The Gasconade County R-2 School District has finally reached the conclusion of what should have been the scheduled conclusion of the 2019-20 term, minus the May 17 graduation and May 20 dismissal.

With the official conclusion of the 2020 school year comes the numbers on how COVID-19 played out, according to Superintendent Dr. Chuck Garner at the May 18 board meeting.

“We completed our meal service today,” Garner said. “During the course of the past nine weeks (since school let out on March 18), we have served 5,870 students 52,830 meals.”

While the federal government is offering meal service extension for districts, Gasconade County R-2 does not plan to participate, adding that while parents and guardians were thankful for the food, no one asked the district to continue the service. “The response I got was they appreciated it,” Garner told the board. “But participation decreased over time.”

Director Molly Steinbeck said things changed in her household when childcare reopened and many other families experienced a similar change as parents went back to work.

Summer school has also been affected.

“We are doing a first round of summer school for credit recovery high school students only,” Garner said. “That will be June 15-26. Credit recovery is through computer-based classes and we can keep everyone socially distanced.”

Traditional summer school this year will take place in August prior to school reconvening.

“Aug. 3 through the 14, everyone will come together in person.”

Garner said they chose to have regular summer school later this year so they could get an idea of the restrictions that will be in place come Aug. 24 at the start of the year and how it will work. They are not sure how many students to expect and won’t know until the dates are announced.

Officials were hoping the 2020 budget that has suffered slightly would come out ahead since electric and gas bills were lower with students being home. However, Garner said a message from DESE that informed districts they would not be paid out for the remainder of the year may equivocate a wash in finances if they are lucky, a slight setback if they are not. Garner said it also leaves the 2020-21 budget financially uncertain. He outlined the budget building blocks for next year.

“The state passed the student adequacy target (SAT) at $6,308 but projects the cost to be closer to $6,375,” Garner said. “The state revenue dropped by 50 percent in April and local revenue is expected to drop by 2 percent.”

Other school funding such as Proposition C was expected to bring in $1,010, but the state has no projections at this time. The classroom trust, at $414, is expected to stay the same while transportation is expected to have another 10 percent decrease in funding. Director Bill Seamon asked what they could expect from the “gaming money” and Garner said they were told not to expect anything.

The refund or credit for students who paid the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) sports fee that was discussed at the April meeting went back to nearly 70 students according to Athletic Director Ryan Okenfuss.

“Nearly two thirds chose to have that amount transferred to their lunch account, and the rest chose a refund,” Okenfuss said.

The School Resource Officer that is contracted between the school and the Owensville police department will also need to be worked out for next year.

“The school paid the salary of the resource officer during the nine weeks we were off,” Garner said. “Next year we will work with them for a credit on the first nine weeks of the school year.”

Looking ahead, officials discussed the immediate future and next school year, including what education and sports may look like. Elective testing during the summer months is already being affected.

• The SAT testing for June is in limbo as district officials determine whether they will still be allowed to host the testing. Should testing be canceled, 2021 seniors who signed up for the test may take it in the fall.

• Alternative Methods of Learning (AMI) requirements for distance learning may look different next year if the school is required to continue as it has the past two months. DESE relaxed the standards this year, but schools will be required to follow all requirements next year if they have teach online.

• A+ tutoring requirements have also been relaxed for the graduating class of 2020, but standards remain the same for 2021 forward so far. If the August summer school is allowed, students may elect to complete A+ tutoring during that time.

• Youth camps for sports during the summer are being limited. Small groups are encouraged to work together to maintain and improve their skills, but social distancing is required at all times. Fields will also be limited. June is for high school athletes only and July is for seventh through twelfth grades. No classes or athletics have been canceled for the 2020-21 school year at this time.

• The 354-square mile district is also destined to have issues with potential social distancing requirements in the 2020-21 school year, as some Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) suggestions go as far as recommending students be seated one to a seat in every other seat on the bus. Students may also be required to wear masks.