Howell County News/Nate Hudson

Program cuts at WP Schools tied to wage increases

Like many school districts around the state, the West Plains School District is looking at cutting programs and slimming employment as they struggle to balance their upcoming budget in the shadow of the unfunded teacher wage increase that was passed down from legislators in Jefferson City last year. The 2025-2026 school year budget was a major topic of the district's most recent board of education meeting. 
In talks about the budget, Superintendent Dr. Wes Davis told the board he was going to “start making some very hard decisions about getting to this $40,000,” and looking at which courses and programs to keep. The superintendent stated he had to raise 235 employees’ wages by $11,000. This will increase the district's operating cost by over $2,585,000.
 
First, Dr. Davis is getting rid of SPARK, the West Plains Schools-based virtual course program. The law requires the school to have virtual class options, but there are other options. Next, Dr. Davis was looking at increasing the minimum number of seated courses to participate sports from two to four. The requirement for a stated minimum comes from the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), and the two-course policy was set by the previous superintendent. Dr. Davis said he spoke with other administrations and would suggest a number at the February meeting. 
 
He said he is not expecting the school to get certain baseline grant funding, making things tighter. “We're still going to pay teachers. We're still going to have benefits. We're still going to fix things around the district,” said Dr. Davis, but some projects, like sealing the gravel parking lots were not in the budget. “I am going to reduce some positions when I can,” explained Dr. Davis. He gave an example of moving an employee into the position of one who retired, but not filling the former's old position. He also said if he is able to reduce a stipend and not cut somebody, he's going to reduce the stipends.
 
“It's some tough decisions, but we have to do this.” He is expecting to present the salary schedule to the board in February. “I'm planning on it being a negative budget that I give you in June, and then this time next year, I'm going to be like 'I need to do some more of these'. I don't think I'll get to where we need to be in one year,”
 
The board did increase the tuition rate for the 2025-2026 school by the largest percentage in the last three years. The tuition rate was approved to increase by 3.0452% to $9,591.24 for the upcoming year. The current tuition rate is at $9,307.80 and increased by 2.7056% from the previous year. 
 
The school board decided on a Monday start for the upcoming school year. The board agreed to accept school to start in the 2025-2026 calendar on Monday, August 18. According to HR Director Matthew Orchard, the calendar committee was not able to come to an agreement between a Wednesday start or a Monday start. Orchard told the board he had surveyed the entire staff and that 55% had wanted a Wednesday start and the rest were indifferent. He said one of the concerns is that two of the rural schools that send older students to West Plains will be starting on Monday and one had committed to starting Wednesday. 
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