts have been notified in the first three cases while notification was still being made to close contacts in the latest case. Daviess and Sullivan counties have also reported additional cases this week, bringing their numbers to 7 and 71, respectively. Other area county numbers include Linn, 11; Harrison, 9; Carroll, 9; Caldwell, 7; Livingston, 4; Mercer, 4; and Putnam, 1.

R--6 Bo oard To o Meet The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education will meet in regular session at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, June 12 in the school gym (immediately after eighth grade graduation). Items on the announced agenda include discussion of school improvements, CD rates, the 2020-21 budget, setting the date for the 2020-21 tax hearing, discussion of medication administration, the conflict of interest ordinance and the superintendent’s report. An executive session will also be held for student matters.

Princeton R-5 Graduation, Prom Addressed

Laredo Board Approves Meal Price Hike Meal prices, graduation and prom were among items addressed during meetings this week of the Laredo R-7 and Princeton R-5 boards of education. Laredo R-7 The Laredo R-7 Board of Education took action on several items during a meeting on Tuesday night. According to information provided by Administrator Misty Foster, the board voted to increase the student cost of school breakfast/lunch for the 2020-21 school year to $2.60 per meal. The board agreed to offer voluntary student insurance for the year as well as approved the tentative transportation report. It was voted to continue the Career Ladder program for teachers next year at the same rate and bids were accepted from MFA for propane, Prairie Farms for milk, Landes Oil for fuel and WCA for trash removal. A decrease in spending for professional development was also approved.

The board reviewed the 2019-20 budget and discussed a preliminary budget for the 2020-21 school year, but took no action. Also discussed were maintenance updates and the Murphy Scholarship. The board set a special meeting for 6 p.m. on Monday, June 29 to close out the school year. An executive session for personnel, legal matters, real estate and records was held with no announcement made. The next regular meeting of the board will be held on Monday, July 13. Princeton R-5 The Princeton R-5 Board of Education made tentative plans for graduation and prom during its meeting on Monday night. According to information provided by Superintendent Jerry Girdner, graduation ceremonies at this time are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 21 in

National Weather Service

It’s looking like it will be a beautiful weekend with sunny skies and highs in the mid to upper 80s. Lows will be in the mid to upper 60s. The high at Trenton on Monday, June 8 was 92, Tuesday’s high was 87 and .55 of an inch of rain fell. The high on Wednesday was 75, with .26 of an inch of rain. The overnight low was 58. Wednesday’s high at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 73, the low was 56 with .46 of an inch of rain.

the high school gym. Girdner said the district will be coordinating with the Mercer County Health Department to ensure that the safest environment possible will be provided for those attending the ceremony. Prom is scheduled to be held on Friday, June 19 at the Smithfield Education Center. Pictures will be taken beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by Grand March at 7 p.m. and the dance at 8 p.m. Girdner said that in the event current or stricter guidelines are required, the district will cancel prom. More information is to be released to students and parents as it becomes available. The district will be preparing an alternative methods of instruction (AMI) plan, which will be implemented starting with the 2020-21 school year. Girdner said the plan would not require the district to See Schools, Page 10

What’s Inside... Trenton High School senior athletes who would have participated in the spring sports of track, tennis, golf and baseball are featured in a salute appearing on page 2 of today’s Republican-Times.

Trenton Republican-Times “News Every Day...When YOU Want It”

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Task Force Members Named

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The Grundy County Commission has appointed the final two members of its CARES Act Task Force, with those members announced during Tuesday morning’s commission meeting. According to information provided by Presiding Commissioner Phil Ray, the committee, which will assist the commission in determining how $1.1 million in CARES Act funding will be distributed to eligible entities, will include Dr. Lenny Klaver, Jeff Crowley, Glen Briggs, Elizabeth Gibson and Chris Hoffman. Dr. Klaver, Briggs and Ms. Gibson had previously been announced as members. The county received $1,155,602 in funding through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. The funds can be used to cover costs that are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19, were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020 and were incurred during the period of March 1 through Dec. 30, 2020. Commissioners also met with Randy Railsback, executive director of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission. Railsback spoke with commissioners concerning the NRCS Streambank Stabilization Program, rural broadband and the CARES Act funding. Ray announced the county is a recipient of a FY2019 Next Generation 911 Grant through the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Department of Homeland Security. The project total is $144,366, with the grant covering 60 percent of that cost. Ambulance Director Steve Tracy told the commission ambulance operations are continuing with precautions in relation to COVID-19. He described several options available in regard to cardiac monitors, ventilators and other pieces of equipment used by EMS and future needs relating to COVID-19. Ms. Gibson, administrator of the Grundy County Health Department, gave an update on county COVID-19 cases, which are at four, as well as surrounding counties in Region H. Her report also stated the health department is currently working with schools to plan for the upcoming school year. Briggs, who is the Grundy County Emergency Management Director, told commissioners site inspections are ongoing to secure reimbursement from FEMA for those projects. It was noted the county road and bridge crew is working on a culvert in Taylor See County, Page 3

What’s Inside

Sports.............................page 2 Local News ....................page 3 Opinion/Editorial .........page 4 NASCAR .......................page 4 Community ...................page 5 Agriculture....................page 6 Comics ...........................page 7 Dear Annie ....................page 8 Crosswords....................page 8


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