EDUCATION

Exterior rendering of the new 6,000-square-foot expansion to Cassville early childhood education building. Contributed photo

Bond issues, anniversaries, new super mark year in education

Cassville’s Vision 150 bringing new building to campus

Bond issues at two school districts, program anniversaries and a new superintendent at Purdy were the major stories in the education world over the past year. $4 million Vision 150 proposal passes

A $4 million no-tax-increase bond issue for the Cassville school district was approved in April 2019.

Proposition Vision 150 passed with 644 votes, 74.71 percent, in favor, and 218 votes, 25.29 percent, in opposition.

Richard Asbill, Cassville superintendent, said he is honored by the support of the patrons in regards to Proposition Vision 150.

“The teachers and board did great work asking and promoting the patrons on what we wanted,” he said.

The $4 million Proposition Vision 150, is a ballot measure aimed to provide Cassville School with funds to address capital projects that will offer new, as well as, expand educational opportunities.

The projects on the list include, Early Childhood Center, renovation of facilities, learning and innovation, ADA accessible playgrounds, security and roof and general maintenance.

Vision 150 is about the district celebrating 150 years of Cassville School, and the vision for the next 150 years.

The first project is to allow the district to build and expand early childhood programs including, Parents as Teachers (PAT), Pre-School and Kinder-Academy.

Asbill said these programs need additional space for students and activities that aim to give the youngest students the best start at learning and life readiness skills.

Asbill said the next effort will focus on renovation of the classrooms in the old middle school, also called the “vintage wing.”

He said it was built in the 1930s, there are only three outlets in each room — two originally — and the windows were replaced from the original single pane windows in the late 1970s.

The third and final project for Vision 150 is to continue its focus on student needs, including security upgrades, ADA playground accessibility and general maintenance.

Asbill said Vision 150 allows the district to economically accomplish multiple capital project goals at once and continue future early maintenance and capital project goals.

Asbill said the plan is to expand that throughout the intermediate playground, as well as, the primary playground which will get some ADA accessible equipment and walkways. Proposition K.I.D.S updates Southwest

the original $2.2 million bond issue Proposition K.I.D.S., Keep Improving District Schools, that passed in April 2019, and projects were completed prior to the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year.

Tosha Tilford, Southwest superintendent, said ran smoothly. At the lower elementary, ceilings were changed and electrical work was updated. The lighting in the building was complete, and painting was done. And, a new security door was being installed.

Tilford said in the upper elementary school, painting was done and windows were changed out.

Electrical and flooring was done in the upper elementary building. The bathrooms were gutted and had new flooring and fixtures put back in, and all of the plumbing was finished.

In the middle school, lights and painting were completed, and the new middle school office was reconfigured.

Tilford said when she saw the work on the new middle school office when it was in progress, she noticed how different it was going to look.

“I walked in and tears came to my eyes,” she sad. “It is just so amazing.”

Tilford said she is from Washburn and went to school at Southwest from K-12.

“I am so excited to be able to give these students the best of everything,” she said.

A full list of projects in the lower and upper elementary schools and middle school included: • Restroom renovations (student and faculty) • Asbestos removal • Middle school drainage • Energy efficient windows, doors, and lighting • Secure entrances and breezeway installation • Renovation of the multi-purpose room (removal of asbestos floor) • Lower elementary kitchen and cafeteria renovation and remodel • Fire alarm system installation • Other miscellaneous renovations and repairs as discovered as long as funds were available. Exeter after-school program renewed after 5 years

The before- and afterschool program at the Exeter school district is able to continue this school year, as a grant was approved for a five-year extension.

Ernest Raney, Exeter school district superintendent, said the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) was approved in October 2019, and he believes approval was due to great participation in the program. There are 172 students that participate in the program, which accounts for 55 percent of the entire K-12 student body.

“I think the parents are grateful for this opportunity to extend learning opportunities of their children,” he said. “We are fortunate to receive this grant for another five years.”

According to Raney, the before- and after-school program is a need in the Exeter community.

“We had families hoping we would get funded,” he said. “The program started again in October, so it was well after school had begun.”

The two-month waiting period was a strain for some families to work around.

“While waiting and hoping for this service to begin again, many families had to figure out alternative arrangements,” Raney said. “Everyone was happy and delighted to have this service.”

The before- and afterschool program is available to students from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

“We started this back in 2014 when we got the first five-year grant,” Raney said. “It is a highly competitive grant that is offered to all districts.”

Of the districts that competed for the grant, Raney said Exeter had great success due to the program’s performance during the first five years of funding.

“Because of that participation from our students in the first five years, I believe that helped us with the second round of funding,” he said. “The program is a great fit and something many families in the area need.”

The program is available in the morning from 7 a.m. to the time school begins, and in the afternoon from the time school ends to 5 p.m.

“Parents have to pick up and drop off students,” Raney said. “We don’t offer bus routes for the program. Even with that, it is still a program that many parents access and take advantage of.”

During the program hours, students have access to physical exercises, as well as STEM projects.

“They also coordinate throughout the school year to do family nights with academic related themes,” Raney said. “At those, students do different projects, as well as activities they can do with their families.”

There is also time available for tutoring if a student needs it.

“There is a variety of different projects and activities available to the students in the before- and after-school program,” Raney said.

cassville vintage wing

Recess at Cassville school is extra fun this year, as students got to see the continuous work being done on the Vision

150 expansion work by Branco Enterprises Inc. Jordan Privett/jprivett@cassville-democrat.com

Purdy graduates tossed their hats and blasted each other with Silly String to conclude

graduation ceremonies. Murray Bishoff/Cassville Democrat

Cassville’s interior renderings of the early childhood education building. Contributed photo

Ground was officially broken in December 2019 for the Vision 150 childhood education center, being built onto Eunice Thomas Elementary. Taking part in the golden shovel event were, from left: Dusty Reid, director of facilities and operations; Superintendent Richard Asbill; Board Member Jon Horner; Board President Becky Henningson; Board Member Jeremy Marple; preschool teacher Stephanie Marple; preschool teacher Pam Ralls; preschool teacher Angela Brown; Parents as Teachers Director Nola Nickols; Board Member Chad Yarnall; Board Member Wade Hermansen; Board Member Steven

Henbest; and Board Member David Haddock. Kyle Troutman/editor@cassville-democrat.com

Gates hired as new Purdy superintendent

ing Steven Chancellor.

Gates worked in the Purdy school district for six years, two as an instructional coach and four as the associate superintendent. She started her new position as superintendent on July 1, 2019.

“I am humbled and blessed to be given this opportunity by the Purdy Board of Education to step into this position for Purdy school,” she said when hired.

“As for Mindi, I would just add that I cannot be more happy for her and the District,” Chancellor said. “She has worked hard to put herself in a position to be a successful leader, and