The Worth County School Board turned down a motion by board member Sheila Hunt to offer baseball contingent on the community raising $8000 to start the program up and doing away with boys golf at the regular Board of Education Meeting Tuesday. Hunt made a motion, but it died due to a lack of second. The baseball committee appointed by the school board met for three hours and explored questions of how to fund the team for the long term, how it would affect the track program, and the impact of pay to play. Board member Jeff Andrews said that if the community were to come up with the $8000, then the question would become, what would it take for the school to keep it going every year. Assistant Principal Chuck Borey said that he had talked to Jefferson and Gallatin and that they did not offer baseball out of fears that it would kill their track program. Gallatin is a Class 2 school and is bigger than Worth County. Most schools Worth County's size do not offer both baseball and track; the only two in the area are Northeast Nodaway and South Nodaway. The question would be whether or not Worth County would be able to compete against the likes of East Buchanan, LeBlond, Maryville, Plattsburg, and Benton, all of which have established programs. Board member Paul Tracy estimated that it would take an estimated $3500 a year to keep a baseball program running; if the school were to offer pay to play at a rate of $50 and draw 20 kids, then that would offset costs by $1000 annually. Tracy said that the school was getting less and less money from the federal government and the state every year and that it was a choice between pay to play, increasing taxes, or making cuts in services. "We're at a point where money is tight," said board member Jeff Andrews. "I hate to take the community's money and then turn around and kill it in three years."
The board approved a request by Janice Borey to apply for a solid waste grant to help with expenses for replacing the track. It would require a 20% match and would be funded on a reimbursement basis. The track has $30,000 in the replacement fund following work on the south end and the runways. The total cost estimate for completely redoing the track is around $80,000.
Guidance counselor Clella Goodwin reported that she had 58 students working on A+ work and that 14 of them were seniors. Colleges are getting funding cut, so it is tougher to find a college that participates in the Missouri A+ program; however, Northwest is still offering A+ scholarships to compete with community colleges. Goodwin said that she had heard a lot of positive comments from teachers. Local scholarships are going out to seniors. Upcoming state requirements will focus on college and career readiness.
Assistant Principal Chuck Borey reported on progress on the STAR tests in the elementary. All of the classes are on track to meet or exceed the state results. The school is also meeting or exceeding national expectations.
Superintendent Mike Rennells reported that the legislature was proposing a 2% decrease in the income tax and a 1% increase in the sales tax. Revenues were $227,437 more than last year while expenses were $47,235 less than last year. The school is eligible for small schools funding this year. The school is in the process of seeking proposals to upgrade the technology infrastructure for the school.
A blueprint has been drawn for the elementary walls that will be put up in the 4th through 6th grades this summer. The pods for 1st through 3rd grades are working well this year. There is a big difference in the level of sound that students can hear.
The board gave outgoing president Jubal Summers an award for 12 years of service.
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