cwillard@wardpub.com

VIENNA — Maries R-1 Superintendent Teresa Messersmith shared an update on the district’s calendar hours after two winter weather events consumed many of the school’s snow days and alternative methods of instruction (AMI) days.

At the Feb. 25 Board of Education meeting, Messersmith recapped the built-in hours the district had used so far this year. Missouri schools must attend 1,044 hours of instructional time each year.

The district’s 2024-25 calendar included 36 hours of built-in AMI time. It had used five days, or about 34 hours, of that time. The calendar includes another 60 built-in hours for inclement weather. The district had used six days or about 41 of those hours.

The remaining built-in time equaled about 0.3 AMI days and 2.8 inclement weather days.  If the district were to exceed that total, then the board would need to adjust the calendar so instructional time could meet the 1,044-hour requirement.

Temperatures have trended higher over the couple of weeks since the meeting. The first day of spring is approaching on March 20.

Many students at Maries R-1 and other area schools missed classes in late January because of illness. Attendance rates for the month suffered as a result.

Enrollment at Vienna Elementary School in January was 187 students with 82.76 percent average attendance. Middle school enrollment was 96 students with 87.2 percent average attendance. Vienna High School had 129 students enrolled with a 90 percent average attendance.

The district’s overall enrollment was 412 students with an average attendance of 86.67 percent.

Messersmith also shared facilities updates with the board as some of the district’s bond-funded projects continue toward completion.

The construction crew working on the restroom renovation in the pre-K through second-grade wing of the elementary school poured the concrete for the floor during the last week of February.

T&J’s Restoration had been working on the tuckpointing of the high school gym roof.

The school will have new exterior doors installed over spring break from March 24 through March 28. Other ceiling and fire alarm updates will occur once the school year concludes.

The district received $118,052.04 in Formula Classroom Trust money. Proposition C revenue totaled $62,252.81. The district also received $19,805 in Transportation funds.

Electricity cost the district $4,651.04 for the month. It also purchased propane for $11,031.75 after another cold spell. The meter had already decreased to 24 percent and Messersmith said the district would likely purchase more. She said she averages propane usage over a few years to budget for the following year because of the weather’s unpredictability.

Tax revenue continued to roll into the district in the previous month. The district received $34,633 in 2024 taxes and $3,633.05 in delinquent taxes. Another $118.67 came from surtax.

The third quarter ended on March 7. Parent-teacher conferences will begin on March 17 and continue through March 21. Conferences will be over the phone unless either participant requests an in-person conference. March 21 will be an early dismissal day to give teachers additional time to complete conferences.

Messersmith shared recent donations from the community with the board to express the district’s appreciation. Kenner Church of God donated $2,000 for unpaid lunch accounts. The Maries County Bank’s Mascot Checking Account program, which donates $1 per month per account to a fund for local schools, provided about $8,700 for new high jump mats for track and buzzers for the upcoming elementary school knowledge bowl.

The March board meeting will be a week earlier than usual because of spring break from March  24 through March 28. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. on March 18 in the district library.