Supt: district won’t have to borrow to pay bills
Tue, 09/16/2025 - 11:43am
admin
By:
Amanda Mendez, publisher
During his update on the school district's ongoing financial crisis, Superintendent Dr. Marty Spence told the school board it is unlikely the school will need to borrow money to make it through the school year. Known as a tax anticipation note, school districts may take on a short-term loan until receiving tax revenues, which are most heavily disbursed in December and January.
According to financial analysis from Dr. Carol Embree, Spence said, the projected low balance of funds will be in November: approximately $258,000. By January, the consultant projects balances will be above $2 million.
This month, the balance of all funds is $2,542,950.81. In August, the balance was $3,051,56.86, and the balance one year ago was $4,516,562.48.
In other financial updates, Spence read from a letter from Dr. Embree that encourages no further analysis of FY25, “All limited resources should be focused on moving forward,” he read.
Budget amendments are coming, and data will continue to change month to month, but according to Spence, the financial trajectory is, “encouraging.”
With 79% of the budget tied up in payroll expenses, “obviously additional analysis” is required moving forward.
Howell County News requested copies of the letter, with attachments, from the district’s central office three times over four business days, beginning on Tuesday afternoon. By press time, the records were not released.
The board approved by 6-1 vote the contract with Dr. Embree for consulting services. Roger Shanks was the dissenting vote. The district has agreed to pay the consultant $125 per hour, plus travel expenses, for her continued consulting work, according to a contract for services obtained by the News. The board did not impose a cap on spending.
For services rendered in July and August, the board approved payment of $4,750, which the invoice shows is discounted from the full price of $9,000.
School board president commented during the Sept. 8 meeting that Dr. Embree had, “given us a deal.”
In other action, the board approved transportation routes as presented by Transportation Director Logan Schwalm. A mother of two children in the district, Brianna Brashears, was present to address the board on changes to the school bus route that have her 12 and 8-year-old children walking 2.5 miles home from a stop, when the bus used to come directly to her driveway.
Schwalm described the road conditions near the family’s home, calling them unsafe for the other children who would be riding a bus. He said 2.5 miles is within DESE regulations for a distance from home.
After confirming that approving the bus routes is not the end of the conversation with this family, the board approved the routes. The routes as presented do not mark every individual stop, and without making a formal motion or vote, board members expressed an intention to help this family find a solution.
In administrative reports, new Special Education Administrator Barbara Medina presented the idea of hiring a new certified special education teacher and a paraprofessional to better serve the Sp.Ed. population of the school. There are three children who attend a high needs school, called the Discovery School, in Rolla. These children take a bus from their homes to Cabool, then another bus to Rolla, each time they attend Discovery School. The district pays tuition for these students, plus transportation costs.
According to Medina, there are two students who could begin attending small classroom settings in Willow Springs, if she had the staff to serve them. It would also be possible to loop in homebound students into this small group, better serving them all.
Medina presented figures indicating making the change could save $150,000 to $180,000.
The board, without a motion or vote, generally approved Medina to begin searching for the staff she needs to implement her proposal.
In other actions:
-From the consent agenda, the board approved the following personnel changes: New Substitutes: Kaytlynn Drake and Savanna Moore; Resignations: Ryan Bunch, freshman basketball coach, Christina Collins, Club bear volleyball, and Stefanie Gentry, nurse; and Retirements: Phalena White, Middle School teacher and Tammy Henry, Middle School Counselor, both effective at the end of the 25–26 school year.
-By unanimous vote, the board approved a contract from the Missouri State School Board Association (MSBA) for their superintendent search services at a cost of $5,800 for the basic free structure. The overall cost will be more, with travel expenses for candidates expected.
-By unanimous vote, the board approved a contract for milk from Hiland Dairy.
-The board withdrew into closed session for student discipline matters. No action from the board is recorded in the meeting minutes.
-Enrollment numbers presented were: 347 in K-4, 61 in Pre-K, 348 in middle school, 355 in high school, 178 receiving Special Education services, 15 in Pre-K, and 156 in K-12.