Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Essex, Missouri – Throughout the year, there have been many new additions to the Richland R-1 School District. The elementary, junior high, and high school adopted the Bring Your Own Device Program at the beginning of the year and there were also new security systems installed at each entrance for extra protection and peace of mind. The high school also began Advanced Placement (AP) classes in English and History available for seniors. There were numerous new faces added to the staff in both buildings and the hallways in the building are becoming more and more decorated and suited for the Rebel fans.
New additions are still being added, including the new preschool program. Instead of offering summer school for students, the money used to operate summer school will be used to start and maintain a preschool program. Richland’s preschool will be self-funded and the staff believes a self-funded preschool program will be more beneficial to the children considering the new mandated assessments and more rigorous demands being placed on schools and the students by the State and Federal Government.
There will be screening and testing for preschool attendance. The board and superintendent would like to apologize for the inconvenience of not having summer school, but they believe it is the best path for the incoming Richland students and their academic success to have a preschool offered to the younger generation.
This year, the elementary got a facelift and was granted the opportunity of having a new playground built. The equipment was purchased with fundraisers, school funds, and an USDA grant. The students absolutely love it (and so do the teachers). Richland’s school board played a major role and saved the school district a large sum of money.
The bus garage also got an upgrade both inside and out. All doors are now electric which will help extend the life of the garage door. The mechanic bay is insulated which will greatly reduce heating costs and the electrical was updated which increases the safety aspect. The exterior of building was also primed and painted with school colors.
The bus garage wasn’t the only thing at Richland to receive fresh paint. The men and women’s bathrooms located by the main gymnasium received new paint as well. The little gym near the back parking lot also received a new rubber floor which makes the facility much more user-friendly and safer for the physical education courses in both elementary and high school.
Richland’s school board is responsible for all these wonderful new additions that will allow Richland School to continue representing the Richland Community and Stoddard County as a great school. A big thanks goes out to the school board, faculty, and supporting parents who made all these changes possible.
