VIENNA — The Maries R-1 School Board has approved a special COVID-19 stipend for all certified and non-certified staff at the school. 

As Superintendent Mark Parker explained to the school board at its March meeting, due to the coronavirus pandemic, state funding was uncertain. Payments to the school district were cut in both June and July 2020 so no step increase, a stipend or a raise was given during the 2020-21 school year. Parker said he would like to give certified and non-certified staff members a stipend that is not a step but the monetary equivalent to a step. It will be a 1.72 percent raise. The total cost to the district will be $38,714.

Parker and the administrative team discussed it and they agreed to pay this amount but the staff will have to do some extra duties to receive it. “We have a huge task to do when we do the windows,” Parker said. The extra duty for staff members will revolve around preparing for building renovations this summer and will be based on a number of hours for each stipend level. When they redo the windows, stuff in the classrooms will need to be moved, covered, and more. It will be a big job. “Its extra duty to get the money,” he said. If they want it they will need to work the hours. 

Board Vice President Penny Schoene asked if they can use the Covid-19 money to pay for it and Parker said he would rather not do that. 

Board President Vicki Bade said they will be giving the staff members the amount of a step, but not the step. Parker said in next year’s budget, which he currently is working on, he’s recommending two steps in the budget. He said a lot of schools are doing this because of the uncertainty and loss of funding in 2020. They will make everybody catch up in the next budget.

Parker said they have contracts and the school district can’t legally pay them more as they agreed to work for x amount of money. 

Stipends will have retirement and FICA added to them. The stipends range from $175 plus retirement and FICA to $1,500 plus retirement and FICA. 

In other business at the Maries R-1 School Board meeting:

• A few months ago the board gave Parker permission and $15,000 to purchase two buses to replace Bus 10, which he already has done, and Bus 23. He has the second bus almost ready to go and it will join the district’s bus fleet in April. He asked the board to declare Bus 23 as surplus property. It has 11 deficiencies and will cost over $1,000 to make the repairs. He will advertise the bus for sale. 

Also, the old bell/intercom system will be offered for sale.

• The board accepted the change to the 2021-22 school calendar. Spring break is April 14 through April 18, 2022. There were wrong dates on the school calendar the board approved at the last meeting.

• In the financial report, the March Formula/CTF payment was $119,349.77, about $20,000 more than the school district received the previous month. 

Prop C revenue was down about $12,000 at $35,833.34. Transportation revenue was nearly the same as the previous month at $6,150. 

March electricity costs were $3,508.18 and propane expense was $8,316 with the tank at 24 percent. Parker hopes to be finished with propane expenses for this school year.

• Two new scoreboards were scheduled to be installed on March 29. The Maries County Bank was very generous and purchased them for the school district. Maries R-1 will pay for the installation.

• On March 19, Phelps Health staff came to the school campus to administer Covid-19 vaccinations to any person associated with working at the school. About 50 people were vaccinated, although some staff members declined the vaccination. Parker said there were not many ill affects reported by the staff. They will return in three weeks to administer the second dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination. Parker said they appreciate Phelps Health for supplying this service to the school community.

• The new track is ready and there are upcoming dates set for the first track meets at the renovated facility. Bade said there is a photo of the Maries R-1 track on the Byrne & Jones Sports Construction website. Parker said they are doing the finishing touches and it looks good. They have bleachers and fence sponsors and he had a sign made which will be displayed at the track.

• The bond opening for the hallway and concession stand project at the south gym entrance was a few days away. Parker said once they get the price on that renovation project he will know how much bond money the school will have to spend on parking lot improvements. There are several projects planned and he said they will begin in May. 

• State Representative 62nd District, Bruce Sassmann of Bland, was at the R-1 campus recently and he was given a tour. Parker said he liked the school’s facilities. He thanked Sassmann for backing public education.