Schools across the district were excited to welcome students to the new academic year on Monday, Aug. 23.

The Middle School staff dressed up as rock stars and “literally rolled out the red carpet and velvet ropes,” explained Principal Dr. Josh Teeter, noting that this year’s theme is to ‘rock your role.’ He said: “The idea is that everyone has a role to play in the educational process, and when we rock that role, students succeed.”

Jessica Thurston of the Kindergarten Center noted that enrollment was trending on the high end in her four years serving as principal. The adjoining Early Childhood Center opened its doors on Thursday, allowing parents to walk their students to the classroom for the first day to help provide comfort.

Thanks to all of the parents who posted their first day of school photos! Click here to view our first day of school album for the district and the ECH, and be sure to ‘like’ your favorite shots!

Top: Guidance counselor Michelle Shepard of the Middle School helps greet students as they walk the red carpet.

Middle: Kindergartner Chase Brumitt is happy to see her teachers as she is embraced on her first day of school.

Bottom: Ka’Yonnie Braxton, age 3, stops to pose for a first day of school picture before entering Michelle Caswell’s classroom.

The annual back-to-school convocation was held virtually for the second time due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Butler County prior to school commencing.

R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill addressed the staff from his office on Monday, Aug. 16, pointing out that this will mark the third school year in which the pandemic has affected students.

“Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy load right now,” Dill said. “Give yourself space to shift perspectives.”

Dill shared that his focus for 2021/22 will be to practice empathy. He cited the research of nursing scholar Theresa Wiseman, stating that empathy is the ability to put oneself in somebody else’s shoes, stay out of judgment, recognize the emotional state of those around you, and communicate that recognition.

“At a time when our kids need us more than ever, we have so much to cover,” said Dill, later adding: “I don’t know a better way to run a school district other than collaboratively.”

The superintendent reviewed the guiding questions of the Professional Learning Community model through which the school district subscribes: formal assessments, measuring data, interventions and addressing misconceptions. “I love that about us… We don’t stop until the learning happens.”

Dill informed the staff that Rod Priest, who Dr. Amy Jackson succeeded as assistant superintendent of business, has returned part time from retirement as a consultant over the ESSER III application. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund is designated for combatting learning loss in underserved populations. The district is presently engaged in professional development with plans to leverage existing partnerships and expand tutoring, after-school programming, summer camp and dual credit options for students.

ESSER II and the original CARES Act allowed the school to expand its Wi-Fi network, acquire additional Google Chromebook devices and the learning platform Edgenuity, and purchase textbooks, along with other emergency supplies such as PPE and hand sanitizer. According to Dill, officials hope to "future-proof the school district” with the federal finances, anticipated to be a once-in-a-career opportunity for educators.

Before the convocation, the ministerial alliance gathered in the board room to deliver a prayer over the district. Their theme this year was #Poplar Bluff Blessed, a nonprofit to be launched in the fall that will host a website that serves as an aggregate for positive news in the community, including headlines from the education sector.

In the weeks leading up to convocation, new teachers received Capturing Kids’ Hearts training as well as an introduction to TIPSS (teacher induction program support system). Click here to help welcome our new faculty members and administrators!

Above: Dr. Scott Dill (right) welcomes the ministerial alliance, a group of area pastors who help kick off the convocation each year.

Below: Leadership Development Adviser Joy Sparks with the Flippen Group delivers two days of Capturing Kids’ Hearts training for new teachers last month in the Administrative Building.

Over the decades Poplar Bluff High School has moved northward, beginning where Junior High is now located, to Victory Lane, to its present-day campus on Oak Grove Road.

While the district has managed to stay ahead of the population drift at the secondary level, school leaders announced plans last week to return to the city’s historic roots.

Poplar Bluff Schools has closed on the former U.S. Bank branch building at 200 S. Main St. to relocate its Administrative Building downtown in the future and join revitalization efforts.

“The community has supported the school system in a big way over the years, and really this is just an amazing step in the right direction for our school system to kind of show that they are investing right back into the community, and being a frontrunner in getting things turned around for downtown,” said Steve Halter, Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce president. “Although we’ve made a lot of progress—when you have private investors with real money, and the city council pulling in the same direction and a city manager who gets it, and now you have the school system, which is one of the largest employers—this is just a huge leap forward for our community, and especially downtown.”

Over a century old, the 16,000-square-foot two-story facility will become the new headquarter for public Board of Education meetings, in addition to housing the district’s superintendent cabinet and support team. School officials are hopeful a community development block grant will be approved to construct a culinary arts facility on the Technical Career Center campus, otherwise the future home of the Mules Café will be determined.

“I can’t wait to see what you guys do to the building and how many more people will be downtown because of the new restaurants we have coming in and more bodies throughout the day, which means more tax revenue from people eating and shopping,” commented Morgan McIntosh, a multi-generational Poplar Bluffian who took over last year as executive director of Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. “I’m thrilled to death to see history be saved and preserved.”

According to the inspection report completed by a team of local architects and engineers, ground was broken on the neo-classical building in 1914 to begin operations as The Bank of Poplar Bluff the following year. The financial institution was sold to Mercantile Bank in 1985, and then Firstar Bank for just one year before U.S. Bank entered the picture in 2001. The property was placed on the market in 2019, reported the Daily American Republic, the structure’s Poplar Street neighbor.

Above: Poplar Bluff R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill (left) and John Scott, Board of Education president, stand in front of the district’s future Administrative Building prior to closing on the historic property.

In the June edition, Poplar Bluff Living recognized the district for having three buildings named showcase schools through the Capturing Kids’ Hearts initiative.

On Tuesday, June 1, the DAR reported about the visit to Oak Grove Elementary by children’s book author and illustrator, Jan Brett; and recognized Zoe Savat of the Class of 2021 for earning the STAR Scholarship from the Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood.

On Thursday, June 10, the ShowMe Times recognized our 2021 Missouri Good Sports.

On Wednesday, June 16, the DAR highlighted a generous hand sanitizer donation from Walmart.

On Tuesday, July 6, St. Jude highlighted our school district’s $1M+ contribution to the children’s research hospital-an effort led by retired O’Neal principal, Lorenzo Sandlin. 

On Wednesday, July 7, the DAR reported about our new bass fishing club, sponsored by instructor Denni White of the TCC.

On Saturday, July 10, KFVS12 reported about our bus driver job fair.  

The DAR also covered the hiring event. (Click here to apply if you are interested in becoming a bus driver!)

On Wednesday, July 21, the ShowMe Times honored our Athletes of the Month.

The DAR also recognized our Athletes of the Month.

On Wednesday, Aug. 4, the DAR reported about our first Mules Football ‘mom’s clinic.’

On Thursday, Aug. 19, the DAR profiled its Difference Makers of the Year, several of whom are employed by or otherwise associated with our school system, we are proud to say.

On Saturday, Aug. 21, the DAR published our eighth annual Mule Prints magazine!

On Wednesday, Aug. 25, the DAR reported about our former U.S. Bank building acquisition. 

KAIT8 also highlighted our historic building purchase.

On Thursday, Aug. 26, KWOC additionally reported about our plans to help revitalize downtown. 

On Saturday, Aug. 28, the DAR wrote an editorial welcoming us to the neighborhood. Thanks!