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ENews: Friday, September 22, 2023

ENews: Friday, September 22, 2023

School Calendar: Dates to Remember

Calendar
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Monday, September 25: HIS Family Fun Night

Friday, October 6: HMS School Dance

Monday, October 9: Parent Teacher Conferences

Friday, October 13: PreK-5 Dental Clinic

Wednesday, October 18: Board of Education Meeting

Friday, October 20: Homecoming 2023 Parade & Football Game

Wednesday, October 18: Board of Education Meeting

Friday, October 20: End of 1st Quarter

Tuesday, October 24: HPS Title I Literacy Night

Wednesday, November 1: Picture Retake Day


You can view the district calendar online here or subscribe to the calendar here.

You can subscribe to the District and Athletics & Activities events and calendar here.

Superintendent John Downs Announces Retirement

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After 27 years of service, John Downs has announced his retirement from the Hallsville School District, effective June 30, 2024.


Superintendent Downs joined Hallsville Schools in 1996 as an elementary music teacher and transitioned out of the classroom in 2002 to become the Lead Teacher, followed by Director of Curriculum & Instruction and then Assistant Superintendent. He has been leading Hallsville Schools as Superintendent since 2016.


Superintendent Downs expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Hallsville community. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve our students, staff, and community for so many years. The Hallsville school community has been like a second family to me for nearly three decades, and the relationships I have made and developed over that time are incredibly important to me. It's comforting to reach the end of my career knowing the district is set on a trajectory for continued student success.”


The Board of Education would like to thank Mr. Downs for his leadership and guidance and for supporting the district’s vision of Improving Lives Through Learning. You can read the full release here.

Bond Construction Update

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SMWilson provided the fifth monthly progress report for review at the September Board of Education meeting.


Progress Report #5: September Monthly Update


Athletic Complex: The road north of the track was completed on Wednesday, August 23. Concrete sidewalks around the north side of the track were poured on August 23 and 24. The retaining wall forms were set the week of August 28, and the wall was poured on Thursday, August 31. Asphalt paving of the track started on September 1, and the surface layer was completed on Tuesday, September 5. The top layer of field rock was fine-tuned the week of September 5 in anticipation of turf installation starting Monday, September 11. Topsoil is being final graded around the perimeter of the track.


Anticipated Milestone Activities:

  • Turf Install (9/11 - 9/29)

  • Scoreboard Panels Reinstall (9/12 - 9/14)

  • Long Jumping/Triple Jump (Poured 9/13)

  • Fence & Guardrail Install (9/26 - 10/4)

  • Hydroseeding Outside of Track (9/28 - 9/29)

Middle School: The under slab rough-in is complete, and the electrical underground was installed at the mechanical room. The interior bearing footings for the west half of the building were poured, rock for the under-slab base was brought in, a vapor barrier was installed, and the slab rebar was placed. The first section of slab on grade was poured on September 12. The concrete crew recently finished the foundation walls at the mechanical room and is currently forming the southeast perimeter walls this week. They will then move to the footings that run north to south in Corridor 117 as they work their way out of the building pad.


Anticipated Milestone Activities:

  • Slab on Grade 1st Pour (9/12)

  • Footings & Foundation Walls East Half (8/30 - 9/22)

  • Structural Masonry (Start West Side 9/18)

  • Slab on Grade 2nd Pour (9/28-9/29)

The monthly update also includes one Change Order Request the Board approved:

  • Change Order Request #11: This change order is for the revisions to the Sanitary Sewer lines per RFI #09 and RFI#11. The existing sewer line from the high school science building was running in the same location as the footing that needed to be installed for column line 2.


The monthly update also includes two agreements the Board approved:

  • An agreement for special inspections and testing with Terracon. The district must contract directly with the firm to ensure they are independent of the construction manager in their inspections and tests. Terracon was the lone bidder and the same firm we worked with on the primary school project.

  • An agreement with Provision Data Solutions for low-voltage network infrastructure in the new middle school wing. As you will recall, this bidding was pulled out and coordinated through our E-rate consultant to access federal funding to support the project. Provision has engaged Steel-Nett as their subcontractor for the pulling of cable and installation of equipment.


The board also voted on moving forward with a sidewalk around the concourse area of the stadium and color of the track (black).


Substantial completion of the middle school building addition is scheduled for July 16, 2024, and the track and field on October 6, 2023. You can view the entire timeline for each project on pages 25-27 here.

Fall Sports & Athletic Complex Update

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The Hallsville Athletics and Activities Department is excited to announce the first home football game of the season will be Varsity football on Friday, October 13, at 7:00 p.m. against Blair Oaks. Senior night for Band, Cheer, Cross-Country, Girls Golf, Trap Shooting, and Football recognitions also occurs before the football game at 6:40 p.m. The Hallsville Indian Pride Marching Band will take the field during halftime.


