The 2023-2024 school year began last Tuesday, Aug. 22.

As we enter into this new year, I am excited about the many opportunities that lie ahead. We continue to build a strong foundation based on great teachers and staff, a supportive Board, and an engaged community.

The maintenance, custodial, and transportation teams did a great job preparing our facilities and grounds for the first days with staff and students.

I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the amazing journey ahead. This year brings with it a wave of positive changes and enhancements that will enrich the learning experience for our students for years to come.

One of the highlights that we are all eagerly looking forward to is the progress surrounding the Performing Arts Center construction project. This future state-of-the-art facility will not only be a hub for creativity and self-expression but also a testament to the value we place on the arts in education. It is something our community has wanted for many years and I look forward to its completion.

Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our utmost priority, and we are excited to report that many safety upgrades outlined in last April’s bond issue have either been finalized or initiated this summer.

Notably, the high school entryway has undergone significant enhancements to ensure a secure environment for all entrants.

Additionally, I’m thrilled to share that as this school year commenced, we welcomed five electric buses into our transportation fleet through the EPA’s Clean School Bus Rebate program. Priced at $1,975,000, this invaluable addition came at no cost to our district. Our participation in this nationwide pilot program offers us firsthand insights into the integration of electric buses for future transportation needs. These buses also present invaluable educational opportunities for our students to delve into clean energy technologies.

Our gratitude extends to Barry Electric Cooperative for their collaboration, providing power poles, meters, and transformers in facilitating the operation of our charging stations ahead of the arrival of the electric buses this summer.

We are extremely proud of our schools and our continued commitment to high academic standards and improved student achievement. Our district has a comprehensive instructional program with opportunities for every student at every ability level.

We offer Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses, Dual Enrollment, Computer Science, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, services for gifted children, early childhood services, and many other academic and student support programs.

In response to the workforce ready initiative promoted by Governor Parson, we continue to work to improve workforce ready opportunities for our students to be better prepared for jobs after high school through the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program. We are also excited about the second year of the Success Academy for high school students who are eligible for an alternative pathway to graduation.

Year after year, our students excel in every arena: in the classroom, on the athletic field, in the performing arts, and through extracurricular activities. Our highly qualified employees care deeply about the success of students, and our parents and community/ business partners offer tremendous support to our schools.

As we transition into the fall season, the spirit of competition and camaraderie on the field is invigorating. Our football, soccer, softball, volleyball, golf and cross country teams are poised for excellence, and I encourage everyone to come out and support our student-athletes.

None of our achievements would be possible without the unwavering support of our community and local businesses.

The Board of Education joins me in extending best wishes to you for a productive year filled with many opportunities. Working together, we will inspire success and a lifetime of learning at Cassville R-IV School District.

Thank you for being an integral part of our district family.

Merlyn Johnson is the superintendent of the Cassville school district.

He may be reached at mjohnson@cassville.k12. mo.us.