Joplin R-8 Board holds January meeting

The Joplin R-8 School Board approved a new course for most students and took other actions in the group’s regular meeting held the evening of Jan. 21, 2019.

The Board approved the course which will only be provided to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Dr. Steve Gilbreth, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, says the class will be called Human Relations.

Newstalk KZRG asked Gilbreth to describe what areas will be covered.

“Giving people the ability to make decisions within their daily lives and their personal skills and creating a stable family environment,” Gilbreth responded. “You know, having that competency within human relations.”

He said the course will be part of course offerings from the Family & Consumer Services Department. Specific areas to be covered include decision-making, interpersonal relations, human sexuality, conflict resolution, and responsibilities of daily life.

The Board also approved an expense of $9,000 for flooring at the Memorial Education Center to accommodate the relocation of the Franklin Technology Center’s adult education offices.

The  Board approved the purchase of 53 laptop computers for the Franklin Technical Center at a cost of $56,206.50.  Members also gave the nod to a proposal to use UMB as the school’s virtual payment provider through June 30, 2022.

Students will have access to even better transportation in the next year. Board members approved a measure to purchase three new school buses at a cost of just over $261,000. The district will receive a reimbursement of $66,000 on that purchase from a Volkswagen Mitigation grant.