With the athletic complex having a substantial completion date of October 6, there is much for SMWilson and the district to do to prepare the site for a competition one week later. This includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Removal of debris and large machinery

  • Leveling of the gravel parking lot

  • Rental and installation of Bleachers

  • Testing of all audio equipment

  • Testing of all electrical at the site

  • Preparing the concession stand, press box, locker room, and common areas


Our goal for the week of October 9 is to create a safe environment ready for everyone to enjoy on Friday, October 13.


Teacher of the Year Nominations

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The Hallsville Chamber of Commerce seeks nominations for the 2023 Educator of the Year. Nominations are due by Friday, October 27. If you want to nominate a teacher from our district who displays dedication, motivation, enthusiasm, and commitment, please submit your online nomination here. The Chamber is also accepting nominations for Business and Citizen of the Year. You can use the form above to submit nominations.

National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, and Hallsville Middle Schools has partnered with Burrell Behavioral Health to speak to students about this important topic. Megan Henry from Burrel will speak to middle school students this month on the importance of recognizing signs of suicide, how to start a conversation about mental health, what self-care looks like, when to get help, and where to get help. Primary and intermediate school counselors will read Gizmo is Pawesome, a children’s book about a therapy dog visiting schools to comfort people when they are sad, mad, or worried.


Our goal is to empower students with the knowledge and tools to be advocates for themselves and others to keep everyone safe and to know that they have resources available to them and that it is okay to reach out to a trusted adult or resource should they feel like they need to.

We also want to make everyone aware of the designated dialing code, 988, that is operated through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

“Coming Home” for Homecoming 2023

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We are “Coming Home” for Homecoming 2023, celebrating our football players, cheer, and the Indian Pride marching band competing and performing on our new athletic field. The Hallsville High School Indians football team will host the California Pintos at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20th, for the 2023 Homecoming game. The homecoming parade will also be Friday, October 20, beginning at 1:30 p.m. All preschoolers through 12th grade not involved in the parade will be able to watch, and we invite the community to line the streets as well! HHS Student Council will be releasing additional information in early October.

Arrival & Dismissal

Hallsville Primary School

To ensure student safety and a streamlined process for arrival time, please utilize the entire sidewalk (from Preschool doors past the gym near the end of the parking lot) to unload car riders every morning. All cars should enter the pick-up and drop-off line at the purple circle on the map. When exiting, there is no right turn to Highway 124.

Hallsville Intermediate School

Intermediate families dropping off or picking up students must enter from North Street heading east, and turn right into the intermediate parking lot. There is no left turn into the intermediate lot. Please remember that school does not dismiss until 3:30 p.m.

Hallsville Middle & High School

Please use the entire area marked for student drop-off on the map. There should be 3-4 cars unloading at a time, and students can walk to the HHS or North Gym entrance. Students and adults should be mindful that the speed limit on Ricketts Road is 15 mph. When exiting the back lot, it is critical that you are mindful of cars trying to enter.

Early Childhood Grant & Enrollment

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has introduced a new grant opportunity called the Missouri Quality Pre-Kindergarten Grant (MOQPK). This grant aims to expand funding for prekindergarten instruction and increase access for low-income families. By successfully applying for and receiving the MOQPK grant, we have expanded our capacity to serve five more students, increasing our total available seats to 20. Please visit our website here to learn more about our Early Childhood preschool programs.

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Below are highlights of items discussed during the open session on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, Board of Education Meeting. You can view the full highlights here.


The next regular session meeting is Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hallsville Primary School cafeteria.


RECOGNITIONS

Mr. Downs recognized the SIS coordinator, Tina Montague; Business Manager, Ada Tharp; Assistant Payroll & Accounts Payable, Pam Scott; Help Desk Technician, Justin Miller; and School Counselors, Matt Boyer, Kellie Austene, and Kayla Lewis, for their work as the district transitions to Infinite Campus.


Shaunna Turner recognized the district’s safety coordinator, Ty Sides, for hosting the district’s safety meeting earlier this month.


Shaunna Turner recognized Amy Hempen, project leader of plants at our local 4-H chapter, for generously donating her time and efforts in helping Hallsville Primary School secure grant money to help establish an outdoor learning garden/outdoor classroom in the front of the school.


CITIZENS COMMUNICATION

Sheila Ganley spoke on the topic of supporting the district’s Fine Arts programs.

Vanessa Plummer spoke on the topic of mixed genders in locker rooms.


2023-2024 PRELIMINARY ENROLLMENT NUMBERS

The district’s August headcount, ADA, and the number of students who attended at least one day in August were presented to the board for review. All three metrics demonstrate an increase, which indicates higher student enrollment for the current school year.


