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We hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy. Below are several important updates we wanted to share. As a reminder, Tiger Talks will be sent on as "as needed" basis in June and July. Have a safe and healthy summer!
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Seated Summer School COMING SOON!
Virtual summer school is currently taking place for secondary students. However, we are EXCITED to announce that we will be able to host seated summer school for incoming kindergarten-12th grade students! Elementary seated summer school will be July 6-24 and July 6-16 for middle school and high school students.
While we are SO HAPPY to have students and teachers back on our campuses, it's important to note we are working with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department to establish protocols to mitigate the risk of virus spreading at school. There have been a lot of recommendations released by many different organizations in regards to schools reopening. Please be assured we are working hard to diligently examine each of these recommendations and to implement practices that will balance the normal and needed activities of the school day and keeping our students and teammates healthy. As we have more details they will be shared.
Registration for seated summer school will be communicated next week, and health-related protocols will follow later in June. Stay tuned!
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Board of Education Meeting Recap
At the May 21 Board of Education meeting the adoption of the agenda and approval of consent items
(found on BoardDocs) took place after the Pledge of Allegiance. In addition, President, Todd Wojciechowski, provided a Board Update.
 Due to the restrictions of COVID-19, district retirees will be honored at a later meeting date. However, their names were read.
In addition, the CTA report was reviewed, and Administrative presentations were as follows:
- Activities/Athletics Director, Trevyor Fisher submitted a system update that was reviewed by the BOE.
- Dr. Wistrom provided a monthly update to the Board regarding district finances, DESE updates and the district's response to COVID-19.
- All administrative reports can be found on BoardDocs.
The employee manual and student/parent handbooks for the 2020-21 school year were discussed along with several pieces of RHS curriculum. Details can be found on
BoardDocs.
The following were actions taken by the BOE:
- Per the recommendation of Dr. Wistrom, the BOE approved voting for option "Number 2" on the MOSIP ballot for the Board of Directors.
- The district solicited bids for the roof renovation at RMS to be completed this summer. Per the recommendation of Dr. Wistrom the BOE approved the bid from Stiles Roofing.
- Bids were submitted for the building of a new Early Childhood Center and the addition of a gym/high wind shelter at Schofield.
Dr. Wistrom shared that on the previous Friday the district received a withholding of approximately $350,000. This information was followed by a call from the Governor's Office on the day prior to the Board of Education meeting that informed districts that a similar or larger withholding would occur the first week of June likely followed by an additional withholding in July, which is the first fiscal month of the year. Total withholdings are likely to exceed one million dollars. The Governor recommended that all public entities practice extreme caution regarding future financial decisions. Withholdings of this magnitude have never occurred during the last 60 days of the fiscal year. Additionally, it is unprecedented that a fiscal year begins with anticipated withholdings of this magnitude.
Although the district is in very sound financial condition, the Board of Education approved Dr. Wistrom's recommendation that construction projects are placed on hold and current reserves are made available if needed to fund salary and benefits for current personnel. Architectural plans for both projects are completed and may be implemented immediately upon economic recovery.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 16 at Central Office. A reorganization meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m., executive session will be at 6:00 p.m. and regular session will take place at 7:00 p.m.
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RECAP: Appreciation Parade for
Dr. Wistrom's Retirement
We pulled off a GREAT surprise on Monday, May 18! Here's a video recap of the Appreciation Parade we hosted in honor Dr. Wistrom's upcoming retirement. We are incredibly thankful for his leadership and service to our students, employees and the entire Republic community! #repmoproud #onceatigeralwaysatiger
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Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Info.
Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, families that qualify for free or reduced price meals at school may be eligible for a new one-time Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) of up to $302 per child (Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 12) to help cover the cost of meals students have eaten at home on days that schools have been closed. Students can receive P-EBT benefits even if they have been or continue to receive meals provided by the school district during the school closure. If your child was not previously eligible for free or reduced price meals, but you have now lost income, you may be eligible to receive P-EBT benefits (review the P-EBT Eligibility Criteria document below).
The benefit is placed on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card families use to buy food. If you received Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits in March, do not apply for these new/additional benefits. The full $302 will automatically be loaded to your existing EBT card. If you did not receive Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits in March,
you must apply for this benefit by June 30, 2020 (see below).
The most efficient way to apply is to submit your application online at
EmergencyMealSurvey.com/MO. You will also likely experience a faster approval process. If you're not able to apply online, you can follow the link below to the paper application. The fillable PDF document can then be emailed or mailed to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). You will find complete instructions and additional details in the letter to families below.
