Springfield’s Life 360 church pursues Ash Grove R-4 food outreach

Ash Grove students may soon be added to the 5,000 other kids already food-assisted by Life 360 church in Springfield. Life 360 reached out to the district’s administration in hopes of establishing an end-of-the- day meal program. The free, small meal would take place the last 15 minutes of each week-day and would help fill the gaps during the week the district’s Care To Learn organization doesn’t address, said Superintendent Dr. Aaron Gerla at the
Dec. 16 Ash Grove Board of Education meeting. Care To Learn offers, among other things, a weekend backpack program for food insecure students.
Life 360 is able to cultivate the program thanks to state and national grants that make it all possible.
Board member Mike Gray asked if other churches—specifically local churches—would have the same opportunity to participate in the outreach. Gerla confirmed they could. No date was announced when the program, if given the green
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light, would begin.
Up for vote...
In action during the meeting, the board, minus absent mem- bers    Matthew    Hancock    and    Jeremy Willmon, voted 5-0 in favor of a health care change for next school year. In an effort for the district    to    maintain    full    coverage health insurance for staff, the district will ask employees to complete a health risk assessment, biometric screening and a wellness activity. By completing these requests, the district will in turn receive better rates.
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Up for discussion...
Gerla also informed the board of the details of the recent state school board meeting, at which a major teacher pay raise was the main topic. Gerla said a proposal to increase teacher pay $4,000 across the board is currently under consideration. While Gerla conceded it would be a great thing for the teachers, he said it would also pose a substantial budgetary obstacle.
He added that Missouri is 49th, second to last, in the country in teacher salary.