R-2 hosts free before, after school ExcEL program with grants funds

BY Roxie Murphy

Assistant Editor

rmurphy@wardpub.com

Owensville — The new GCR2 ExcEL program is underway at Gerald and Owensville Elementary schools and the Owensville Middle School, according to Gasconade County R-2 Assistant Superintendent Dr. Staci Johnson.

“We started Sept. 9,” said Johnson, who applied for the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. “It’s a $400,000 grant that we get this year and the next four years if we continue to improve the program and keep the participation numbers up.”

During the Sept. 23 board meeting, Johnson told board members that the program numbers were in line with each other. By Tuesday afternoon, the programs had gained at least four more students across the board.

“The Gerald and Owensville elementary programs have at least 85 participants in the afternoon and the middle school has around 30 participants in the afternoon,” Johnson said. “Numbers are smaller for the mornings. Officially there are around 30 participants in the morning. There are several families dropping students off earlier than 7:45 a.m. so they are participating in the program. The biggest benefit to families in the morning is the flexible drop off time. Parent drop off at Owensville Elementary School (OES) has been greatly improved by the program.”

Owensville High School is not currently in the program because the free and reduced lunch numbers do not exceed 40 percent.

“We do have a director at each site,” Johnson said.

Richard Powers was hired on Monday night as the Administrative director.

“There is a ton of data and requirements in the background to keep the grant,” Johnson said. “He is working hard to make sure we have all of those things turned in and make sure we continue to receive grant funding.”

The district was awarded the grant in August before school started and rushed to advertise the director positions. Johnson confirmed Tuesday that all positions had been filled and teachers are supplementing projects.

“Several teachers are involved in the before and after school program,” Johnson said. “We have also started working with our community partners who are providing after-school programing.”

All sites will host family nights throughout the school year. Gerald Elementary School (GES) hosted its STEM Family Night, which included dinner and activities, on Sept. 24. It is the first building to host the event.

“We will be advertising future events on the GCR2 ExcEL Facebook page,” Johnson said.

GES, OES and OMS host ExcEL from 7 to 8 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. 

In other news, the board approved the following event dates, policy and program changes, field trips, and staff training seminars:

• Owensville High School (OHS) 2024-25 graduation will be held at 6:30 p.m. on May 16, 2025, in the OHS gym.

• Family School Liaisons Sam Mangrum and Liz Bruemmer on Nov. 15-21 will attend the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Conference in Orlando, Fla.

• The board of education approved sending the Dutchmen to a Jan. 23-25 boys’ basketball tournament in Frontenac, Kan., with a 6-0 vote.

• Missouri School Board Association (MSBA) policy changes were approved with a 6-0 vote.

• A new Success-Ready Students Network: System Design Zone Resolution was approved with a 6-0 vote.

• Changes were approved to the Gifted Handbook with a 6-0 vote.

• An out-of-state athletic directors conference for Matt Johnson was approved for Dec. 13-17 in Austin, Texas, with a 6-0 vote.