Sheldon schools receive promise not to lose money in food service

In a 90-minute open session and with all members present, the Sheldon R-8 School Board approved next year’s school calendar, rejoiced in the district’s Annual Performance Report (APR) score, approved funds for a new scoreboard in Sheldon Park, discussed transportation for elementary basketball and received a promise not to lose money in food service.

“After our January board meeting – when the article came out in the newspaper about that meeting and it quoted our discussion about the losses we’re having in food service – I got a call a call from the regional director of Opaa, our food service company,” began R-8 Superintendent Jason Irwin.

“She said, ‘What do we need to do to keep you,’ and I said, ‘It’s just cost; it’s getting too expensive,’” said the superintendent.

Irwin soon found himself in a meeting with several area leaders of Opaa Food Management, who informed him their firm prides itself in its 98 percent customer retention rate but comments made by superintendents to their boards in a number of Vernon County schools reveal unhappiness due to rising costs.

The Rich Hill R-4 School District has already decided to cease using Opaa after the end of this school year.

As Irwin told his board in January, “We’re not allowed to make money on our food service but the loses are getting out of hand.”

In the first half of the 2017-2018 school year, the R-8 district reported a $17,000 loss. For the first half of the 2018-2019 school year, Irwin told the board in January that the deficit totaled $16,500.

Looking down the road, Irwin also pointed out a built in nine cent cost increase each year in per meal expenses for the next several years.

Said Irwin, “We can’t increase our deficit and our families certainly can’t afford to pay more each year for meals.”

He stressed the importance of students having a good breakfast and lunch in order to be able to learn.

As reported by Irwin on Monday evening, John Catalano, manager of financial analysis for Opaa said in that meeting with Irwin, “‘What if I guarantee you stay in the black,’ and I said ‘How are you going to do that?’”

He was told that any loss by the district would be covered by a check from Opaa for the school years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.

Catalano told Irwin the previously promised increase for the next school year would be erased and rates would remain the same in the coming year if Sheldon would remain another year with Opaa.

Looking at Catalano, Irwin asked, “You going to put this in writing?”

He did; the superintendent held up the letter before the board and read its two paragraphs.

In part it reads, “Opaa will guarantee that the Sheldon R-8 School District generates a surplus from food service operations for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. … Material changes in food service may impact the guarantee by an agreeable amount.”

Examples of “material changes” include a significant calendar change, implementation of the CEP (community eligibility provision where the district has enough families below poverty level so that all student meals are free), building or enrollment changes and other district expenses.

Irwin recommended the board stay with Opaa for the 2019-2020 school year and then reevaluate a year from now; the motion received unanimous approval.

After emailing two proposed school calendars for the 2019-2020 school year, teachers expressed a definite preference and the board supported their choice by formal adoption.

This calendar with its 163 total days of school will have its first day of classes on Aug. 22 while the last will be May 14. The Thanksgiving break begins after school on Nov. 22 while classes resume on Dec. 2. A lengthy Christmas break starts at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 with classes resuming on Jan. 6. Spring break commences after school on March 6 while school resumes on March 16.

“Speaking of calendars, to make up for the day we missed on Jan. 30, I’m proposing we hold classes next Monday, Feb. 18 which was an extra day off we built into this year’s calendar,” explained Irwin.

To make up for the days lost last week due to ice, the superintendent suggested adding them onto the end of the year. Instead of the last classes being on Friday, May 10, classes would be held on May 13 and 14; the board approved.

On Feb. 1, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released scores for the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) and the Annual Performance Report (APR). The APR incorporates test score results as well as a number of other factors including high school readiness, college and career readiness, attendance and graduation rates. Full accreditation as a district requires a score of 70 or higher with 97 percent of Missouri districts achieving this.

Sheldon was pleased to have moved from an 89.6 percent in 2016 and 89.3 in 2017 to a score of 96.4 percent for 2018.

“Since they changed the standards and tests last year, we really can’t compare this with previous years and I think our number is a bit inflated but I am pleased,” said Irwin. “The credit goes to students, parents and especially teachers and staff who make the difference every day.”

Representing the Sheldon Park Board, Beverly Dockery told the board about her group’s effort to replace the score board in the city’s park with a new one. She said the one they were looking at was about $2,000, not counting installation. She asked the board for a contribution of $500.

Irwin offered to speak with the firm that not long ago provided some $12,000 worth of score boards to the school; he would ask for a bid and either a discount or to match that bid but include installation in the price.

The board approved the request for a contribution of $500.

After much discussion, the board agreed with Irwin that the elementary basketball program was not a school function, that it risked insurance issues and although a worthwhile program, it is properly a parent led program.

The board voted to end having the school provide transportation to and from games after this year.

Since only incumbents Paul Sprenkle and Jerod Lamb filed for the two board seats on the April election, those two will be considered to have been “elected” once the polls close on April 3; this will save the district the cost of having an election.

Feb. 10-16 is Missouri School Board Recognition Week and the Community Teachers’ Association at Sheldon R-8 thanked the board by providing them with a meal of lasagna, salad, garlic bread, dessert and drink.