Superintendent outlines snow‑day policy, AMI use and legislative watch as school choice debate rises
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Summary
District superintendent reviewed enrollment trends, explained use of AMI (alternative methods of instruction) and snow day accounting, and noted that Senator Rick Bratton of Harrisonville was named chair of the Missouri Senate Education Committee; the district will monitor school‑choice proposals.
Superintendent update: The HARRISONVILLE R‑IX superintendent told the board that enrollment typically dips at semester and that the district is tracking recent decreases. The superintendent reviewed how the district has used AMI (alternative methods of instruction) and snow days this winter and flagged how state policy influences local decisions.
AMI is a mechanism districts may use when students receive packets or computerized instruction during closures; per the superintendent’s explanation, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) rules allow a district to request that up to 36 hours of instruction be forgiven when using AMI. The superintendent explained that those 36 hours can be allocated as fewer full days (for example, six six‑hour AMI days) rather than as many very short periods, and emphasized the district’s intent not to “play the system” by reducing instructional minutes artificially. The district has used AMI multiple times this winter and recorded four AMI days at the time of the meeting after a spell of very low wind‑chill temperatures.
The superintendent said a two‑hour late start option exists in district communications but noted that state attendance accounting changed from days to hours; that change reduces the benefit of a two‑hour late start as a way to meet state attendance requirements. The superintendent said the district is monitoring Senate Bill 727 (as referenced in the meeting) and will keep the board informed of state changes affecting attendance and AMI.
On legislative matters, the superintendent noted that Rick Bratton of Harrisonville was appointed chair of the Missouri Senate Education Committee. The superintendent said the governor has emphasized school choice as a priority and that the district will continue to provide information to legislators and participate in board day visits to the statehouse.
The superintendent closed by saying the administration will return with any recommended communications changes and will update the board as the legislative session evolves.