OWENSVILLE — The Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education on Oct. 19 approved a motion to transfer funds to offset the food service deficit for the 2025-26 school year. This year, the total was $433,290.55. Food service in the district operates at a deficit every year and each October they transfer the funds necessary to meet that deficit, said Superintendent Dr. Staci Johnson.

They then approved the payment of monthly bills to Ameren before voting to approve an update to their Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP).

The 29-page CSIP document “serves as the district’s five-year strategic plan” as is required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The main goal of the changes was to make the document more concise and accessible than previous versions, but to do so without losing any substance, Johnson said. The board was in favor of the changes and approved them unanimously.

Johnson read the newly worded mission statement out loud, “We inspire and empower every student to learn, lead, and make a difference.”

The board approved a motion that will, in the future, allow them to take bids from food vendors for food service in the district. That item is barring approval from the state of the documentation that will be sent to approved vendors, said Assistant Superintendent Jesse Janssen.

The board also approved a motion to purchase turkeys from Walmart for staff members for Christmas before approving the hiring of a second full-time substitute teacher for Owensville Elementary School. Because on-call employees demand a higher wage, the change is not expected to cost the district much more than they already pay substitutes to fill that role, Johnson said.

Finally, the board approved a resolution to oppose a new state-level system that would provide a single A-F letter grade for each school based on how they performed in certain metrics. The system was developed in response to an executive order signed in January by Gov. Mike Kehoe that mandated its creation.

The board wanted to make sure to express their opposition – before any grades are given out – so that their decision would not appear to be swayed by whatever grade they may receive, Johnson said.

The resolution takes exception with what it characterizes as a lack of communication with all involved stakeholders in the creation of the system. It also opposes the system’s focus on standardized test scores to establish grades, rather than the multitude of other factors that go into a school district’s performance.

“The hope is that (the Missouri State Board of Education) will see that a delaying of public release until we’re sure what the calculations mean and how they’re being calculated would be the responsible thing to do,” Johnson said.

The R-2 board also approved all the action items on their agenda.

The board recognized the students and employees of the month before hearing financial summaries and reports regarding what happened at each school over the last month and how district transportation services are faring. Johnson and Janssen gave reports, as well.

dThe next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.