Please review these important documents carefully:
· P-EBT Paper Application (hard copy to fill out and email or mail to DESE if you're not able to submit the application online)
To request a paper application be mailed to you, please contact our Food and Nutrition Services office at 417.735.3753. Please do not send completed applications to your school; see the letter to families above for application submission information.
The Department of Social Services (DSS) will send families a letter indicating they are approved or denied. If you have questions on how to apply for the P-EBT benefit, contact DSS through the online chat feature at mydss.mo.gov or call 855-373-4636. For more information on the EBT card, visit: mydss.mo.gov/food-assistance/ebt.
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Office Visits, Specifically Federal Programs
In an effort to keep visitors and employees safe and healthy, visiting our offices may look a bit different. Specifically, we are asking that visitors to our Federal Programs Office for items like residency waivers adhere to the following requests. The reasoning is because the length of visits to this office is usually longer than others and the set-up of the office space is also a bit different than others across the district. Thank you in advance!
1. When possible, please schedule an appointment to complete a residency waiver by calling 735-3715.
2. Please limit the number of people present to complete the residency waiver.
3. To expedite the process, please bring your identification and proof of residency to your appointment. Accepted proofs of residency include: real estate contract, rental agreement, electric bill, gas bill, or water bill.
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Kindergarten Screening
Thank you so much for being patient with us as we have worked to reschedule kindergarten screening dates and continue to create plans for kindergarten orientation! Regardless of the uniqueness and uncertainty of this time, we are VERY EXCITED to welcome our kindergarten students in the fall!
That said, kindergarten screening dates have been rescheduled per the below dates. Screening times will be between 8:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Starting Thursday, May 14 our schools began contacting families who previously scheduled to reschedule. However, families are welcome to contact the office to set a time as well. Anyone who has not previously scheduled an appointment is encouraged to contact our schools as we have plenty of openings and want to screen as many students as possible!
July 22 - Sweeny Elementary 732-3670
July 23 - Schofield Elementary 732-3610
July 27 - Lyon Elementary 732-3630
July 29 - Price Elementary 732-3690
August 3 - McCulloch Elementary 732-3620
**REMINDER: For those who have registered, please be sure to bring the needed items to your building by June 10!**
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Free Meals 3 Days Per Week through June 19
Republic School District will continue providing free, grab-and-go lunch and breakfast pick-up at RMS and other designated locations across the community for Republic children.
However, due to a decrease in the number of families using this service, STARTING JUNE 1 we will only be distributing meals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Meals for two days will be provided on Mondays and Wednesdays, and meals for three days will be provided on Fridays. Times and locations will not change. Therefore, RMS distribution will be from 11:30-12:30 and remote locations (listed below) will distribute from 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Alpine Village
S. Lewis Street in Battlefield near the Prairie Oak Village Apartments
Old Stone Apartments
Hines Street Pharmacy
Calvary Baptist Church
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Republic Bus Fleet Receives 100% Safety Rating
The Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted its annual School Bus Safety Inspection May 21 and 22. The Republic School District bus fleet passed this very rigorous inspection with a PERFECT approval rating of 100%. This qualifies the district for an Exemplary Fleet award!
This award is only given to those fleets who achieve a 90% or higher approval rating on the inspection. In addition, recognit
ion of the 100% rating will take place at the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation conference in July which will also include a certificate from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
A team of inspectors did a two full-day, extensive review of the district's 56 buses. No infractions were found. The Republic School District is very proud of this accolade and of the district's Department of Transportation staff for working so diligently to safely transport our students to and from school daily. #repmoproud
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Immunization Requirements
As we plan for a potential seated summer school, kindergarten screening and the upcoming school year, we wanted to remind families of the immunizations required for students. This mainly impacts incoming kindergarten, 8th and 12th grade students.
CLICK HERE to see the requirements.
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Board of Education Election, June 2
D
ue to COVID-19 the Board of Education election was postponed from April 7 to June 2.
The four candidates below filed for the three 3-year term seats (candidates listed in order of appearance on the ballot.) Currently, Denny Lawson, John Parker and Tammy Messier
hol
d these seats.
Denny Lawson
John Parker
Tammy Messier
Sam Hayes
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Community Resources
Republic area churches and organizations are mobilizing to provide various resources for citizens. Further details can be found at
417OUTREACH.COM.
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Nonpublic School Participation in Services through Coronavirus Aide, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act into law. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion relief package to address the economic fallout related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
CLICK HERE for full details.
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For questions or comments please contact me via
email or by calling 417-732-3605.
Sincerely,
Josey McPhail Director of Communications
Republic School District |
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