During the March 15 board meeting, administrators in the Gasconade County R-2 School District updated the board of education on events and news for the coming months.

Owensville High School Principal Kris Altemeyer told board members that prom is scheduled for April 24 in the school’s big gym. The event could change or be canceled depending on the state of the pandemic, but for now, they are moving forward with the plans.

At Owensville Middle School, the robotics teams are competing virtually for the foreseeable future.

Principal Dr. Scott Davidson at Owensville Elementary School said they have been welcoming virtual learners back into the classroom.

Gerald Elementary School Principal Jared Tharp announced that the new bus road in front of the building is open.

“The grand opening of Dutchmen Drive or Rebel Road as some want to call it — I’m letting that go to see where it goes,” Tharp laughed, adding that the orange and black decor along the drive will most likely lead to the Dutchmen name. “Also Ms. (Jessie) Bayless is art teacher of the year.”

Nutritional Services Director Lori Angell provided the board with an evaluation report that included information on the free Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) meal program that began Sept. 8 and runs through current.

The DHSS program has ran for 95 days and provided 49,291 breakfasts and 91,402 lunches.

“We have been notified free meals will run through September now,” Garner said.

District ala-carte numbers are down for the 2021 school year, with $6,475 made from the line. Angell says the number is lower than previous years due to not being able to offer numerous grab-your-own-and-go items because of cross contamination threats due to the pandemic.

Angell did request that the board consider purchasing another walk-in freezer that could be housed in a centralized location to help with some of the overflow of frozen items.

In transportation news, Garner informed board members that the annual bus fleet inspection had taken place earlier that day and they passed with a 97 percent.

“One bus had a broken bolt on the exhaust bracket and they docked us for it,” Garner said. “Gary (Pohlmann, transportation director) was a little frustrated. The inspector says that the fleet is in great shape.”

The Dutch Pride Alumni Award nominations are due April 15.

Board members voted 7-0 to forgive all but the standard four-day makeup days at the end of the year that were caused by inclement weather.

A Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) fee has been implemented again for the 2021-22 school year at $25 a student, no more than $75 a family, with a 7-0 vote. 

Dates for the 2020-21 summer school under the direction of Kelly Brown have been set for June 1-11, all day, for kindergarten through 12th grades. Students in credit recovery will go additionally from June 11-25.