Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Community Town Hall!

Putnam County R-I Superintendent Jonnie Beavers welcomed community members and introduced guest speaker Duane Martin, an attorney and founder of EdCounsel LLC, a law firm that represents public school districts across Missouri. During the evening, Martin shared information about the current landscape of rural public education in Missouri, including school funding, increasing state requirements, transportation and operational costs, teacher recruitment and retention, and potential policy changes that could affect rural school districts.Following the presentation, a panel of superintendents from across northern Missouri joined the conversation and answered questions from those in attendance. Panelists shared firsthand perspectives on the challenges facing rural districts and discussed what these issues can mean for local schools, students, staff, families, and communities.Our goal in hosting this conversation was not to tell our community what to think, but to provide an opportunity to learn, listen, ask questions, and better understand the issues affecting rural public education.
Rural schools are at the heart of communities like ours. Decisions about public education can have a lasting impact on the opportunities we are able to provide students today, and on the strength and sustainability of our rural communities for years to come.
We encourage our families and community members to continue asking questions, seeking reliable information, and learning about the issues that may affect our schools.
Thank you to Mr. Martin, our visiting superintendents, and everyone who took the time to be part of this important conversation. We appreciate your continued interest and investment in the future of rural public education and our students.
If you were unable to attend or have additional questions, feel free to email Mrs. Jonnie Beavers at jbeavers@putnamcountyr1.net for more information.
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