Hagood: Hard Decisions Ahead For R-I

Ron Smith

At least on paper, school remains scheduled to re-start on April 6 for Doniphan R-I.

“But who knows?,” district superintendent Brad Hagood told the R-I board of education during Tuesday night’s regular monthly business meeting.

“I’ve told some of our administrators that we have to prepare like we may not come back and if that happens there are a lot of things we’re going to have to address and tough decisions that we are going to have to make,” Hagood said during his superintendent’s report.

R-I has been closed since March 18 due to the COVID-19 threat.

There has been good news in recent days. Mandatory state testing is being waived and days missed will be forgiven and not affect revenue received from the state department of education.

R-I’s meals program for students while classes are cancelled has gotten off to a successful start. Hagood said 221 meals were provided during Monday’s first day and the number grew to 281 on the second day.

“The number keeps climbing and we still continue to get calls,” he said.

If school remains closed beyond April 3, federal funding is available to keep the food program going, Hagood said. However, the bus miles needed to deliver meals is not reimbursable for the district which could force the board to re-evaluate deliveries.

The loss of possibly up to a full quarter of the academic year could bring hard decisions as well, Hagood said.

“I really am concerned for our younger grades (K-3) where those basic skills are very important to get early in order to do well from there on out,” he said.

Academic credit for high school students is another area of concern, he said.

“What if we have seniors who need that fourth quarter in order to graduate?” Hagood asked.

As budget work begins for a new fiscal year starting in July, Hagood also told the board that a predicted downward spiral for the economy could result in less state tax revenue to pass on to education.

“Education is one-third of the state budget and it’s an easy target (when overall revenue is down),” he said.

Hagood said typically the state has approved a budget by this time of year, however, due to the COVID-19 emergency, a postponement until May 8 was announced.

“There are going to be hard decisions that we are probably going to have to make,” he said.

In other business, the board approved advertising for sale the former central administration building and property at 309 Pine Street.

Meeting dates for the 2020-21 school year were approved along with revisions to the district assessment plan.

Following a closed sessions, the district accepted resignations from Marlenia Barker, special education process coordinator; Nikki Lichtenegger, special education teacher; Rick Donnell, yearbook advisor (will remain with district as teacher); and Donald McNabb, bus driver (will remain as substitute driver.)

The board approved hiring Mallory Blackshear, pre-k paraprofessional; and Nancy Burgard, special education administrative assistant.

Probationary teachers were evaluated and rehired for the upcoming year.

The next regular board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, at the central administration officed, 401 Walnut St.