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Friday, September 11, 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 - 157th Year - No. 3
TRENTON R-9 BOARD OF EDUCATION
BOE MEETINGS Tri-County, R-6
District Monitoring Pandemic Effects
‘In-Person’ Class Efforts Continue Members of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education, along with Superintendent Mike Stegman, have emphasized the district will do “everything it can” to continue holding in-person classes while keeping the safety of students and staff in mind. During a meeting of the board on Tuesday night, Stegman updated members on how the district has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which thus far has resulted in both students and staff being quarantined since the start of school. This includes three classrooms at the elementary school. Stegman said most of the individuals in quarantine are those who have been deemed “close contacts” to someone who has tested positive for the virus but who may not have shown any symptoms. He added there have been some positive cases within the district. As of Tuesday, there were 117 students out of school due to COVID-related incidents. The number of other staff members was not mentioned, although Stegman did say the district was having to fill many positions with substitutes. Stegman said the state does not designate teachers as “essential” personnel and, as a result, those teachers who are deemed to be a close contact but who show no symptoms are unable to come
to work until after their quarantine time is up. Stegman, who stated he has always considered teachers “essential” said he has talked with two attorneys, including one from the MSBA, and has been told the district would be going against policy by allowing teachers to return without the designation. Any changes to the policy at this time, he said, could also result in issues involving the Missouri Ethics Commission, although Stegman did not elaborate. Should the district get to the point where not enough substitutes are available, Stegman said the district could visit with the health department to try and come up with an agreement that would allow quarantined personnel with no symptoms to be brought back. However, he said the health department would have to look at the situation in regard to whether or not it would be a public health risk. Stegman went on to say the district’s response to the COVID situation has met with mixed reactions, noting that for every call received supporting action taken, another call in opposition is received. He recognized both staff and students for making the best of a less than ideal situation, adding that mask wearing issues have basically been non-existent. He also credited the R-9 school nurses and health department for
TRENTON PARK BOARD
Bird Issue At Sesquicentennial Park
working together in addressing the situation. Stegman said the district is prepared for virtual instruction should the decision be made to halt in-person classes. The district has purchased 60 wi-fi “hot spots” for students who have little to no access, of which 23 are currently being used by students under quarantine. He said more would be purchased if needed and the district would also provide iPads to those students who do not have access to a computer. In other business, the board: • approved distribution of $75.06 to the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library, which represents funds from the Jewett Norris Library account for which the school district is custodian. • approved six students for early graduation following the first semester - Quincy Griffin, Isaiah Lovell, Brice Gibler, Kayden Spencer, Mackenzie Talley and Lanie Johnson. They will be allowed to participate in prom and graduation activities in the spring. • approved the 2020-21 bus routes, which include six rural routes, four town routes, one preschool route, one special education route and one vo-tech route. • approved a “full maintenance” service agreement with the Missouri School Boards Association for $3,749.
• was told the summer “seamless lunch program” is being continued during the first semester, providing lunch at no cost to all students. The USDA is providing the funding through Dec. 31 or when there are no additional funds available. • reviewed several policy update recommendations, which will be acted on at the October meeting. Among policy topics discussed were tuition, employees working from home, conflict of interest and Title IX. • heard a report regarding professional development activities participated in by staff prior to the start of school, including formative testing, online learning, the iReady Reading learning platform and the Positive Behavior model that is currently used at the elementary school. • was told the district had received a grant through the Missouri Department of Conservation for nearly $18,000. The grant will be used to purchase tables and benches to be placed in the new high school courtyard area, which is part of the new addition construction at the high school/middle school. • was told the district has purchased over $47,000 in items with CARES Act funding received through the county. See R-9, Page 5
Briefs...
Grimes Parking Lot Getting Makeover
POW/MIA Recognitiion Day
Changes are coming to the parking lot on the south side of Burleigh Grimes Field following action taken at a Wednesday meeting of the Trenton Park Board. Board members voted to remove the parking lot on the south side of the field, which has seven parking spots and two driveway entrances. Instead, the area will become a part of the walking trail, with green space around it. The west driveway will be narrowed but will still allow for vehicles to access the concession stand/press box and dugout areas. The cost for the project (materials only) is estimated at $4,410 for 63 tons of asphalt and $2,117.86 for tubes and bands for the area. The vote was 6-1 with Gary Schuett, John Hamilton, Derek Miller, Lynda Lynch, Marvin Humphreys and Andy Cox voting in favor and Curtis Crawford voting no. Board President Duane Helmandollar doesn’t vote unless needed to break a tie and Beth Mack was absent. Crawford seemed to have favored another option that would have left the west driveway its current width. That option would have re-
quired 77 tons of asphalt at a cost of $5,390. A third option, which had been the original plan when the board first discussed the project, would have involved replacing the parking lot and putting it back as it currently is. That option would have required 290 tons of asphalt with a price tag of $20,300. Park Superintendent David Shockley and Schuett discussed a problem with a large number of birds in the area of the Sesquicentennial Park near Five Points in the downtown area. The bird droppings have been a problem all summer and they will be experimenting with ways to alleviate the problem while not causing harm to the birds. Shockley said the inside of the press box at Burleigh Grimes Field has been painted and noted Trenton R-9 and North Central Missouri College softball and baseball teams have begun games. He said he has been helping set up for live-streaming of ballgames and said MidStates Services has installed wifi at both Grimes
GRUNDY COUNTY COMMISSION
Vehicle Bids Accepted
See Park, Page 5
The Joseph L. Norton VFW Post No. 919 of Trenton will honor Grundy County military personnel who were POWs or MIAs during a ceremony on Friday, Sept. 18. The event will take place at 10 a.m. in front of the Baker School, just east of the Grundy County Museum. CDC guidelines will be observed and those attending are asked to wear a mask as well as bring a lawn chair for social distancing.
