Hannibal School Board looking to improve teacher retention

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal School Board has approved a plan designed to aid in retention and recruitment in the school district.

Superintendent Susan Johnson began developing the staff daycare plan several months ago and now plans to open three classrooms at Stowell School in time for the beginning of the upcoming school year. 

Under the plan, Johnson says daycare will be available for up to eight infants and toddlers up to 2 years old. There will be room for eight 2 and 3 year olds and up to ten children ages 4 and 5. Johnson has proposed hiring a teacher to oversee those classrooms and enough child care aides to maintain an acceptable student to staff ratio. She said the daycare is not meant to compete with other local daycares and the cost for the school district employees using the service will likely be comparable to other daycares in the area. 

Faculty and staff members will get an email from Johnson this Friday with details of the plan and the district will begin taking applications next week.

During Wednesday’s meeting the board heard from Activities Director Clint Graham and and the Director of Special Services, Mike Vaia. Both Graham and Vaia presented their annual Program and Data Evaluation to the board.

The district scored above average on its activities and athletics evaluation. Graham noted that during the last school year 119 students earned all conference honors in sports and music. 45 students were named all district and 23 were all-staters. There were 24 academic all-staters.The school district won 10 conference championships. Hannibal athletes set 34 records during the last school year. And Graham noted that students participating in athletics and activities collectively scored a 3.85 GPA.

Vaia’s news was also good as the Special Services Program in the Hannibal Public Schools scored an excellent rating. For the 14th consecutive year the district received a perfect score of 4 on its annual Special Education Determination Category. And the district’s Special Olympic Program continues to grow after five years. 

Construction projects continue throughout the school district, but one major project is nearly complete and will be celebrated early next month. The monthly Hannibal Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on August 4 will include a ribbon cutting at the Veterans Sports Complex. The baseball, softball and soccer fields have all been refurbished with new turf and other amenities. The ceremony and tours will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.