MOKANE - Members of the South Callaway district expressed an eagerness to begin the upcoming school year Wednesday at the August school board meeting.
There were several topics that still needed to be discussed before students are welcomed back, but before all that, Mary Van Orden, director of curriculum and instruction, took some time to introduce the new teachers.
Van Orden read profiles of the seven new faces supplied by the instructors.
The new teachers are: Michelle AuBochon, who will teach sixth-grade English language arts and is a graduate of South Callaway; Jenna Brown, who will teach ninth- and 10th-grade government and world history and is a lifelong resident of the area; Collin Byrd, who will teach physical education and health at the early childhood building and will serve as an assistant coach for the middle school softball and girl's basketball teams; Chris Lynn, who will teach seventh- and eighth-grade math and has more than 14 years of experience in multiple subjects; Leigh Rogers, who will teach ninth- through 12th-grade English language arts and is a lifelong resident of Callaway County; Jackson Wagner, who will teach at the early childhood building and will serve as an assistant for the football and baseball teams; and Emily Willingham, who will teach sixth- and seventh-grade science and who moved to Jefferson City from the Hazelwood district near St. Louis.
"I spent four days of really intense time with these folks," Van Orden said. "They are the most energetic and positive group of people that I've seen."
Among the actions happening this week to welcome back students is South Callaway hosting registration the previous two days before the meeting, high school student-athletes starting practices for fall sports, with middle school starting next week, and the high school hosting a freshmen orientation Saturday. The board also outlined some building projects among its old business that should make the facilities more appealing.
In other business, Superintendent Kevin Hillman said there hasn't been uniform recommendations regarding masks and quarantine rules for when schools open back up, so the district plans on having as much in-person learning as possible and to have that important first day of school.
"I plan to put something out in the community very short, a community survey," Hillman said. "We're not looking into getting into a fight here. Businesses, communities and even friends have been fighting about what it is to do. Everyone is in their camp, and I'm not arguing with anybody. I don't have the perfect answer."
Hillman said it has been "alarming" to see cases increasing from the start of July to August and said he would like to keep the option open to ramp up masking and quarantining precautions if cases grow too much.
In new business, Hillman recommended annual tuition stay at $10,857 as there is no one currently on tuition. The motion was made and approved. He also asked for permission to obtain bids on replacements for a fleet Suburban vehicle and -ton pickup truck that have been with the district so long they have too many mechanical issues. The motion was made and was passed.