"Our kids. Our community. Our future," read the signs held up by several supportive citizens in attendance before a long-sought resolution was passed to place the R-I school district's facilities master plan on the ballot.

Poplar Bluff Board of Education Vice President Gary Simmons made the motion to approve the ballot language, which was seconded by member Dr. Matt Riffle and met with unanimous approval during the monthly meeting on Thursday in the Administrative Building.

At the municipal election on Tuesday, April 8, the voting public will have the opportunity to approve the blueprint designed by local leaders and professional education planners to address space issues at all school facilities plus greatly improve the safety and security of students.

"I'm so appreciative of the folks who helped throughout the two and a half years, the 65 committee members who engaged in the process, and the school board who saw this plan evolve into something that addresses our present and future needs as we prepare this community for the growth it's poised to see," R-I Superintendent Chris Hon stated. "The completion of this plan is based on three components: creating additional space to stay ahead of enrollment increases, creating space more optimal for learning, and providing a safer environment for our students."

The $49.6 million in renovations would be paid for with an 80 cents per $100 of assessed valuation operating levy increase through lease purchase financing, raising the ceiling to $3.73, which-according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-is still lower than Sikeston, Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Farmington, even though the Poplar Bluff School District has the largest student body of them all.

Poplar Bluff High School reinstated its Competition Cheer Squad just this past spring and by summertime, the cheerleaders were named state champions for the first time in school history.

If that is not enough, the squad-along with the rest of the Junior and Senior High Cheerleaders-swept the Gator Bowl competition this winter, bringing home three national awards.

"They asked to be able to have a Competition Cheer team this [school] year; mind you, this is a team that has not gone into competition for three years," said R-I Athletic Director Kent Keith, noting that 2004 was the last year Poplar Bluff Schools placed in states. "So they have a three-year layoff, new coaching staff, and become the state champs, then compete successfully at Gator Bowl. To me, it's almost overwhelming-more than you can ask for and more than you can expect coming in as AD."

Along with the cheerleaders, the coaches-Stephanie Hillis of the varsity squad, Misty Wiseman over JV and Junior High's Christy Young-presented their trophies during the school board meeting Thursday in the Administrative Building.

The PBHS Cheerleading team took first place in the Large Squad Division against competitors from nine other states and Poplar Bluff Junior High School won the Small Squad Division against high school students on Sunday, Dec. 29, during the Gator Bowl Cheerleading Competition at Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville, Fla.

Gov. Jay Nixon lauded Butler and Ripley counties for being named among the first four Certified Work Ready Communities in Missouri, and only five in the country, on Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce.

R-I Superintendent Chris Hon [pictured at podium] discussed how attending a university is not the only path to earning a decent wage, touting vocational schools such as the Technical Career Center for delivering efficient career education, along with commending Three Rivers College, and the state of Missouri for expanding its A+ Program.

There are 90 employers in Poplar Bluff that recognize American College Testing National Career Readiness Certificates as a measure of foundational workplace skills. Dozens of students in the R-I school district completed the test.

Nixon [pictured behind the superintendent] said that Missouri has proven to be a frontrunner in economic development in a concrete, verifiable way, sending a clear message to industry that the state has a topnotch workforce.

Click here to read the entire release from the governor's office.

Also pictured [from left] are: Three Rivers President Dr. Devin Stephenson, Briggs & Stratton Plant Manager Mark Melloy, Chamber President Steve Halter, Ripley County Caring Community Partnership Program Director Lisa Aden and Current River Career Center Director Penny Fowler.

Two Poplar Bluff Junior High School students were recognized for completing the Charlie Classics Fall Reading Challenge on Friday, Dec. 20, during a Christmas Assembly in the gymnasium.

Eighth grader Adam Woodard was awarded a $150 Visa bank card for reading 17 Charlie Classics and Sam Traxel, also of the eighth grade, took second place with 13 books, winning a $100 bank card. In addition to competing for Visa bank cards, the students are rewarded with either a Walmart or Hastings $5 gift certificate for every five classics they read.

Jessica Shimbo, Sam and Adam's communication arts teacher, also earned $100 for encouraging her students to read classic literature. Shimbo began with Poplar Bluff Schools this year.