By Don Groves
The Albany Ledger
The Albany R-III School District is working with other county districts as well as the Gentry County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to ensure schools remain one of the safest places for students.
Albany superintendent John Rinehart provided the Albany R-III Board of Education a safety update at the board’s Jan. 21 meeting. He said he had met earlier that day with superintendents from Stanberry and King City, Sheriff Tim Davis and a Highway Patrol sergeant to discuss security at schools.
Rinehart said the district plans to work with law enforcement to conduct safety drills. He said district patrons can also expect more frequent visits by law enforcement, particularly at public events such as ball games.
“Safety is something that’s still very much on our minds,” he said.
Rinehart provided the safety update following a Missouri School Board Association video that highlighted school safety and the need for security plans. The video cited the Missouri Center for Safety Education as a resource for safety and emergency management.
Rinehart also shared information about allowing the transfer of sick leave to personal leave in certain situations. He said teachers who have been with the district for five or more years and have built up several sick days will be allowed to use a sick day as a personal day in family and humanitarian situations at his discretion. The discussion came at the request of district teacher.
Rinehart spoke about a couple of examples of teachers at other district who have asked to use sick leave for personal leave. Both examples involved the adult children of teachers. One was a wedding. The other was two siblings stationed overseas in the military who happened to both have leave in Europe at the same time.
“It’s just kind of a way to take care of people who take care of us,” he said.
The board again approved summer school agreements with the Stanberry and Worth County districts. Under the agreements, Albany counts a portion of Stanberry’s and Worth County’s enrollment as its own, allowing for a higher level of state reimbursement. Rinehart said it brings in about $13,000 extra to Albany.
In other business, the board:
• Looked at a draft for the 2013-2014 school calendar;
• Received the first reading of 43 school policies suggested by the Missouri School Board Association; and
• Received a note from referees at the Jan. 18 home basketball game against Gallatin praising the players’ and fans’ sportsmanship.
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