Reps. Bert Atkins, Margo McNeil, Tommie Pierson, and Rochelle Walton Gray joined Dr. Steve Price, superintendent of the Hazelwood School District, at a dinner to discuss education issues. The dinner was sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) and was held in Jefferson City.
Eric Churchwell, MASA president and superintendent of Palmyra R-I School District, said the purpose of the meeting was purely educational. “We truly appreciate the time the legislators took to join us for dinner. We believe it is extremely important that our legislators fully understand the issues facing public education and that we work together to solve these issues.”
Roger Kurtz, executive director of MASA, shared with legislators a summary copy of the recent Missouri Public Education Vision Project, which was a joint effort of MASA and the Missouri School Boards’ Association. The 18-month project involved more than 120 school board members and school administrators. The goal of the project was to critically examine the components of the current educational system and to suggest changes to meet the needs of 21st century learners. The report was divided into seven areas of concentration and included 44 recommendations to improve public education in Missouri. A complete copy of the report can be viewed on the website established for the project at www.visionformopublicschools.org
Also during the meeting, C.J. Huff, superintendent of the Joplin School District, reported on the district’s recovery efforts following the May 2011 tornado that destroyed many of the district’s facilities. The Joplin School District also shared information on its Bright Futures Program, which allows communities and schools to identify student needs and match those needs with existing resources in each community. Last summer, HSD staff and students raised more than $3,000 for Bright Futures.