The Salem R-80 School District held its monthly board meeting Tuesday, April 16, immediately following the reorganizational meeting held the same night.
Present for the meeting was president Steven Patterson, vice president Sammi Parker, secretary Andrew Wynn, treasurer Phillip Mercer, and board members Marjorie Pyatt and Dru Howard. Not present for the meeting was board member Chris Heavin.
Also in attendance were superintendent Lynne Reed, assistant superintendent Nathan Wills, high school principal Jody Heavin, high school assistant principal Lacie Kolbe, middle school principal Rachel Green, upper elementary principal Branden Piatt, William Lynch elementary principal Herman Blau, and athletic director Clay Moody.
First on the docket for the meeting was the swearing in of the newly elected members, Steven Patterson and Jason Green. After a unanimous vote to certify the election results, Patterson and Green stood before the board with Wills as he led them through the oath of office.
Serving as temporary chairperson during the election of the new board president and vice president was Reed.
Officer positions and MSBA Delegate positions were voted as follows:
• President – Dru Howard (The motion passed 6-0-1, Howard abstained)
• Vice President – Sammi Parker (The motion passed 6-0-1, Parker abstained)
• Treasurer – Phillip Mercer (The motion passed 6-0-1, Mercer abstained)
• Secretary – Andrew Wynn (The motion passed 6-0-1, Wynn abstained)
• MSBA Delegate – Marjorie Pyatt (The motion passed 6-0-1, Pyatt abstained)
• MSBA Delegate (alternate) – Jason Green (The motion passed 6-0-1, Green abstained)
Superintendent’s report
Reed’s superintendent report included discussion of the 2024-25 budget expectations. She stated a meeting held April 15 with teaching staff from all over the district was productive, with many coming in ready to collaborate on solving problems and proposing potential solutions.
Numbers shared within the discussion are preliminary and only rough estimations, cautioned Reed. Many expenditure and revenue expectations are contingent upon legislation being passed and signed. She also explained the budget is normally discussed further in the year in June.
Senate Bill 727 passed the House on Thursday, April 18, and which mandates school districts being subject to mandatory increases in minimum teacher salary levels.
While those start at $40,000 for a first-year teacher and $46,000 for a master’s degree plus ten years of service, SB 727 increases these levels each year as inflation grows. There is no ceiling placed on the levels—meaning they will grow each year. While SB 727 does contain language that indicates the legislature may appropriate funds to assist with costs, there is no assurance this will continue in the future, and districts may be left to foot the bill entirely.
There was one change within SB 727 impacting school transportation funding. That change restores a provision in the existing voucher program that prohibited new vouchers from being awarded in any year that school transportation funding was below 40% of full funding during the 2020-21 school year. That calculation equates to a floor of essentially $118 million. The current appropriation level contained in the state budget for 2024-25 is $361 million to fully fund transportation.
This means that up to $243 million of transportation funding, or approximately 67% of school district’s current transportation funding, is vulnerable to cuts in order for the state to fund increases in the formula and the state’s voucher program.
The total anticipated revenue for the fiscal year of 2025 is $16,624,925. This is a decrease of $1,804,014 – this anticipated decrease is largely in part to ESSER funding ending and attendance affecting state funding.
Several assumptions for the upcoming fiscal year included:
• State Adequacy Target estimated to be $6,760. Budgeted for $6,600.
• PROP C (state sales tax) estimated at $1,513 per weighted average daily attendance (WADA).
• 7% WADA transfer from Fund 1 to Fund 4 ($532,513)
• Classroom Trust Fund (CTF) estimated to be at $525 per ADA. All CTF revenue will be coded to Fund 4 (estimated, $538,901).
• Board-provided health insurance is $607.98 PEPM (a decrease from 619.98 in 2023-2024, but an increase from $514.60 in 2022-2023) and board-provided life insurance at $1.88 per employee per month (an increase from $1.80 for the 2022-2023 year) are included. Reed further clarified that insurance decreased 2% this year - last year, however, it increased 24%.
• All employees will get steps.
• The current base teacher salary is $32,000 – this is pending legislation which will increase salary to $40,000.
Back to SB727, Wills explained the state would fund the district with a surplus it has for the $38,000 teaching salary baseline. The district will also be receiving a teacher recruitment and retention grant to help with costs.
“The problem is not for this year or even next year,” specified Wills. “But as you get down the road into year three (…) that’s where things get a little tricky for public school in Missouri.”
Reed added further clarification that between ESSER funds, strategic adjustments when staff leave, and contracting foodservice – a lot of changes have been made to drive down expenditure for the next two years for the district; however, she also cautioned that year three is when things can start getting difficult.
“We’re totally dependent on the legislature,” Reed explained further. “And what they decide: what they decide to fund, what they decide to mandate.”
