Tag Archives: McDonald County Schools

Masks now optional for McDonald County schools

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MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo. (KSNF/KODE) — Masks are now optional for both students and staff at all schools in the McDonald County R-1 School District.

The school board made their decision at their Thursday night meeting.

Parents and volunteers will also be allowed on school campuses and in school buildings.

School board members also decided to do away with screening protocols, like temperature checks.

Additionally, field trips will be a possibility again.

In a statement, the district says:

Board members did stress that lifting these restrictions, in particular releasing the mask mandate, could potentially result in an increase number of students excluded from school in cases where students were exposed to a COVID positive individual on campus. The school will continue to keep accurate seating chart documentation and work closely with the McDonald County Health Department to monitor the COVID impact on students and staff. If the COVID numbers increase significantly, the school administration in conjunction with the school board could reverse these decisions as needed to protect the health of students and staff.

McDonald County R-1 School District

SWMO elementary finds creative way to keep kids reading

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ANDERSON, Mo. — An elementary school has a new way to keep its students engaged with reading.

Anderson Elementary Librarian Kariann Abbott thought of having a vending machine that dispenses books. With the approval of the principal, they were able to use school’s funds and place the machine in the cafeteria. Students can earn special tokens to use on the vending machine if they meet a goal, pass an assignment, or just have good behavior. Books range from early-readers to 5th grade level.

Kariann Abbott, Librarian, said, “We had a lot of positive feed back whenever we shared it on Facebook, and I know some parents told me how excited their student was whenever it opened up and they could start earning tokens to get to use it.”

The school will continue to use the vending machine in future reading assignments and literature programs.