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The Gateway to Leadership program included Poplar Bluff Schools in its overview of the community's inner workings for the first time in the 18 years the Chamber of Commerce has facilitated the tour.
Fourteen participants representing local industries, agencies and nonprofits visited the district Administrative Building on Wednesday, Oct. 14, to learn about the various roles that make up the school system’s business operation.
“Most people would know what a school does, but not necessarily the central office and all the gears of support needed to make a school run,” explained Charles Kinsey, R-I assistant superintendent of business. Kinsey, who also chairs Poplar Bluff Industries, proposed the new stop during a strategic planning meeting of the Chamber.
Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman led the group discussion summarizing the work of several departments including transportation, special education, registrar, payroll, instructional technology, human resources, curriculum and communications.
Providing a snapshot of the district, Cornman explained that nearly 5,000 students attend Poplar Bluff Schools, making it the 32nd-largest public school system out of 562 in the state. He shared that the district runs 88 bus routes, transporting about 2,300 students each morning and afternoon, and logging nearly 600,000 miles per year.
“We’re educating kids to be the workforce of tomorrow,” said Cornman, stating that he is in his fourth year leading Poplar Bluff Schools of his 17 years serving as superintendent for districts in Missouri. “For us, we just want kids to be productive when they leave here.”
With 763 staff members, the district ranks among Butler County's top three employers. Cornman noted that the school system contracts with 132 certified substitute teachers through its staffing partner, Kelly Education. Kinsey added that the district onboards around 50 teachers each year.
Accounting for 72 percent of the district’s budget, R-I has provided approximately $230 million in salaries and benefits over the past five years, on top of investing in the community by giving precedence to local businesses when feasible, according to Kinsey. Of the district’s top 50 vendors since July 2021, over $19 million has been spent supporting Poplar Bluff businesses.
In discussing the management of the facilities at 11 school campuses, plus support service buildings including maintenance, the bus garage and central office, Cornman reflected that the district sustained $7.4 million in damages from last year's EF-3 tornado, which primarily impaced the Kindergarten Center. Fortunately, thanks to insurance from the Missouri United School Insurance Council, he pointed out, the district was only responsible for its $1,000 deductible.
The Poplar Bluff Chamber launched the Gateway to Leadership program in 2009 to develop emerging leaders and familiarize them with opportunities, realities and challenges of the community, while providing a networking platform. Numerous emerging leaders—including school personnel—have completed the program, touring law enforcement agencies, City Hall, Industrial Park and Three Rivers College as well as Jefferson City over the course of a year.
Graduates are issued a certificate of achievement and recognized during the annual Chamber banquet held in January. As an aside, Chamber President Steve Halter made note, Gateway to Leadership has served as a steady “feeder program” for identifying individuals to serve on his board of directors.
Above: Participants from the Gateway to Leadership group ask questions as they tour the Curriculum Department of the Administrative Building on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Below: Dr. Aaron Cornman, superintendent of schools, discusses centralizing the registrar office in the Administrative Building two years ago in order to streamline the enrollment process for parents.
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