Hume R-8 plans 2017-18 pre-school changes

gfranklin.nevadadailymail@gmail.com

The Hume R-8 school board voted to continue funding the pre-school for the 2017-18 school year with several changes.

Pre-school enrollment in 2017-18 will be limited to 10 students, and only one teacher. Current enrollment is 12 students with two staff.

Superintendent David Quick said Hume R-8 does not receive outside funding for the pre-school.

According to the superintendent's secretary, Melody Wikoff, the preschool costs the district between $55,000 and $60,000 with two staff. To operate the pre-school with just one teacher would cost the district between $30,000 and $35,000.

The district does charge pre-school students tuition in accordance with their eligibility for reduced or free lunches.

Regular tuition is $15 per day for the 158-day school year. The reduced tuition is either $8 or $4 per day depending on lunch eligibility.

With a maximum of 10 students, the district will collect between $6,320 and $23,700 in tuition for the 2017-18 school year. Annual tuition cost per student would be between $632 and $2,370.

Families with an outstanding tuition balance will not be allowed to re-enroll, and in-district four-year-olds will have priority.

Hume Assistant Superintendent/Principal Scott Morrison said pre-school is very beneficial to students.

In his report to the board, Superintendent David Quick said the district has received notification from Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary education that the district is fully accredited for the 2017-18 school year.

Quick said a furnace had to be replaced recently, which leaves four furnaces in the building that need to be updated.

Quick asked the board if there was any objection to purchasing a new floor scrubber as the old one has reached the end of its useful life.

"If we didn't have it, we would have to hire another janitor," Quick said.

A new floor scrubber will cost up to $5,300. There was no objection from the board to replace the scrubber.

Quick said he wants to meet with other area administrators and the Bates County Sheriff to discuss details of state legislation that went into effect Jan. 1, that could have students involved in a fight at school charged with a felony.

In his report to the board, principal/assistant superintendent Scott Morrison said the school climate is very good and all seniors are on track to graduate on time.

In regards to spring sports, Morrison said 12 students have signed up to play softball, but there will be no baseball team due to a lack of players.

Average daily attendance among secondary students is currently 90 percent and the average daily attendance for elementary students is 86 percent.

Morrison said he had talked to all of the students about the attendance goals and had called the parents of the elementary students.

Also approved with the consent agenda was district wide transportation evaluation.

It reads, "Overall the transportation program is operating in a safe, efficient, and consistent manner. The district has four buses that are in very good condition, however [buses] four and six are about 10 years old and should be replaced in the next two or three years. The district has the ability to have one bus out for an activity trip and still run the bus routes in a normal manner. We have had few discipline issues so far this year. The district only has three certified drivers. With two regular routes, we have only one person who can substitute.

All of the drivers for the Hume School District have taken updated, online driver training that is provided by Missouri United School Insurance Council."