 The second in
a series of special meetings held by the Holden R-III School District
Board of Education to plan for the upcoming bond election was held
at the HHS library last Tuesday night.
The district will ask voters to approve a $5 million bond issue
to renovate and add to the existing high school in the November
7 election. The existing high school campus was completed
in 1964 to house 350 students. Student population is now
close to 500 and expected to experience slow growth in the near
future.
On hand at the meeting was Roger Adamson of L.J. Hart & Company,
St. Louis, who explained to the board that raising the present
.30 debt service levy (DSL) to .67 would give the district sufficient
money to fund the high school project. He also stated that
if the district did not receive the authority for the building
program, that the DSL would have to be raised to .40 by next
year anyway.
His figures showed that without the increase, the district would
be “in the red” without the raise. He also
informed the board that they would have the authority to increase
the DSL to the needed .67 by August without patron approval,
but by a simple school board majority vote.
District superintendent Scott offered the board three different
financing options to fund the high school renovation project.
The first, according to Slava, was not one he would suggest. It
would involve raising the DSL to .67 in August with a board vote
and campaign on a “no tax increase” bond issue in
the November election. “This is not lying,” stated
Slava. “But it’s also not giving the patrons
the power to vote their own increase.”
The second option is to raise the DSL from $.30 to $.40, which
is going to have to be done within the next year anyway, and
campaign on a $.27 increase in the levy.
The third option is to keep the present $.30 DSL for the time
being and allow the voters to approve the entire $.37 increase
in the November election. The superintendent stated that
this option made him “a little nervous,” because
if the DSL was not raised at least $.10 the district would be
deficit spending and he didn’t like to deficit spend.
After a period of discussion, the board voted to implement option
number three and take the entire increase to the voters in November.
In new business, the board gave permission to Slava to begin
the process of letting bids for the high school eight-lane track
project which will be half financed by anonymous gifts totaling
$150,000 and half by budgeted district funds.
In the policy review section of the meeting, a first reading
was held on a new random drug testing policy for middle and high
school students participating in extracurricular activities and
those who drive to school.
In order to participate in the activities or drive to school,
the student and parent would have to agree to the random-selection
testing program. If they did not, the student would not
be allowed to participate or drive to school.
Each student would be issued a number with selections and results
being administered using only the number.
There will be two more readings before the board makes a decision
on the policy.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
The Holden
R-III school board voted unanimously last Tuesday night to
give district superintendent Scott Slava the “go-ahead” to
seek bids for the new high school track project.
In a special board meeting held at the high school library, Slava
explained the timeline and financing for the long-awaited new
track.
Funding for the approximately $300,000 project was initiated
by $150,000 in anonymous donations. The remaining half
was budgeted into the district’s Fund Four (capital projects).
By Thursday, the existing fencing had been removed and the concrete
pad poured that will allow the home bleachers to be moved back
approximately six feet. Moving of the bleachers was required
to make the extra room necessary to construct the new eight-lane
track.
Measuring the current standard of 400 meters, the new facility
will allow Holden to host state-sponsored sectional events as
well as normal track meets. Because of the condition of
the current track surface, the high school and middle school
have been unable to host track meets for four years.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity we will have to host our
own track meets,” exclaimed HHS head track coach Anita Anderson. “I
also know the kids are excited about the prospect of having a nice place to
run as well.”
As of press time, work was already scheduled for the bleachers
to be moved earlier this week, as well as the collecting of soil
samples to determine the proper sub-surface needed. During
the process, the press box will most likely have to be removed
from the bleachers and replaced after moving.
District director of auxiliary services Larry Arnone stated that
a crane for this purpose had been scheduled for Tuesday.
Other steps in the process, which district officials still hope
will be finished by track season next year, include demolition
of current track, base track construction, subsurface drainage
installation and application of the new surface.
Replacing the fencing and landscaping should complete the process.
Head middle school track coach Amy Morrison added her excitement
about the reality of a new track. “I think it’s
great. I’m really looking forward to hosting meets,
but as an intermediate and elementary school physical education
teacher I’m also looking forward to starting some
fun track programs for younger kids as well.”
By Steve Sullins
Editor
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The Holden
Farmers Market will begin its third year of operation at 7 a.m.
Saturday morning at the city park.
Sponsored by the Holden-area Chamber of Commerce, the market will
be open every Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon or sellout, rain
or shine.
A wide range of fruits, vegetables, eggs, soaps, crafts, fresh
baked goods, flowers and plants can be purchased and the market
boasts that all fruits and vegetables found at the market are Missouri
grown.
Last year’s market regularly had more than 30 participants
selling everything from hand-woven rugs to honey to baked goods
to organic vegetables. Also, prepared foods such as Tiger
Jack’s smoked ribs and Mark Timmer’s Tennessee pulled
pork sandwiches and cole slaw are available.
According to Holden Farmers’ Market coordinator, Jo Ann Nolan, “The
purpose of the market is to serve the community. Money is
put back into the community by buying products there.”
Nolan is very proud of the fact that two years ago, the market
saved a local farmer from losing his farm by providing a place
to sell is products.
The market, which is a member of both the Missouri Farmers’ Market
Association and the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s
AgriMissouri Program, was one of only four markets selected this
year to participate in a mentoring program.
The program is funded by a department of agriculture grant
and will provide the local market with expertise to help the market
grow larger and stronger. One mentor has more than 30 years
of farmers market coordinating experience, while the other is a
farmer and former-coordinator.
More information about the market can be found on its website: www.holdenmarket.com. Designed
and maintained by Suncoast Networks, the site provides information
about the market and its participants, directions, recipes and
a shop where Holden Farmers’ Market apparel can be purchased.
Nolan urges all Holden-area people to “support their neighbors
by visting the Holden Farmers’ Market.” As it
says on the website, “Buying local means buying fresh.”
By Steve Sullins
Editor
MEMORIAL DAY
OBSERVANCE
The Holden Cemetery features a beautiful
array of floral arrangements placed in observance of Memorial Day.
At right, Jack Wharton of the local VFW Post #5844 places a flower
at the base of the unknown soldiers who were buried in the Holden
Cemetery following the Civil War.
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