Anticipated budget challenges moving forward
Revenue:
• ESSER funding ends Sept. 30, 2024.
• Operating levy at state minimum, $2.75.
• Attendance will negatively impact state funding.
Expenditures
• Increasing classified salaries to minimum wage.
• Offering teacher salaries competitive with the neighboring schools.
• Providing safe, efficient facilities conducive to a positive learning environment.
Potential solutions shared to increase revenue were increasing attendance, tuition, consolidation, and bond and levy increases. Meanwhile, potential solutions to decrease expenditures were reduction of staff along with services and programs R-80 can offer its students.
For the FEMA building, a pre-bid meeting was recently held and bids are due April 30. Reed shared that Matt Patterson anticipates the building being ready by 2025-26.
Reed, Patterson, and Wills visited wrestling club practices and witnessed good attendance and high enthusiasm from club participants.
“Those kids were motivated. It was really neat to see,” shared Reed. “It’s always fun to see when a student leads that charge.”
Wills spoke regarding a meeting he had with the Salem Schools Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, who are currently seeking donations. The mission of Salem Schools Foundation is stated on its website: “To promote growth and opportunity for students, faculty/staff and alumni of the Salem School Systems while enlisting community involvement to enhance the educational needs of all.”
Salem Schools Foundation is finding ways for teachers to get small grants for teacher’s classrooms, be it field trips, classroom supplies, or other needs. Wills explained the foundation is starting out small.
The Salem Schools Foundation website can be found at https://www.salempublicschoolsfoundation.org/home. Donations can be made at https://cfozarks.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=6578.
Building reports
William Lynch principal Blau
• Blau shared William Lynch finished up LETRS training, a two-year project that was completed on April 15. He reports it was good training for the teachers. He reports everyone is excited for the final charge to the end.
Upper elementary school principal Piatt
• Piatt reports a MAP assessment is coming up on April 29 through May 3. Teachers are working hard to help students master the standards. He also shares Matilda is coming up, and that students have been working hard with Mrs. Phelps to get ready for productions on April 25, 26, and 27, held in the upper elementary gym.
Middle school principal Green
• Green highlighted data from the middle school that shows how teachers are making great gains in instruction and students are making great gains in their learning. Green is grateful for her building being so supportive of a first-year administrator. When informing potential candidates on what the best part of working for Salem R-80 is, she highlights how well-behaved and polite the students are.
High school principal Heavin and assistant principal Kolbe
• They announced that Alyssa Hogan and Amber Pryor have been nominated by East Central College students for an “Inspirers of Excellence” award. A recognition ceremony will held on May 8.
• They shared they were working with the counseling department at making freshman orientation as smooth as possible. They’ve been looking at having all the students intermingle by doing activities together. Representatives from all the clubs will be made available for freshman to speak with.
• Attendance, meanwhile, has been bleak – they have learned incentivizing students through gift-giving has not worked, so they sought consultation with other principals in the area for ideas and policies that improved attendance. Heavin and Kolbe are discussing the implementation of policy changes that would prevent students from going on field trips, sporting events, or attending extracurricular dances if attendance is below 90%.
Athletics director Clay Moody
• Moody shared celebrations are in order for athletes - all-district selections for Salem are Trethan Richter from the boys’ squad and Fayth Kaminski from the Lady Tigers. Current openings were listed and Moody shared they were working hard to try and find candidates and get word out across the state through social media.
In new business,
MSBA policy update
• There was a first reading of a MSBA policy update, related to artificial intelligence. Reed asked Brian Campbell for his input regarding the policy. There’s a line within the policy regarding using AI “to generate any material that is obscene or harmful to minors”, which he thinks should be “obscene or harmful to any person.” Reed has requested the school attorney to weigh in on the change.
Opaa! Food Management Inc. Renewal
• Reed and Wills agreed that they would like to see Opaa! renewed for at least another year, with Reed stating how it has made food service process a lot clearer and systematic. The board approved the renewal, 7-0.
Approve bond language for Aug. 2024 election
• The decision was ultimately tabled to the May meeting.
Revised Head Lice Policy
• The board voted 7-0 in favor of eliminating the “no nit” policy – a policy that stated students with any nits found would be sent home. The policy change is more in line with what other districts are doing, according to Reed.
Resignations/Retirements
The motion to accept the resignations/retirements of Jordan McLaurin (high school social studies, head golf coach, assistant boys’ basketball), Lacie Kolbe (assistant high school principal), Kathleen Cole (middle school special education), Emalee Wiseman (kindergarten), Karen Jones (retirement, William Lynch title teacher), Tracy Leathers (retirement, high school math) was made and passed unanimously. Resignation of non-certified staff: Brittany Steelman (custodian), Aaron Steelman (custodian).