CO OVIID -19 Case es Incre ease There are now 111 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Grundy County since testing started. The Grundy County Health Department reported on Thursday morning that 95 of the 111 positive cases have been classified as confirmed while another 16 are listed as probable. There are 39 active cases (which includes the 16 individuals in the probable category). There is also one death. Three residents at Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments tested positive for the COVID-19 virus during testing done on Wednesday. Administrator Jerry Doerhoff said that while the three did not have symptoms, they were isolated for 14 days as required. Family members were also notified. Staff members were tested on Tuesday and Doerhoff said all results were negative. At this time, the facility plans to continue testing on a weekly basis with Doerhoff noting testing frequency is based on the number of cases at the facility as well as county numbers.
911 Call-Handling Software Bid Approved A bid was accepted for new 911 call-handling software during a Tuesday morning meeting of the Grundy County Commission. Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray said four bids were submitted for the Next Generation 911 call-handling hardware and software with funds coming from a 60/40 grant through the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Central Square, a Sioux Falls, SD company, submitted a bid of $131,115.92, which was accepted and while not the lowest bid, it was deemed the “best” bid. The lowest bid was submitted by West/Intrado at $122,054.39. The highest bid was $152,655.69, submitted by Century Link/Motorola. The sales and service for the hardware and software will be based in Lee’s Summit. Bids were also accepted for three county vehicles that were sold. Mary Hamilton was awarded the bid
for a 2002 Chevy Impala with a bid of $500 while Frontier Auto and Truck Parts was awarded the bid for a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck at $888.88 and a 2003 Ford dump truck with a bid of $1,555.55. A preconstruction meeting was held concerning the BRO bridge replacement project on SW 80th Avenue. The project includes removal of the existing bridge structure and construction of a new 107-foot single span precast concrete I-girder bridge. The completion date, according to the contract, is May 28, 2021 or 120 days after the road is closed. Those attending the meeting were Shannon Howe of Howe Company along with Steve Wolfe and Tom Decker of Decker Construction and Taylor Frandson of the Missouri Department of Transportation, who joined the meeting by teleconference. Grundy County Ambulance Director Steve Tracy
National Weather Service
Rain possible on Friday night and Saturday before the sun returns on Sunday and Monday. Highs in the mid to upper 70s and lows in the mid to upper 50s. The high at Trenton on Tuesday, Sept. 8 was 63 with .30 of an inch of rain. Wednesday’s high was 55, with a low of 49 and .21 of an inch of rain. The high on Wednesday at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 53, the low was 48 with 1.29 inches of rain.
reported more patients with COVID-19 are being transported, making it necessary to take advanced precautions for patient care providers. It was also noted information has been submitted to the office of Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick concerning unclaimed property. The county performs an unclaimed property check through the treasurer’s office each year and currently, the unclaimed property website shows $155.75 that is due to be returned to the county. The agenda for the Tuesday, Sept. 15 meeting includes a road and bridge report at 8:30 a.m., followed by a meeting with a social media archiving firm at 9 a.m. and an emergency management report at 9:30. An ambulance service report is scheduled at 10 a.m. and the commission will consider for approval any CRF allocation requests at 11 a.m.
What’s Inside... The THS football team opens GRC play tonight, traveling to Princeton for a matchup with the Tigers. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for a preview of the contest being played at Eddie Allen Field.
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CD Bid, Salary Hikes Get OK Salaries and reports topped agendas for meetings this week of the Tri-County R-7 and Pleasant View R-6 boards of education. Tri-County R-7 During Wednesday night’s meeting, the Tri-County R-7 board approved a bid from Home Exchange Bank for a certificate of deposit investment of $500,000. Superintendent David Probasco said the bid for a 12-month investment was .75 percent. The board discussed and reviewed its plans and procedures regarding its COVID-19 response as well as approved an intergovernmental agreement with Daviess County. There was discussion regarding maintenance equipment, fundraising requests and the budget with no action taken. There was also no action taken following the second reading of MSBA policy updates. An executive session was held for personnel with no announcement made. The next meeting of the board is scheduled at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7 in the old gym at the school in Jamesport. Pleasant View R-6 The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education approved pay raises for substitutes and heard reports during a meeting on Tuesday night. According to information provided by Superintendent Rebecca Steinhoff, the board voted to increase the pay for substitute teachers by $15 to $90 per day. An update was given on the new addition, which houses classrooms for students in grades six through eight, and a second reading of MSBA policy updates was held. Mrs. Steinhoff reported that there are 114 students enrolled in grades kindergarten through eight, which is up seven from a year ago. There are 20 in preschool (no increase) and 35 in the KEYS preschool, which is an increase of three students. She reported that approximately $14,000 in CARES Act funding received from the county is being used for the addition of two days for nursing staff and nursing supplies as well as other needs related to COVID-19. Guidelines were discussed for the seventh and eighth grade basketball season. It was proposed each family be allowed to bring six guests with seating to be set up in pods of six for social distancing. Among upcoming events are the book fair on Sept. 2330; early outs on Sept. 25 and Oct. 15; midterms issued on Sept. 30; basketball games on Oct. 8, Oct. 9 and Oct. 19; the See Boards, Page 5
What’s Inside
Sports.............................page 2 Agriculture....................page 3 Op/Ed ............................page 4 Community ...................page 5 Calendars ......................page 5 Comics ...........................page 6 Dear Annie ....................page 7 Crosswords....................page 7 NASCAR .......................page 9