ShowMe Times Editor
Tuesday evening was a busy one for members of the Dexter School Board, with several items decided during Executive Session following the regular monthly public meeting.
According to district superintendent, Dr. Thomas Sharp, the board voted to adopt the present salary schedule for the 2012-2013 school year.
“The base salary remains $32,000,”reported Sharp. Board members approved vertical and horizontal movement for certified staff contracts for the next school year.
Certified staff are individuals with degrees (teaching, counseling, administrative) that receive certification status through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for a degree.
The board also voted to re-employ the current classified staff and approved a 1.5 percent raise for classified staff. Classified staff are individuals who are employed by the district that do not necessarily required a degree/certification through DESE. These individuals are also referred locally to as support staff: aide, drivers, secretaries, custodians, maintenance.
The board also:
- Accepted the resignation of John Walker as a middle school self-contained special services resource teacher.
- Accepted the resignation of Kim Reinbott as a bus aide.
- Accepted the resignation of Eric Sitze as a high school golf coach.
- Approved the transfer request of teacher Debbie Wilson to fill the middle school self-contained resourced special services position.
- Employed Lindsay Woods. She has certification in K-12 special education, 5-9 language arts and 9-12 English. Her teaching assignment will be the middle school special services resource position.
- Employed Kay Stevenson as a teacher for middle school. She has both a K-8 and library science certification. Her teaching assignment will involve creating transition services for grade 6 at-risk students as well as instructing language arts.
- Employed Doris Thompson as a bus aide.
Missouri state law – the Missouri Sunshine Law – allows public boards to meet in closed, executive sessions when those meetings relate to certain issues, including personnel issues. For more information on the Missouri Sunshine Law, go to the Missouri Attorney General’s website on the Sunshine Law on the Internet.
Photo Above: School Board President Herman Morse during discussion Tuesday evening at the meeting of the Dexter School Board. (ShowMe Times photo by Annabeth Miller)
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
Spring has “sprung” and the winter cobwebs are being shaken free, and that means that crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation are heading out to roadways with work projects.
A number of prjects are planned in Stoddard County in the coming weeks. From the replacement of the deck on a railroad bridge on a major highway to work on smaller highway and byways, the crews will be busy this spring.
Route 60
Work to replace the deck of the Route 60 bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad will continue throughout the spring and summer. Westbound traffic will be diverted onto the eastbound lanes from County Road 517 to County Road 531. In addition to reducing traffic to one lane in each direction, a 16-foot width restriction will be in place. Completion is anticipated in late August, weather permitting.
Route 91
The roadway in Bollinger and Stoddard counties will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction as contractor crews overlay the roadway. This project is set to begin Friday, April 20 and MoDOT anticipates it will be completed May 11. This section of roadway is located from Rt. 51 in Bollinger Co. to Rt. C in Stoddard Co.
Route HH
Route HH in the county will be closed as contractor crews perform bridge maintenance. This section of roadway is located between Route CC and Route 153. Weather permitting, work will begin Monday, April 16 at 7 a.m. and will reopen by 5 p.m. Monday, April 30.
Route PP
Route PP will be closed as crews replace the culvert pipe under the roadway. This section of roadway is located between County Road 279 and County Road 271.Work set to begin Wednesday, April 18.
Highway 60
Eastbound US 60 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs from One Mile Road to Route 25. This project is scheduled to begin Monday, April 16 at 6 a.m. and ending Thursday, April 18 at 4:30 p.m.
Route 51
Route 51 will be closed as crews replace the culvert pipe under the roadway between County Road 291 and Click Ave. (at south city limits of Puxico). Project work will begin Monday, April 23.
As always, work zones will be marked with signs and motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.
ShowMe Times Editor
"In My Easter Bonnet"
ShowMe Times Photos by Annabeth Miller
ShowMe Times Editor
Dexter High School is painted green today.
More specifically, lime green.
Friday is “Lime Green for Luke” Day at DHS, all in an effort by students, friends, Faculty and Staff to support Luke Lewis.
Luke is a sophomore at DHS and was diagnosed earlier this year with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Luke was been receiving treatment at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.
Lime green is the color of the day Friday, with lime green ribbons being sported throughout the school.
Lime green? It just happens that the “color” for lymphoma is lime green. And it also happens to be the sophomore’s favorite color.
The DHS Student Council has been sponsoring events all semester to help and support Luke. STUCO Advisor Jennifer Miller said one of the first events was “Levi’s for Luke, where teachers paid to wear jeans one day to school.
“We are doing it now for the whole district. We are going to challenge the other schools in the district to do it. We raised $400 just our (DHS) teachers,” Miller said.
STUCO members are also selling “Lollies for Luke.” The lollipops are flavorful suckers with sometimes unique flavor for candy – like raspberry lemonade and mint chocolate chip.
Students in their Advisory Classes Friday also crafted cards and sent letters to their classmate.
“Everybody has been participating, especially with the sucker,” said STUCO member Stephanie Gee. She said many students are paying more than the asked price to help the cause.
Miller said Luke’s mother, Michelle Quentin, is a nurse, and has not been able to work since January. Luke has been in the hospital almost non-stop since January and has needed care. Last week, she said, he had five straight days of chemotherapy.
“He’s getting some pretty powerful stuff,” Miller commented. He’s had chemotherapy and blood transfusions, and medical treatments a young sophomore in high school shouldn’t have to worry about.
The students are rallying around their friend and classmate, lending support and friendship.
“A lot of kids are on Facebook with Luke and talk to him there,” Gee said.
“And we are also selling lime green bracelets,” said STUCO member Tate Midkiff. Olivia Parker and Midkiff were busy Thursday getting the lime green ribbons ready for Friday.
Miller is also struck by the generosity of the community and willingness to help Luke.
“I received a check for $100 from the parents of a student – they just wanted to help, she said. In addition, local businessman Greg Banken has made a contribution.
Miller said another project they are excited about is a concert featuring the band The Buzz on Saturday, May 5. The Buzz, featuring middle school principal Scott Kruse, will headline the concert to be held in the high school gym. But some high school musicians and bands, and high school talent Joseph Greer will join The Buzz. Admission will be $5 per person
“We have ordered t-shirts and will be selling them before and at the concert,” Miller said.
The black shirt will feature – of course – lime green.
Photo Above: Members of the DHS Student Council and the Student Body have joined together to help a fellow student - Luke Lewis - who is battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. STUCO member (from left) Olivia Parker, Stephanie Gee, Jenny Blattman and Tate Midkiff are among the students selling "Lollies for Luke" at DHS. (ShowMe Times Photo by Annabeth Miller)
