Copy
View this email in your browser
Friday, January 28th, 2022
School Calendar: Dates To Remember
  • Monday, February 14th: Monthly School Board Meeting | 6:30PM
    Monday, February 21st: No school - President's Day
  • March 3rd and 4th: Parent/Teacher Conferences
  • Friday, March 4th: No school - Staff Professional Development Day
  • March 28th - April 1st: No school - Spring Break
Note From The Superintendent

Dear Southern Boone School District Family,

I hope you and your family are doing well. I would like to take a moment to highlight a draft copy of the 2022-2023 district calendar that was presented during this month’s school board meeting. Next school year’s proposed calendar would be very similar to this year’s district calendar.

When putting together the district calendar, our goal is to receive feedback from parents, district employees and the community. The school district wants to have a calendar that is fair, and honors the traditions of our great school district and community. 

Here are some highlights from the proposed calendar:

  • The school district’s first day of school will be on Tuesday, September 6th. The late start to the school year is again due to the construction at the middle school.
  • We’ll continue to have early dismissals every Wednesday at 2 p.m. throughout the school year for staff professional development.
  • Thanksgiving break will be November 23rd-25th.
  • Winter break will be December 23rd-January 2nd. There will be no school for students on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2022, due to a staff professional development day. Students will return to school on Wednesday, January 4th, 2023.
  • Spring break will be March 27th-31st, 2023.
  • High School Graduation will be on Sunday, May 21st, 2023.
  • The scheduled last day of school will be on Friday, May 26th, 2023.

The school district will host two public meetings next week to hear from parents, district staff and the community regarding the proposed 2022-2023 district calendar:

  • Tuesday, February 1st at 3:30 p.m. in the central office boardroom.
  • Thursday, February 3rd, at 5 p.m. in the central office boardroom.

The Southern Boone School Board of Education is planning to approve and adopt the 2022-2023 district calendar during next month’s meeting on Monday, February 14th at 6:30 p.m. in the central office boardroom.

If you have any questions or concerns about the calendar, please feel free to call me at central office at 573-657-2147 or email me at cfelmlee@ashland.k12.mo.us.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our students, staff and school district.

Respectfully,

Christopher Felmlee
Superintendent of Schools

School Board Seeks No-Tax-Increase
Bond Issue for Major Repairs to Stadium

The Southern Boone School Board of Education voted unanimously during a special meeting on Friday, January 21, 2022, to place a no-tax-increase general obligation bond issue on the April 5, 2022, ballot, to be used for making major repairs and improvements to the district’s outdoor facilities at the high school.

The Southern Boone School District is asking the public to vote on the $3 million no-tax-increase bond issue that would provide funds to resurface the track, install new artificial turf and replace the scoreboard and sound system at the high school outdoor stadium. Passage of the bond issue will not increase the district’s property tax levy.


The bond issue language reads, “Shall the Southern Boone County R-I School District issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $3,000,000 for the purpose of constructing, improving, renovating, repairing, furnishing and equipping school facilities, including resurfacing the track, installing new artificial turf, and replacing the score board and sound system at the High School outdoor athletic complex and improving other District outdoor athletic facilities?

If this question is approved, the District’s debt service tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged at $1.8049 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.”


Plans For Future Bond Issues:

  • April 2022: $3 million no-tax-increase bond issues for repairs and improvements to the track and field at the high school.
  • April 2024: Potential $7-8 million no-tax-increase bond issue to build a new wing on the high school for the vocational, agriculture and FFA programs.
  • April 2026: Potential no tax increase bond issue to build a new performing arts center and additional classrooms at the high school.
  • April 2028: Potential no tax increase bond issue to build an early childhood center behind the primary school. 

Previous Passed Bond Issues:

  • April 2021: $7.7 million no-tax-increase bond issue for the middle school expansion and renovation project.
  • April 2019: 40 cent tax increase ($6 million bond issue) for the two story expansion (17 new classrooms) at the primary school and teacher pay.
  • April 2018: $4.75 million no-tax-increase bond issue for the new gymnasium and 3 classrooms at the elementary school, new central office that opened up 7 classrooms at the middle school and a high school softball/baseball complex.
  • April 2016: 15 cent tax increase ($7.5 million bond issue) for construction of 8 new classrooms and gymnasium at the primary school, 4 new classrooms at the elementary school and new weight room at the high school.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOND ISSUE HERE

Updated COVID-19 Mitigation
and Prevention Strategies

The Southern Boone School Board of Education approved changes to the district’s COVID-19 mitigation measures during their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 18th and a special meeting on Friday, January 21st.

