Orearville school district gearing up for April bond issue

03/11/02
By Chris Post/Senior Staff Writer

Saline County is home to several small towns, a few of which maintain their own elementary schools. While the Orearville R-4 School District is among the smaller schools in the county, it has much to offer its students.

Gene Neff, administrative assistant, said the rural kindergarten through eighth grade school offers an excellent student-teacher ratio which allows for more individual attention for each student.

While state ratios averaged around 14 students per teacher for the 2000-2001 school year, Orearville had an average of only seven students per teacher. When looking at classroom teachers specifically, the district’s ratio increases only slightly to nine students per teacher.

Further adding to the quality of the education provided to Orearville R-4 students are the teachers themselves. The district’s teachers have an average of 16 years experience and more than half of them have earned a master’s degree or higher.

The quality of education provided has often been shown in the district’s reviews through the Missouri School Inspection Program. For the 1999-2000 school year, the district was accredited with distinction. While that designation is no longer given by the state, the district was accredited for the 2000-2001 academic year.

For the 2000-2001 school year, the district reported an enrollment of 58 students. Because each student counts for a greater percentage of the student body, small schools are sometimes hurt in areas such as annual attendance rate. Even with this fact, Orearville students maintained an attendance rate of 92.6 percent last year.

In addition to its history of quality education, the district also has a record for growth and expansion. The school was founded in the 1940s but grew with the construction of a new building during the reorganization of rural school districts in 1952.

Since the 1952 construction project, additions have been made several times. These improvements were added in 1963, 1968 and 1970 and the most recent addition, made for a kindergarten classroom and resource center, came in 1985. District administrators would now like to add 2002 to that list.

In the upcoming April election the district will be asking its patrons to approve a $425,000 bond issue for a sizable addition. The plan calls for the addition of 4,950 square feet to provide room for two more classrooms, a kitchen and cafeteria, and new restroom facilities.

Neff said throughout its history, the Orearville school’s mission and vision have remained constant.

“We recognize each student as a unique individual,” he said. “We want to continue to provide the most efficient and effective education possible in order for those individuals to develop to their fullest capabilities.”

Marilyn Ehlert serves as the district’s superintendent and Bill Davis is president of the Orearville Board of Education.

The school district can be reached by telephone at 529-2481 or by e-mail at gneff@cdsinet.net.

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