Pictured above (left to right) at the MRTA meeting are Jessica Aeschliman, Reese Morris, Sophia Richards, Phyllis Dannar, and Kassidy Miller.

Submitted by Phyllis Dannar

The Atchison-Holt Missouri Retired Teachers and Other School Personnel (MRTA) Unit met at the King & Proud Roadhouse on March 7. Special guests were three FFA students and their advisor, Jessica Aeschliman. The students told about their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects.

Sophia Richards explained about not being from an agricultural background but has enjoyed raising pink porcelain pumpkins and three varieties of poinsettias.

Reese Morris also does not live on a farm but has become interested in beekeeping. She told about it being a difficult year as it was too dry and then too wet and now terribly cold for bees. Nevertheless, she plans to try again this summer. She brought some delicious honey to share that she was able to harvest this past year even with the setbacks.

Kassidy Miller has had a very successful project with her succulents. She not only has learned how to raise and nurture them but has acquired quite a skill in arranging them in unique containers. She had a few arrangements for the group to see and perhaps purchase.

Another special guest for the meeting was Mark Anderson, South Holt high school principal. Mr. Anderson gave the group some background information on his career path to administrator, explained about some current trends in education, and concluded with some information specific to South Holt.

The next MRTA unit meeting will be June 6 at Paula’s Café in Craig. It will be a brunch meeting beginning at 9:00 a.m. If you are a retired school employee, consider joining this group. There are several pieces of legislation being discussed in Jefferson City that would have negative impacts on our retirement and on the education system.

Watch for news of HB 864 which would establish an option for certain teachers in Missouri to opt for 401k plans. This bill would destroy our current retirement system. Another bill that would take money from public education is HB 581 which would expand charter schools. Thursday that bill was supposed to come on the floor for debate and vote. However, it was laid over for lack of votes. Many of us voiced our concerns to Representative Andrews and Senator Hegeman about these bills. Possibly that voiced concern helped keep HB 581 from going further at this time.