View the school district's COVID-19 Dashboard here.

View the school district's Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service Plan here.

The following changes approved by the school board, apply to all students and staff regardless of vaccination status, and are in effect now:


Universal and Correct Wearing of Masks

Physical Distancing/Visitors

  • Classrooms that have desks, students will be spaced with as much room between them as possible.
  • Large gatherings are discouraged for long periods of time
  • BOE may determine to restrict the use of the school facilities by outside organizers
  • The district may limit attendance by parents and patrons during its school-sponsored indoor events (per policy IICC-AP1).
  • Face coverings are encouraged by all visitors inside the school.
  • Visitors providing essential and educational services are permitted but must check-in and follow COVID mitigation protocols.

Handwashing and Respiratory Etiquette

  • Hand sanitizer will be available in classrooms and hallways for frequent use
  • Classrooms with desks, student will be spaced with as much room between as possible 

Cleaning and Maintaining Healthy Facilities, including improving ventilation

  • Thoroughly ventilate, clean and then disinfect all buildings, desks, food preparation/service areas, equipment and other surfaces prior to students returning, using CDC and OSHA guidelines, as well as any guidelines or tips provided by the BCHD.
  • A cleaning schedule (revised maintenance and custodial schedules to focus on high touch/traffic areas) for effectively cleaning and disinfecting building and facilities for academic learning or extracurricular activities
  • Clean and disinfect all work areas, counters, restrooms, doorknobs, etc. several times daily
  • Clean and disinfect student desks/tables, keyboards as often as possible.
  • Clean work out equipment/sports equipment frequently and between transitions
  • Create a plan to increase frequency during flu season or increased covid 19  exposures in the area or in the school community

Isolation

  • Only positive cases will isolate for 5 days, return on 6th day
  • Negative test is not required for return
  • Day 0 – symptom onset or date of test with positive result
  • Day 1-5 isolation
  • Day 6 return, end of isolation, after 5 full days if the person is fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your symptoms have been improving.
  • No isolation for close contacts unless symptoms occur is required. 

Contact Tracing

  • Contact tracing to the extent that has been utilized prior to January 20, 2022, will cease from the district’s perspective
  • Methods of choice by building administration/nursing will be utilized to communicate to parents indicating a positive case has occurred in relation to their child/children or staff.
  • The district’s role ends after identifying symptoms and providing households with recommended next steps.

Quarantines

  • Assigning quarantines is not a function of the school district.
  • Individuals identified as potential close contacts are not required to quarantine from school related activities, however parents and staff may choose to quarantine their child or themselves, following identification as a close contact for a period of 5 days.
  • Administrative approval will be needed for additional days. If a parent makes such a selection remote learning options will be presented to the parent upon notification being made to school administration.

Screening

  • The District maintains a room for quarantine of any student demonstrating symptoms and waiting to be pick-up from school.

Vaccinations

  • Clinics will continue to host vaccinations clinics when possible or warranted
  • Vaccinations are recommended by the district

Exclusions from School

  • Any symptoms that warrant a student or staff member to exit a building will follow the school district’s student handbook for return, unless verified with a positive COVID-19 test, which would require the above isolation.

Academic Needs of Students

Appropriate Accommodations for Children with Disabilities with Respect to the Health and Safety Policies

  • Accommodations as necessary or as mandated by the Individualized Education Plan
  • Accommodations as necessary or as mandated by 504 Plan

Athletics

Middle School Bond Issue Construction Update
A lot of progress is being made with the middle school construction project. With the new addition. the iron workers have completed all of the steel columns, beams, roof bar joints and metal decking. The metal stud framers have finished installing the metal trusses over the high roof area, and are making a lot of progress installing interior metal stud walls. The plumbers, electricians and sprinkler pipe fitters are onsite and have started their work. The roofers are scheduled to start working on the new addition's roofing system.

In the middle school's north building, contractors installed casework, cabinets and countertops in the classroom and installed the majority of the remaining ceramic wall tile in the east hallway over Christmas break. The roofers have completed removing and replacing the rubber roof. Over the next several weeks, the roofer's sheet metal subcontractor will start working on the fascia, gutters and downspouts.

