SJSD School Board spotlighted ASA program, Tiny Tot Town and Superintendent decisions
Praji Ghosh
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) –The St. Joseph School District Board of Education was met Monday to discuss the district’s special education policy and an event agreement for Tiny Tot Town.
The Board met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, at the Troester Media Center, located at 3401 Renick St.
Board members will either approve or deny a motion to implement the Progressive Community Services Funding Application for SJSD’s All Students Achieve (ASA) program, located at Mosaic Life Care.
“Everyone deserves quality education and it doesn’t matter if they have extra needs and my is that every child or every individual in the community is able to receive equal education,” LaTonya Williams, President of the School Board said.
ASA is a collaboration between SJSD and St. Joseph organizations, which provide intensive training and development to high school seniors with developmental disabilities.
Students will gain real-life experience to help them prepare for the job market.
The BOE looked at a rental agreement between SJSD’s Parents as Teachers and the City of St. Joseph to lease Civic Arena during the annual “Tiny Tot Town” interactive, simulated community event for kids.
Civic Arena transforms into a kid-sized city, where children get to play grown-up for the day—running errands, trying out jobs and learning real-world skills in a fun way.
“It gives kids in the community an opportunity to look at agencies and organizations in the district which shows love and support to them and educate them and help them explore,” Williams said.
The event was a favorite for families, helping boost enrollment and giving parents and kids a chance to connect in the past.
Board members also talked about policy GCB-2 that allows the superintendent to make decisions about promotions, demotions and termination of all non-contractual employees in the school district.
The GCB-2 item on the agenda was brought to the board with concerns regarding staff beginning employment prior to board approval.
“The board members voted to approve it. And even though I was a no vote I completely support the decision of the board since it was a different changing of policy.”
Williams says the reason this needed to change was because they did not have good policy compliant in the approval of the hires.
The BOE will meet again at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 13, at the Troester Media Center.