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Board approves intent to provide AMI days; application to DESE still pending
Summary
The Jefferson City School Board approved a resolution to submit an application to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to use alternative methods of instruction (AMI) for emergency closures. The application and plan require DESE review and were described by staff.
At its June 2025 meeting, the Jefferson City School Board approved the district's intent to provide alternative methods of instruction (AMI) days for use in snow days or other emergency closures and to submit an AMI application to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Why it matters: AMI designation lets the district count designated remote/instructional activities as school days (within state rules) so closures do not require year-end calendar changes. Approval by DESE is required for the district to count AMI days toward annual instructional time.
Dr. Beaulieu described the district's plan: elementary students would receive packets or printed materials in advance (distributed at parent-teacher conferences) to use on AMI days; secondary students would access Google Classroom, textbooks, or teacher-created offline materials. Dr. Beaulieu said, "On days that we implement AMI, we will be reviewing and reinforcing previously taught skills, not teach it primarily teaching new skills." She added that attendance would be recorded based on participation or completion of assigned activities and that the state allows a five-day grace period following an AMI day for students to make up missed work.
Board members asked whether the plan required additional software or costs. Dr. Beaulieu replied that the district already uses web-based applications aligned with textbook resources and that the district did not plan to add new software for AMI. The board also asked about the number of AMI days allowed; staff said the state limits AMI use to a total of 36 hours, which the district estimated could translate to about five potential AMI days.
Action: a motion to approve the district's intent to provide AMI days and submit the DESE application passed. The motion was made by Lindsey Robin, seconded by Anne Blumke Warren; the vote was taken by voice and the motion carried.
Staff noted the district's AMI application had not yet been reviewed by DESE and that applications are due mid-July.
