December Meeting Highlights: Holiday Giving, Construction Updates, and Nutrition News

The Murray City School District Board of Education met recently to discuss district progress, celebrate community generosity, and review essential updates regarding school facilities and student nutrition. Here is a summary of the key takeaways from the meeting.

A Season of Giving: Angel Tree Success

The Murray community has once again shown incredible generosity. The Board celebrated the results of this year’s Angel Tree program:

• 600 children and 50+ families were supported this holiday season.
• Approximately $33,000 was collected in cash donations, the Murray Education Foundation can use to supplement giving and fill in any missing gaps that come up over the next week.
• The Road Home donated four truckloads of extra toys, puzzles, and art supplies to supplement district needs; much of can also be used for gifts or for family engagement projects throughout the year.
• Board members shared heartwarming stories of community members dropping off truckloads of bikes and gifts, highlighting the strong partnership between Murray residents and our schools.

Construction Update: Moving Forward

Director Taggart provided a progress report on the bond projects at Murray High School and Riverview Junior High. Both projects remain on schedule.

• Murray High School: The masons are nearly finished, steel is being installed on the third floor, and roof trusses are in place.
• Riverview Junior High: Despite a minor delay with steel delivery, the project is moving forward. Decking is being installed, and walls are going up near the orchestra room and auditorium.
• “Fire” Clarification: Some community members expressed concern after seeing a "glow" at the Riverview construction site at night. The district wants to assure residents that there is no fire. The glow is caused by heaters used inside tented areas to cure concrete and keep the site warm for workers.

Nutrition Services: Survey Results & Audits

The Nutrition Services team presented findings from a recent audit and a fall student survey.

• Safety First: Longview Elementary received a 100% score on its physical safety audit and a 97% on food safety.
• Student Feedback: Over 400 people responded to the fall nutrition survey.
  • 79% of students rated servers as friendly.
  • Favorites: Pizza, chicken, hot dogs, and the "Adventure Lunch" line remain top choices.
  • Least Favorites: Salads and "exotic" foods are less popular, particularly at the elementary level.
  • Time to Eat: While 57% of students expressed feeling rushed during lunch, staff observations indicate lines are moving efficiently. The district plans to create educational videos to help students and the community understand the nutritional guidelines and lunch processes better.

Safety and City Partnership

The Board approved updated interlocal agreements with Murray City.

• Facilities: The City and District will continue to share facilities without charging one another.
• School Resource Officers (SROs): An updated agreement ensures continued SRO coverage at secondary schools, with the City covering the cost of the officers. This agreement clarifies roles and ensures compliance with new state safety laws.

Curriculum & Audits

• Financial Stewardship: Independent auditors issued a "clean" (unmodified) opinion on the district’s financial statements, praising the district for strong internal controls and fiscal responsibility.
• Book Reviews: The Board reviewed recommendations for new instructional materials. The process highlighted the rigor of the review committee, noting that only materials with unanimous committee support are moved forward for Board approval.