VERSAILLES, Mo. -- The Morgan County R-2 (MCR2) School Board continued discussions regarding the reorganization plans for South Elementary, which included letters of plea for a delay in an Early Learning Center decision.
In the Tuesday MCR2 Board of Education meeting, the board discussed making South Elementary more viable by making it into an all-district Early Learning Center.
For an extended period during the meeting, the board discussed the concerns brought up at recent parent and town hall meetings, trying to come up with solutions and other options. A representative from Concerned Members of South School Community was present and read a letter put together by a committee, asking board members to "Stand United for Excellence," a motto created within the district several years ago. The letter asked the board to give them a chance to further collect data to present during the March board meeting in an effort to convince them South school is worth fighting for.
"We are coming to you in the spirit of collaboration," the representative read, stating they are not there to fight the school board.
The committee's goal is to keep South school as the community school. Another letter was written to the board from the city of Laurie, which also declared its desire for the school to stay within the community.
As more and more opposition comes in, some board members are outwardly expressing their own concerns in making these changes for the next school year.
Earlier in the meeting, Vice President Shawn Manuel brought up the same motto as the letter cites, suggesting to his fellow board members that they consider the community's feelings and what United for Tiger Excellence has accomplished.
"We did something really incredible as a community as far as getting the levy passed, the FEMA shelter," he said. "It is something I look at ... what we got done as an ancillary benefit of the community coming together.
"An Early Learning Center is a fantastic thing," he said, adding they need to figure out if it fits for the district.
"There are a lot of positive things about a Pre-K program. ... I have concerns if it is going to work in our community," he said.
With the purpose of increasing enrollment admist community backlash, Manuel said, this decision may actually be taking a step backward on being united as a community.
Board Member Melissa Owsley said, in considering the matter, she looked back to the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) and strategic plan.
"Objective two is to maximize stakeholder satisfaction through proactive relationship building," she read. "Facilitate parent and community involvement and support through development of community partnerships. ... That is something to look at while we are thinking about this."
Owsley went on to remind the board of their SWOT analysis.
"Our opportunities are working with community and business partnerships. Our weaknesses were communications, school spirit through the staff, student and community. Threats were negative communication to the public, low morale, non-supportive parents of the community," she said, adding their challenges were listed as communications, school spirit, communication to the public and low morale.
"We need to look at this ... we have this in our plan," she said.
Owsley added she felt they were being rushed in the South school matter.
"We just learned of this in January," she said.
Superintendent Dr. Joyce Ryerson told the board if they wanted to wait for a decision they could, but the enrollment has been declining, which is why the discussion initially began.
"This whole discussion got started because of enrollment, not because we are trying to save money. When we got to looking at it, we are down to 42 students. ... there is a lot of money spent per child so when we talk about equitability ... first it was 60s, then 62, last year 56, this year 44," Ryerson said.
"If we aren't going to go with this model, it is OK," she said, but noted something needs to be figured out.
"I can't see us continuing to offer up the building if we are going to continue to see declining enrollment," Ryesron added, noting the breakdown in the county population shows an increase in the age 55 and older bracket, signifying an influx of children aren't being born in the district.
Board Member Hugh Smith suggested the enrollment situation be solved by enforcing the boundaries. He noted parents didn't have a choice in where to send their children to school in the past like they do now, but Board Member Anthony Piercy questioned whether enforcing the boundaries was standing united as a community.
"We are one school district," he said.
A decision for the immediate year will be finalized at the next meeting in fairness to parents and students, as preschool screenings are approaching.
"I may be incredibly naive here, and I am OK with that, but I would like to believe that we can figure out a way as a community to fix this. ... no you aren't going to make everybody happy, but we could continue on the path of United for Tiger Excellence," Manuel said. "My hope is in the same manner that we had such great support when we were fighting for the tornado shelter and performing arts center. ... I hope that we can get that same collaboration.
"If we can, I think it is a huge opportunity and I don't think it stops with fixing our attendance at South school."