Some great things are happening around the school this year. Bright Futures is really picking up steam with the kickoff being held on Jan. 18 at the Melba Theatre. Attendance was great considering the date change due to weather. We had a great representation from community members, faith-based organizations and businesses along with school staff. This is an exciting program aimed at meeting the basic needs of our students. And, that is just the start. This program has the focus of bringing the school and the community together to help educate our future. If you haven’t already, look for the Facebook page of Bright Futures Houston and keep monitoring it for updates and needs.
The career opportunities offered at SCCC (South Central Career Center) are giving our students a great head start to a career path. We have heard nothing but good reports both on our students and from our students on these programs which currently include health science, auto technology and auto collision. We have implemented STEM (through PLTW) classes elementary wide this year and have also incorporated them in to our middle school. I hope you hear more about this from your children. Our hope remains to carry some of these STEM courses into the high school within two years.
Recently, the school board was informed that we received the Missouri Department of Conservation Fuels for Schools Grant. This grant totaling up to $305,000 will be used to replace the existing dust boiler that heats the high school, the middle school and Hiett Gymnasium. The current boiler, which has far exceeded its life expectancy, has just been getting by from year to year. The plan will replace the dust boiler, the fuel oil backup boiler and more as well as the much-needed roof over the boiler/maintenance building. This means that the school will only be looking at approximately $260,000 to replace the system. A dust boiler brings so much savings in fuel costs to the district. This also means we are using a local renewable resource for much of our heating costs.
Obviously, the school tragedy in Florida brings to mind once again the need for school safety. Soon, we will begin replacing doors in the high school and middle school for security throughout the building. Many of the existing doors have large glass panes and are not very solid. Each door will be replaced with a solid core wood door that has a small window at the top. The doors are being funded largely by the Drive One 4 UR School fundraiser sponsored by Romines Motor Co.