Lightfoot talks summer school

By Phil Cobb | April 1, 2024 |

FORUM FILE PHOTO
Maryville High School building (copy)

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Superintendent Logan Lightfoot reviewed summer school plans during last week’s Maryville R-II Board of Education meeting.

“It’s going to look a little different this year because of the time and time constraints we have,” he told The Forum on Monday.

The district is making plans to hold a somewhat shorter summer school this year from June 3 to June 21 at the Maryville Middle School because, should voters approve the no-tax-increase bond on April 2, Eugene Field Elementary will be undergoing construction.

Michelle Green and Maddie Dowis will lead the program this year.

Lightfoot said that this year’s summer school program will be available for students who live within the Maryville R-II School District who are entering first through sixth grade in the fall. Transportation will be provided.

In recent years, the district has utilized the Summer Journey summer school program and opened it up to students from any school district. This year it is only open to students within the district.

“It’s gonna be a little smaller,” Lightfoot said.

Because the summer school is scheduled to be at a different location and unknown to some youngsters, the district decided to only open it to students entering first through sixth grade, not kindergarten through eighth grade like in years past.

Lightfoot said there will be no $100 gift cards attached to this year’s attendance at the school, but there will be weekly incentives.

Lightfoot said the district would likely go back to Summer Journey next year, which would likely bring back the gift cards as well.

The enrollment deadline is April 12 to be guaranteed a spot. If the enrollment paperwork is submitted after April 12, but before May 1, the student will be placed on a waiting list.

Enrollment forms must be returned to the Eugene Field Elementary School or Maryville Middle School offices. Forms may be mailed to MMS at 525 South Hills Drive, Maryville, MO 64468.

A different form must be returned to enroll in the before- and after-school GO program. The before-school GO program will be from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., while the after-school program will be from 3:05 to 5:30 p.m. The fee for those programs is $60.

Other news

The board approved the 2024- 2025 school calendar. Beginning in October, the board worked through several scenarios seeking solutions regarding length of the instructional day, number of hours in the school year and the district’s logistical abilities to deliver an efficient and effective transportation system, according to a report by Assistant Superintendent Steve Klotz. The calendar consists of 177 certified staff working days and 165 student attendance days, with 1,080 instructional hours, still over the state-required 1,044 hours. His report notes this flexibility will assist the district in dealing with inclement weather events or other unknown variables. The first day of school will be Tuesday, Aug 20, and the last day will be Friday, May 9. The first semester will have 81 student attendance days, while the second semester will have 84.
March is School Board Recognition Month and the following board members were recognized for service to the district, students and community: Josh McKim, board president, eight years of service; Kelley Baldwin, board vice president, four years of service; JR Kurz three years of service; Traci Westfall three years of service; Mitch Coffelt, two years of service; Dale Baker one year; and Isaiah Korthanke, one year of service.
Board members approved the district’s health insurance renewal at a 3.4 percent increase for all three plans offered.

Personnel

Resignations

Phil Stone, girls volleyball assistant coach at the high school, effective at the end of the year
Gage Zeit-Thornton, English/language arts teacher at the high school, effective at the end of the year
Debrielle Merrill, dance assistant coach, effective at the end of the year
Kelly Obley, special education teacher and girls basketball head coach at the high school, effective at the end of the year
Tyler Nickerson, social studies teacher at the high school, effective March 20

Reassignments

Amy Chor, head custodian at Eugene Field Elementary, effective April 2
Matt Webb, athletic director, for the 2024-2025 school year

Recommendations for employment

Taylor McClurg, seventh grade reading at Maryville Middle School, 2024-2025 Extra duty assignments
Brady Atwell, eighth grade football head coach, 2024- 2025
Mario Castaneda, boys soccer assistant coach at the high school, 2024-2025
Brylee Kemper, softball head coach at the high school, 2024-2025
Jacob Vollstedt, strength coach at the high school, spring and winter 2024-2025

2024 summer school administrators