The St. James Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the Board of Education and employees of the St. James R-1 School District for its nomination and selection of March “Business of the Month.”
The Vision Statement of the St. James R-I School District reads “We strive to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment where all students will acquire the skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary for successful participation in our changing society.”
The staff has also adopted the mantra “Learning, Whatever it Takes” as a slogan to exemplify their intentions as educators. These are the goals that are set for the Board of Education, administrators, teachers and every other employee of the district. It is also the goal that the District hopes to achieve through cooperation with parents and the community. It is a worthy vision.
States Joy Tucker, Superintendent of School, “We are proud that we have achieved ‘Distinction in Performance’ through the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education several times. It is testimony that our vision is working.”
The St. James R-I School District is truly a “business” in this community. As an employer of more than 250 people, both full time and part time, they operate on an annual budget of more than $15 million. The district is governed by a publicly-elected seven member Board of Education. They are responsible for the oversight of the budget and the policies and regulations that govern our public school. Although they are not a business in the traditional sense of the word, they are still an entity that provides a service. They are always mindful that it is their job to provide an education to the more than 1,700 children enrolled in grades K-12. Additionally, the school serves children aged 3-5 in early childhood special education, oversees the Parents as Teachers program for families of children birth through age 3, and the Mel Carnahan Family Learning Center which serves Phelps County families with young children.
The district also partners with Boys & Girls Town of Missouri on several educational fronts including Title I and special education for students who are housed at that facility. Their borders go from the north almost to Vichy and south to the Dent County line; west to V highway and east to Rosati. It is a large physical area covering more than 217 square miles and serving a diverse population.
The public school of the 21st century is far different from the one-room school house of the past. The St. James R (Reorganized)-I School District began in the late 1800’s with the original school building located on Maramec Street (it is now a private residence) and the original high school (originally built in the late 1800’s) which is still in use today.