In the south building, Prost Builders was able to pour back the concrete slab in the existing classroom with the floor issue, and set new cabinets and countertops in four classrooms. The roofers were able to remove and replace the roof on the west wing, east wing and the entire north wing. The remaining re-roof work consists of the south center part of the middle school's south building.

Voters in the Southern Boone School District approved the $7.7 million bond issue last April for the middle school construction project. The project will connect the two buildings with the new addition, which consists of a new main office, science labs, library and vocational area. The project also includes converting the current office and library into additional classrooms, and other much needed improvements to the middle school.
Kindergarten Registration For 2022-2023 School Year
Kindergarten registration for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year will take place January 7th-February 25th. You may register your student(s) at the Primary School (803 S Henry Clay Blvd) Monday-Friday from 8:30AM-3:45PM. The student does not need to be present to register. Kindergarten screening information will be sent out after the registration process. If you have any questions about Kindergarten registration, contact the Primary School at 573-657-2148.
LEARN MORE ABOUT KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION HERE

Preschool Program Application/Selection Process Underway

The Southern Boone County R-I Preschool’s application and selection process is currently underway. This is a program children that are 4 years old. All potential applicants must be four by July 31st of the upcoming school year. Children who are eligible for Kindergarten are not eligible for this program. This is a half-day program for 4 year-olds that meets 5 days a week. We have both a morning and afternoon session with a maximum of 25 students per session, divided between two classrooms . We offer a developmentally appropriate, standard-based curriculum that uses a thematic approach. Our goal is to help each child grow physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRESCHOOL SELECTION PROCESS HERE
Inclement Weather Communication
With winter here, be prepared for the possibility school closings and other important announcements. When a decision is made due to inclement weather to cancel school, run bus snow routes or dismiss school early, there are a variety forms of communication that will be used to notify parents, families and the community.

Forms of communication:
  • Automated Phone Call: Parents will receive a recorded phone call from the school district with the important announcement. Please be sure your phone number is up-to-date in the SIS Portal.
  • Remind Text Alert: Text the appropriate school code below to 81010 to receive text messages from your child's school and the district through Remind.
    • Primary:  @sbcprs
    • Elementary:  @sbcels 
    • Middle School:  @sbcmds
    • High School:  @sbchighs 
    • MS & HS Athletics:  @sbcath
  • Email: Please be sure your email is up-to-date in the SIS Portal.
  • School Website: A message will be posted on the homepage at www.ashland.k12.mo.us.
  • Social Media: Be sure to connect with the school district on social media. 
  • Local TV: The school district will be added to the TV's list of closings and cancellations.
  • Local Radio: The school district will be added to the radio station's list of closings and cancellations.
It's important to have multiple ways to receive information and special announcements from the school district. We will make every effort to provide cancellation notices to our families as early as possible. Thank you for your cooperation as we prepare for the winter weather season.
Other Announcements

APPLY ONLINE HERE
Community Events/Announcements

Optimist Soccer Registration Underway
Registration for Spring 2022 Optimist Soccer for grades 1st-8th is now open. 

PreK-Kindergarten
All practices and games will be held in Ashland. The six-week season will begin on April 9. The cost for each child (pre-k and kindergarten) is $35 per player for the season. The registration deadline is February 18Registrations will only be accepted after February 18 if there are slots available on teams.

Grades 1-8
Practices will be held in Ashland and games will be held at the soccer fields off of Highway 63 in Jefferson City. (Some 6th-8th grade games may be played in towns in the mid-Missouri area.) Season will start March 19. The cost for each child ranges from $45 to $60 for the season. The registration deadline is February 4. Registrations will only be accepted after February 4 if there are slots available on teams.

To register for soccer, please visit https://form.jotform.com/220024936098153. If requesting a scholarship please email: ashlandosa@gmail.com for a coupon code before you register. Registration fees are limited to two entry fees per family. If registering more than 2 kids, make sure to get code to cap registration fees at 2. If we have to cancel the season, we will issue refunds upon request. The deadline to request a refund, will be a month after the cancellation date.

If you have any questions, please email ashlandosa@gmail.com.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
SIS Portal         Menus         Calendar         Contact

5275 West Red Tail Drive
Ashland, MO  65010
573-657-2147

communications@ashland.k12.mo.us
Facebook Facebook
Twitter Twitter
Website Website
Instagram Instagram
Email Email
Copyright © 2022 Southern Boone School District, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp