Gym construction continues at MHS
TOM PINNEY/DAILY FORUM
HiSET complete Treston Giggar, left, shakes hands with Maryville R-II School Board President Jason Haer at Wednesday night’s board meeting. Giggar recently completed the requirements for his high-school equivalency certification, known as the HiSET, and plans to attend the Missouri Welding Academy in Nevada (Missouri) in December.
The Maryville R-II School District celebrated milestones reached by two of its own this week — a staff member who has ended her career and a student who is just getting started.
During the R-II Board of Education’s regular session Wednesday, board President Jason Haer recognized Treston Giggar, who recently completed classes through the local Adult Education and Literacy Center leading to a high-school equivalency certificate, known in Missouri as the HiSET.
Giggar now plans to attend the Missouri Welding Academy in Nevada (Missouri) for four and a half months of vocational training. His classes start in December.
Meanwhile, the district said good-bye to former Maryville High School office manager Sandy Alexander, who has retired after 12 years. Haer thanked Alexander for her dedicated service.
Also during the meeting, Superintendent Becky Albrecht gave an update on various construction efforts.
Albrecht said the combination gymnasium/storm shelter at the high school is progressing. Assistant Superintendent Steve Klotz added that the contractor is trying to get asphalt poured outside the structure before the onset of winter.
Klotz said the work could briefly interfere with welding and automotive classes at the adjoining Northwest Technical School.
On other fronts, Albrecht mentioned this evening’s planned ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Lee and Nina Schneider Center for the Performing Arts, adding that the process of working through the district’s “punch-list” for the new auditorium is nearing completion, with one hitch.
An acoustic shell approved for purchase by the board in September is not scheduled to arrive until mid-December, which means it won’t be available in time for winter music concerts by student ensembles.
During the staff reports section of the meeting, Maryville High School Principal Thom Alvarez said that next Thursday is a college-readiness examination day at MHS. Juniors will take the ACT and sophomores the PLAN (pre-ACT). Seniors are being encouraged to use the day for college visits.
Alvarez also noted that MHS science and Project Lead the Way teacher Heather Stoecklein will give a presentation at a state Project Lead the Way conference in St. Louis next weekend.
Finally, Alvarez said the first major event scheduled in the Schneider Center — a student production of “The Music Man” — will take place in early November.
During her monthly report, Albrecht, speaking for Athletics Director Mat Beu, who was absent, said the fall sports season is winding down, with cross country districts scheduled for Oct. 29, football districts starting tonight, and winter sports practices beginning Oct. 31.
Albrecht also mentioned the Marching Spoofhounds’ first- second- and third-place finishes this month at the annual Trenton (Missouri) Marching Festival and recent speech and debate team competitions.
In other business:
• Northwest Missouri State University President John Jasinski and Maryville City Manager Greg McDanel gave a brief presentation on the transient guest tax proposal that will go before voters on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot.
• The board approved a proposal to begin paying people who work athletics events at Maryville Middle School. Scorekeepers and timekeepers would receive $10 a game.
Albrecht said the change may require charging admission, a move to be decided later. The change is expected to cost the district between $1,500 and $2,000 a year.
The R-II Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16.