The Maries R-2 Board of Education on Dec. 22 told their superintendent that facilities take precedence over their short and long-term goals.

During a goals meeting, suggested and led by Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham, board members prioritized goals they set during the November 2020 meeting, and not the least of their concerns were the district’s buildings.

Board members each had two first-priority goals. While their second goal differed, they agreed that the gym wall at the high school needed to be repaired.

“So really the repair to the gym wall, because we all agree that needs to be done in the next 12 to 24 months max, is a priority,” Basham said. “For sure we have to do something about it right away? It’s a current year priority.”

Director Tom Kinsey said once they do fix the gym wall, they need to have a facilities maintenance schedule, now that they have someone to manage the money.

“I would eventually like to see a new campus,” said Director Kenda Sanders. “If we are talking really long-term.”

Basham asked if they felt they had a place for that to happen.

“I don’t think we have a place to put all three buildings in one spot,” Director Dawn Hicks said. “I don’t feel that land we have over there is big enough.”

Board members asked how much land the Gasconade County R-2 campus is built on, but no one knew. According to 2012 board notes, the Gasconade County R-2 campus is built on 107 acres that was purchased in the 1960s. The elementary school, built in 2007, is the newest building on the property.

“That should also be included in your long-term goals, what to do with your old properties after you build something new,” Basham said. “The property that we have, do we have a goal for that?”

Kinsey said the intention of purchasing the 10 acre tract located off of County Road 738 was that the Bethman’s had said they would release some of their property on the other end to go along with the purchase.

“That was on the other side of the gravel road?” Basham asked. 

Kinsey said it was, but Hicks said that was a verbal agreement and never put in writing.

“On the other side of that too, we are paying almost $15,500 on a lot to build a building trades house. If the school thing didn’t work out, it is still a lot cheaper to have property to start building houses on as a trade subdivision.”

Basham asked if they had previously discussed that as a possibility for that property.

“The thing is, unless it is a building functioning as a school property, the price went up somehow,” Butler said. “I don’t remember how it was written.”

Director Amy Kiso said some kind of interest was imposed if the district used the property for anything other than a school facility.

Basham said the agreement is difficult to read and she tried speaking with the attorney who wrote it, but they would not speak with her over the phone.

“As far as the facility, do we need another bus building or another admin building? The admin building can go anywhere,” Kinsey said.

Butler said they could locate their bus shed and administration building on existing property, and start tearing down existing buildings and rebuilding.

“That is what we had really talked about last time, and building the elementary here, but there would have had to be meals shuttled,” Kiso said.

Sanders agreed that the only place they would have been able to go was up at that point, which they didn’t want to do.

“I would recommend that we really only go one floor given the safety and security that we now know,” Basham said. “So is your number one long-term goal to have a campus? To get them all in one town?”

The board agreed one campus is what they have been wanting for a while.

“It doesn’t have to be a new campus, it can be the same campus, just buildings start getting replaced,” Butler said.

Sanders felt the salary schedule should be the second priority; Kinsey felt increasing student achievement should have been after the gym repair; Butler said expanding career opportunities and safety at the facilities would have been his next priority. Director Garret Bialzcyk said he also had expanding safety at the facilities and the wall, but felt they went hand in hand. His second would have been the staff retention and salary schedule.

“I agree with that because retention of quality staff, naturally our academics would improve,” said Kiso.

Basham said the goals work into the goals they currently have. 

“As far as the schools, we aren’t just talking about safety features, but how to enter in and out of the schools. Don’t let people in, if you know them or not,” Kinsey said.

Kiso said that is re-education at every school.

Basham said her suggestion would be to increase college and career ready by increasing student performance.

The board also discussed how to improve connectivity within the district, but Basham suggested that would have to be a community commitment to see enough improvement.

“All students ought to have good access to internet,” Hicks said.

Kinsey said the community would have to buy into it.

“It will take all of us, not just the district, to do that,” Basham said.

The board approved goals to be:

1. Repair the gym wall.

2. Staff retention/enhance equality/student achievement.

3. Enhance safety.

4. Increase career opportunities.

The next board goals meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 23.