According to the Missouri Ethics Commission Web site, employees of Alternative Opportunities Inc., a non-profit organization based in Springfield and recipient of several Missouri license offices contracts, donated $8,050 to Gov. Jay Nixon’s 2008 gubernatorial campaign.

Staff in Rolla Public Schools are learning how to defuse possible violent situations through a method called non-violent crisis-intervention training.

After several meetings dominated by levy discussions, the Rolla Board of Education has a lighter agenda planned for tonight’s meeting.

The Champions of Rolla Education were notified Thursday its bid to run the Rolla License Office was accepted by the Missouri Office of Administration, according to Rolla Superintendent Dr. Jerry Giger.

The Rolla Board of Education reversed course Thursday and unanimously voted to present voters with a no-tax increase, $8.3 million bond issue in April, not the $9.2 million bond approved at its previous meeting.

In an attempt to finalize details of its proposed bond issue, the Rolla Board of Education will take up the issue for the third consecutive meeting tonight.

Missouri University of Science and Technology Chancellor John F. Carney III has been selected to receive the Chief Executive Leadership Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), District VI.

Missouri public schools are facing another call to allow open enrollment this year, which is complicated by the state’s uncertain funding outlook.

Newburg school employees could be getting more options on their health insurance in the future, after the board of education discussed possible ideas with the executive director of the South Central Education Consortium.

With the approval last month of putting a $9.2 million bond issue on the April ballot, the Rolla School District is finding that sometimes a deal is too good to be true.

Superintendent John Westerman gave the Newburg Board of Education a negative report on future state funding during the board’s meeting earlier this month.

In presenting the Rolla School District’s financial situation, Vicki Gorman, the district’s financial director gave a mixed report.

Asked to describe what it was like to work with Donalie Stormes, Nancy Helton, a counselor at Rolla High School, cited one of her many stories about her.

Following the destruction left by Hurricane Katrina, Stormes wanted to mobilize relief aid. The only problem was, she didn’t want to send a little bit of aid, but an entire semi-truck filled with goods.

With Missouri’s General Fund revenues registering 7 percent below what was expected this fiscal year, public schools are facing an uncertain financial future, according to local administrators.

The Rolla Board of Education approved, by its 5-to-2 vote Thursday, a $9.2 million bond issue to be put before voters in April.