Just excited to be back

With back-to-school right around the corner for most in Webster Country, school boards are meeting to double-check everything is set for the new school year. Such was the case for the Logan-Rogersville School board that gathered on Aug 17. Ready to take on their schedule, the board started right away. 

The board started by recapping the tax rate hearing. Citizens of Logan-Rogersville approved a 32 million dollar bond on Apr 5, 2022, which will be used for various projects, including improvements to parking lots for better traffic, AC and heating upgrades, improvements to athletic fields, and many other projects. The school will do all of this with the bonus of no tax increase for the citizens of Logan-Rogersville. 

The board then switched their attention to something a bit more lighthearted. Audrey, a representative from Preferred Employment Services, highlighted what she and some students accomplished during the summer break. During summer school, five students, in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) and Preferred Employment Services, got to work with the Rogersville custodial and food services staff to better equip the students for the workforce.

DESE and Preferred work with students all over Missouri going into their senior year of high school that have a disability keeping them from finding or keeping a job. By working with DESE and Preferred, the students from Logan-Rogersville learned the necessary skills to help on their quest for employment. 

Shelby, one of the students who participated this year, shared her story. “I worked with Audrey and other co-workers with laundry and did a lot of cleaning … If I was unable to clean something or got stressed out, she (Audrey) was always able to talk me through it and show me how to do it properly”. 

Shelby went on to talk about other success she found throughout the program. “During food services I had a good time. The Lunch Ladies were always super receptive. They showed me how to do a lot of things. They motivated me to get a job. I just got a job at Subway here in Rogersville.” Shelby was then asked what she did with the money she earned during the summer, “I got a tattoo,” which got a laugh from everyone present at the meeting, but she did not stop there. “I have a bank account and I’m taking the rest of it and saving it for college. I’m going to college to be a nurse”. Shelby was applauded for her story, effort, and courage in doing something outside her comfort zone.

After this, more positivity filled the room as various members of the schools shared their excitement for not only the open houses but the general excitement of all the teachers. Each school seems to echo the same thought. 

“We are just super excited just to have our staff back in the building and onboarding new people into the system.” Principal of Upper Elementary Dr. Laura Batson shared. Everyone is excited to be back in the building and looking forward to the new year.

 Dr. Brittany Payne, Principal of Upper Elementary, adds, “...Just watching teachers get back into classrooms and be excited. Just to see how hard they work and how passionate they are. I wish honestly parents and the community could see that insight of things because they just come back and are ready to roll. It is just awesome to see that.”  The board was pleased to hear this news and is excited for the year. 

Moving right through their schedule, the school board looked over upcoming events, which included Meet the Wildcats on Aug. 18, FFA Ice Cream Social on Sept. 1, and their homecoming game on Oct. 7 against the Marshfield Bluejays. With the events covered, the superintendent reminded the board members to take their refresher training in the coming months.

The last bit of discussion was with Vickie Cantrell, Director of Food Service. She shared her experience during summer school and the challenges she faced. “We got our first truck started at 5 a.m. was very exciting. We actually got food. Our biggest struggle last year was to procure food. The ladies did a good job last year but it was a struggle. So all this summer I worked hard to procure food.” 

After giving her report and general excitement for the new year, Superintendent Dr. Shawn Randles praised Cantrell for her work, “She does not like the accolades but she has served on our state food service board for many years and got asked to serve at the national level.” 

The meeting wrapped up with talks about financial reports, which show the school is in overall great shape. All of that out of the way the board moved into a closed session and then adjourned for the night.