At the Salem R-80 School Board meeting on Jan. 19, FFA students Tessa Gorman, Oliver Midyett, Grant Case and Kaylen Sikes gave a presentation about the work they’ve been doing with elementary classes recently. The theme of the program was ‘Agricultural education in motion’. Children were taught for an hour on Friday by FFA students for ten weeks, where they asked questions, participated in activities and used workbooks. The students felt they had made an impact on the children’s learning and were excited that the children were absorbing the curriculum and the FFA students themselves so well.
Sherry Lea, of Healthy Dent County, spoke to the board to seek approval for a recreational trail grant application.
“In 2014, we built the Tiger Trail around the upper elementary school, around the perimeter of the 100 acres you own. There’s another grant from DNR, a $250,000 grant, and I thought maybe we could write that to pave the way,” Lea said.
According to Lea, the trail must be maintained for 25 years after receiving the money for upgrades to get the grant. Currently, the trail is in its eighth year from the last scholarship, and if a new scholarship is given, the timer will start again. Lea said the grant would be enough to pave not only the existing trail, but also a trailhead, trail markers and new benches. Paving the trail is estimated to cost $185,000. According to Lea, the proposal costs the school district nothing, as the 80/20 split match funds could be “in-kind,” meaning other scholarships. The grant application must be submitted by February 16.
“It will actually reduce maintenance,” said Lea, citing the costs associated with maintaining an unpaved trail.
The board voted 6-0 to approve the measure.
The meeting then continued with an update from John Odom on the new construction trade union building. Odom said the exact location on the planned property for the new building has changed.
“What we found after doing some additional research on the site, talking to the IT people, and understanding what it would take to get rid of the existing white house structure that currently houses the IT part.”
According to Odom, the existing fiber optic internet line should be moved.
“It got to a point where it would just become prohibitively expensive to do it, not just from a demolition standpoint, but more so from the fiber optic line. Moving that would have been a very expensive thing.”
Odom also said it would be difficult to find a workaround for the Internet in the meantime during the project’s completion.
“It’s not something that you can just cut off an end and make a little splice again. It basically has to be drawn all over again to finish.
According to Odom, the new solution works with the current fiber optic lines, both above ground and underground. Odom says it’s still very accessible to students. Some dead power lines and other cleanups will need to be done, including removing any existing structure.
“We would also demonstrate the existing garage that is here on this spot. First, it is too close to what the new building would be,” Odom said, citing fire safety concerns. “We’ve looked at the structure. It’s in pretty rough shape. It doesn’t have a concrete slab in the garage itself, so demolition of that won’t be difficult.”
The council approved the new building plan by a vote of 6 to 0.
The board then discussed approval of the Dent County Hazard Mitigation Resolution and Plan. The plan would help with updated early warning systems, weather radios and fire sign funding. The plan imposes no financial obligation on the school. The measure was approved by a 6 to 0 vote.
The board then proceeded to discuss the registration fee. After some discussion, the board decided to bill 100%. The measure was passed 6-0.
Finally, the board discussed the possibility of a bond loan for a new primary school. Given the current issues already on the ballot, board members were concerned that dealing with the school issue with the others would reduce their chances of success. The board took no action on the matter and discussed the possibility of placing the bond issue on a later vote. In the meantime, board members and employees discussed starting the process to resolve issues in the current building.