TUITION FOR NONRESIDENT STUDENTS

Each year, the Board sets tuition rates for students who reside outside the district. Our tuition rate for 2022-23 was $8,651 per full-time nonresident student. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reported expenditures per pupil at $9,302.95. The Board approved the 2023-2024 tuition increase to $9,303 annually for full-time nonresident students.


BOARD OPERATIONS & DEVELOPMENT

Per the schedule created in July 2023, the Board of Education will review select policies and associated regulations related to Board functions. Additionally, a representative from MSBA attended the meeting to present information on the Board development opportunities they provide.


MONDAY REMEDIATION

The district is in the final stages of preparing for our Monday Remediation program, which is set to begin on October 16. The primary objective of Monday Remediation is to provide specialized support to students identified as having achievement gaps. To facilitate this program, we have assembled a team of seven teachers who will work with students across grades three through twelve. Student participation in Monday Remediation will be based on individual academic needs.


SCHOOL SAFETY

The District recently applied for the second round of safety funds from the state of Missouri. A school our size was allowed to request $150,000. Around September 29th, we will hear back from the state if we are awarded this grant. If approved, the grant will help the district make access control improvements to our buildings. The District recently held its first safety meeting of the year. A recap of the meeting can be found here.


DISTRICT PURCHASES

The Board of Education approved multiple purchases during the September meeting. More detailed information can be found here.

  • Primary HVAC Repair: A component of the energy recovery unit (ERU) of the second grade wing's dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) has failed and must be replaced. The purpose of the system is to reduce costs by restricting the amount of energy (both heating and air conditioning) that is lost to the outside when fresh air is transferred into the school. The failure of this component has a significant impact on the temperature in the second grade wing.

  • SMART Board Purchases: Replacement of four SMART Board interactive classroom displays.

  • Acoustic Sound Shell: This replacement set of acoustic sound shells will meet the needs of the secondary choral program and eliminate the need to transport the shells across campus, extending the life of each set.

  • Student Lockers: HHS will purchase hallway lockers to replace many of the current lockers that are unrepairable. The purchase of lockers is within the capital projects budget for equipment repair and replacement.

  • Installation of Concrete in Greenhouse: The installation of the concrete greenhouse floor is being paid for with a family donation via the Hallsville Public Schools Foundation.

  • Gym Wall Pads: The district will replace the gym wall pads in the west gym. There is a six-week lead time for production and plans for installation in November. This expenditure is within the activities capital projects budget approved by the Board in June.

  • Purchase & Installation of Wrestling Mat Hoist: The district will purchase a wall-mounted hoist system for the competition wrestling mats. This system would allow the program to safely store the mats out of the way when they are not used for competitions. This purchase would be made from a combination of funding sources:

    • Hallsville Athletic Boosters plan to donate $10,000;

    • The Youth wrestling club plans to donate $10,000-$12,000;

    • The remaining funds will come from the SA Athletics account.

#BeInvolved: Community & Youth Events

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A Very Groovy Light of My Life Dance

HHS Varsity Cheer is hosting their annual Light of My Life Dance on Saturday, October 1, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the HHS North Gym. The event is open to girls in 3rd-5th grade. This year’s theme is “We’ve Got Something Groovy Goin’ On!” Break out the tie dye and 70’s wear, and join them for this groovy dance! The cost is $5 per person at the door, and snacks will be available for purchase.


4th & 5th Grade Honor Choir

Elementary Music teacher Mrs. Otten is inviting students in 4th and 5th grade to join the HIS Honor Choir! Applications are available by clicking the link above and must be returned to Mrs. Otten by Friday, September 29.


Hallsville Police Foundation: Science Camp Scholarship

The Police Foundation of Hallsville is again awarding a scholarship to two students (ages 12-17) within the Hallsville School District to attend the Cub Creek Science Camp. Scholarship applications are due by Friday, October 20.


Free Online Homework Help From the Library

Daniel Boone Regional Library offers many free homework help resources for students, including live one-on-one support and tutoring sessions from 2:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. and the ability for students to submit papers to their Writing Lab.

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Central Missouri Step Up for Down Syndrome

Gather your “Dream Team” and Step Up for Down Syndrome on Saturday, October 14, at Mizzou’s Stankowski Field. Participants will enjoy a fun-filled day with bounce houses, carnival games, live music, and more.


Hallsville Farmers & Artisans Market

Hallsville Farmers & Artisans Market will open on Saturday, June 10, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Tribble Park. Please follow them on Facebook to stay up to date. If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please message them on Facebook or contact Sandy at 573-999-7207.
Hallsville School District
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