EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Assistant Superintendent Heather Gross is using a $582,000 grant the district received to address learning issues. “I’ve really challenged our principals to come up with some unique ways to be able to support our kids with social-emotional learning,” Gross told district leaders during the school board’s March meeting. Gross used the word “challenged” half-jokingly, she said. “Any time you tell principals you have money to spend,” Gross said, “they have so much that they are anxious to spend it on.” Gross also wants the district to address “behavior processes” through working with Synergy Services Inc., Parkville. “One of our big partners through the children’s fund” is Synergy, which provides services that include prevention and resiliency training, counseling and therapy, primarily at the elementary schools, she said. “We are going to spend a good chunk of our funding working with t...