The Salem R-80 Board of Education met for its monthly meeting Thursday, June 26, in which the board heard a presentation on the 2025-26 budget by superintendent Nathan Wills.
Present for the meeting included board members Dru Howard, Sammi Parker, Jason Green, Marjorie Pyatt, and Steven Patterson. Also in attendance were superintendent Nathan Wills, assistant superintendent Dan Copeland, high school principal Jody Heavin (virtually), William Lynch Elementary principal Herman Blau, and Upper Elementary principal Branden Piatt. Not in attendance were board members Andrew Wynn, Phillip Mercer, or Middle School principal Rachel Green.
The board briefly went into closed session at the beginning of the meeting to discuss personnel before a quick return to a presentation on the 2025-26 budget by Wills.
The board had held a special board meeting Thursday, June 12, in which Wills discussed in detail the changes expected within the budget. More information on the budget discussed during the special board meeting can be found on thesalemnewsonline.com.
Wills detailed the change in salary schedules with the board and the proposed budget:
• Wills detailed the state adequacy target of $6,760 and the transfer of 7% of weighted average daily attendance.
• The district's fund balance is 30.56%, considered healthy.
• The budget includes an approximate $600,000 increase for certified salaries, including retirement and insurance, and a $416,000 increase for support staff.
• The district is to receive approximately $2.5 million for tuition
• Total anticipated revenue is a little over $17 million with anticipated expenditures at approximately $17.7 million, with much being pushed toward instruction and support, salaries, and benefits
• The staff salary schedule will now be done by percentages in order to provide bigger increases earlier in staff careers
• Wills also shared with board members the student-teacher ratio of 14 for the district; the student-administrator ratio was shared of 215
At the very end of the meeting before adjourning, the board approved the budget for 2025-26, at a vote of 5-0.
Upper Elementary Principal Branden Piatt
Plenty of facility updates have been underway at the Upper Elementary, with a new office space for the secretary being prepared for next year.
High School Principal Jody Heavin
Heavin emphasized Amber Pryor for her hard work trying to get industry recognized credentials in the business department.
Meanwhile, the board approved, with little discussion and questions, the following items:
• the resolution to make all applicable transfers from Funds 1, 2, and 4 (WADA, Transportation, Teachers Fund, and DNR)
• participation in the state base salary grants
• amending the 2024-2025 budget to reflect actual expenditures and revenues
• the 2025-2026 Professional Development Plan
• the SLP-A contract with Alcorn Therapy & Consulting
• contract with Communication Development, LLC.
• 75 desks and 40 wooden chairs as surplus
• Wills and Traci Wulff as authorized personnel for the Salem R-80 lock box at the Bank of Salem
• Green as signatory on the general account for Salem R-80 at the Bank of Salem, removing Mercer
• Construction Trades for an out of state trip in June of 2026
• RTI consortium agreement
• Cahill’s Construction, Inc. change order
• the Developmental Preschool Lease
• the audit bid from Schultz, Wood & Rapp, P.C.
• the Upper Elementary roof bid from GRP Wegman
A first read was heard for the following items:
• MSBA 2025B Policy Updates
• Upper Elementary Policy Updates
• MSBA Upper Elementary Policy Updates
Resignations/Retirements/Hires/Transfers
• Transfer: Melissa Plank, first grade to fourth
• Hires: Teresa Wilken, Upper Elementary paraprofessional; Tonya Sanders, Middle School secretary
• Resignations/Retirements: Shelly Kerr, Middle School secretary; Elizabeth Brown, William Lynch paraprofessional; and Lynn Mast, Middle School paraprofessional
In closed session, the board discussed student and personnel issues.
The board also approved the following in closed session:
• Resignation of Stevee Piatt (Howard abstained)
• Rejection of Julie Dunn’s resignation
• Paige LaJoie as first grade teacher
