The Purdy school board reviewed developing programs and preparations for the opening of school during the August meeting.

Superintendent Travis Graham reported custodians did an exceptional job with summer cleaning, placing more LED lights in hallways and preparing the nurses’ office to add a washer/dryer and shower funded by Care to Learn.

Looking ahead, Graham said the next facility focus will concentrate on roof maintenance and replacing more of the heating and cooling units. He was exploring securing an updated intercom system for the whole district with cost estimates.

Reading intervention in the middle school will take on greater focus this year. It will work similarly to the elementary school program, where small groups of students will be pulled from class for short periods to focus on learning skills they need for greater success.

The Reading Success team is moving forward with a new math intervention program that will rotate the same faculty on a different emphasis. The team wants to maintain its reading emphasis but use the same strategies to bolster math comprehension.

Following up on the request made by culinary arts teacher Amy Harkey at the June meeting , the board approved creation of a Purdy competitive team to participate in the High School Barbecue Association, operating like a regular co-curricular school club. Purchase of equipment and supplies will be done through fundraisers, similar to efforts by other school clubs.

In response to a state law increasing awareness about organ donation, board members approved introducing the Gift of Life program into high school health classes. The program’s curriculum takes the discussion about organ donation out of the home and offers it as schooling.

Policy on home school and virtual students participating in extracurricular activities in public schools prompted the board to adopt a new guideline from the Missouri State High School Activities Association. The policy states that “A student must be in attendance for the full day on days of extracurricular participation. Failure to do so will eliminate the student from practice or participation that day. Exceptions may be granted in special cases.”

Presently, Purdy has no home school or virtual students who have asked to participate in extracurricular activities.

Meal prices for the year were approved. Breakfast prices stayed at $1.50 for students but rose 5 cents to $2.40 for adults. Lunch prices rose by 10 cents, up to $2.40 for students and $3.60 for adults. Milk prices stayed the same. Reduced meal prices remained the same at 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch.

In closed session, the board approved four students, including three from the same family, to enroll in the Purdy school district and waive tuition, providing that the parents or students provide their own transportation to and from the school.

In personnel action, board members hired Raeley Henderson as a paraprofessional and Brad Longley as the assistant high school baseball coach.

Board members also approved sending one Purdy High School student to Monett to participate in the GO CAPS program this school year. The annual conflict of interest statement for individual board members was also approved.

Board members approved the annual property tax levy. The operating levy remained unchanged at the state minimum of $2.75 per $100 of evaluated property. The district’s debt service levy paying off long-term debt on construction bonds was set at $.7719 per $100 of property, setting the overall levy at $3.5219.