More personnel changes approved at supt’s last meeting

The Willow Springs school board approved resignations of long-term employees and the school resource officer as Dr. Marty Spence presided over his final meeting as superintendent. As previously reported by Howell County News, Spence announced in August that he would not been seeking renewal of his contract that ends on June 30. The board’s choice for the new superintendent, Dr. Jon Johnson, will preside over the July meeting. 

 

As part of the consent agenda, the board approved the resignation of central office secretary Mandy Scarbrough, an employee of more than 15 years’ tenure. Jennifer Owens, who is also a Willow Springs alderwoman, was approved June 8 to fill that role. Former district bookkeeper Jaime Bryan’s resignation, and the hire of Alicen Haugsted, was previously accepted by the board, but on Monday night the board approved Haugsted as the treasurer to the board. Johnson confirms a new custodian of records, formerly Spence, and a new board secretary, formerly Scarbrough, should be approved in July.

 

School resource officer Jeff Cunningham’s resignation was also accepted last Monday night. Johnson explained the board the district would begin seeking applicants last week and make a determination about salary based on the pool of interested parties. Cunningham’s role was not only school resource officer, but also Director of Safety. 

 

Other staff changes approved last week where resignations of Megan Spence, preschool teacher, Nancy Jackson-Bean, special education teacher, Charlie Beavers HVAC/maintenance, and Michelle Fotos, para. 

 

Other new hires this month were Greg O' Connor, high school science teacher, Melody Buse para, Holly Becker, para, and Amy Baldridge, middle school secretary, a vote from which board member David Baldridge abstained. 

In financial updates, the district’s independent financial consultant Kelly Lowe, “is finishing things up with the district,” according to Johnson, but he, “will seek advice from him as needed.” 

 

District spending continued to be controlled and conservative, Lowe told the board last week.

 

“We have had a wonderful year managing the budget with limited funds! We controlled our expenditures to offset the State’s shortfall,” Lowe’s report to the board says. Based on the shortfall in revenue received, and the controlled spending, if the district collects the remaining revenue in the budget this month -- $1.068 million – the district will finally be able to add money to reserves. Raising the reserve percentage from less than fiver percent to nearly seven percent.

 

“It is not a ‘fix all financial problems’ solution, yet it does get the district headed in the right direction. The next couple of years will be crucial in school finance. The State does not have the money to fund some initiatives; therefore, more things will be handed to the district to pay. Be wise my friends!” concludes Lowe’s report. 

 

The new fiscal year begins July 1. 

 

In other actions: 

-The board approved the bid from Springfield Grocer for food services, commending the district’s Food Service Director Regina Robert for the good work she does managing the food services. 

 

In other discussion:

-The board viewed a time-lapse video of the replacement of the Old Gym floor, which had been destroyed in a flood. The repair was 100 percent funded by insurance, confirms Johnson. 

-Accounts payable are going to be removed from the consent agenda for upcoming meetings. June and July bills will be approved in the July meeting. According to Johnson, June’s bills will be paid on their usual schedule.

-Tech upgrades and changes will favor streamlining processes for an IT department of one, when it was formerly two employees. 

-AD Robert James reviewed the academic standards for participation in Bear sports, which are more rigorous than MSHSAA standards, with grade checks every 5 weeks, and a 2.25 GPA required. Coaches will be handling two or three sports in the upcoming school year. 

-The board heard updates to student handbooks. These updates do not require a vote from the board. 

-Curriculum Director presented the district’s scorecard showing 2026 ACT scores are at a six-year low. Attendance is steady at 93%, and enrollment has declined every year since 2021. September 2025 enrollment was 1,027. 

-The same presentation highlighted big strides in middle school math testing scores, which member Baldridge described as “one of the best charts I’ve seen in years.”