Mercer school board members decided to continue to comply with local, state and federal CDC guidelines following a meeting that included input from the public challenging those guidelines and requesting the establishment of a school policy that would allow for students to be in school while quarantined by the local health department. The action was part of a meeting on Monday night. The school district decided against altering any of the current procedures based on counsel from the Missouri EdCounsel law firm, the district’s insurance company, and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Mercer’s board approved next year’s school calendar. The starting date for Mercer’s 2021-22 school year will be Wednesday, August 19th for teachers, and Tuesday, August 24th for students. The last student day will be May 17th, 2022.

The board offered a contract to Superintendent Dan Owens through the 2023-24 school year.

The Mercer board also accepted the resignation of Cru Taff as assistant boys basketball coach. Mark Meinecke has been appointed as assistant coach.