Bob Foos
Superintendent Brenten Byrd is getting more outspoken about a series of bills moving through the Missouri Legislature that he says will have on public education.
The current session “is a straight-out attack on public education, and it’s never been that way,” Byrd told members of the Webb City R-7 Board of Education Tuesday during their monthly meeting.
Earlier in the day, the Missouri House gave initial approval to a constitutional amendment, that if approved by voters in November, would allow lawmakers to expand the state sales tax to replace the income tax.
According to Traci Gleason, of Missouri Budget Project, swapping out the income tax for a greatly expanded sales tax “would blow a $5 billion hole in the state budget, causing massive cuts to schools, particularly in rural areas.”
MBP has created an interactive map showing how each school district would be affected. It estimates the Webb City R-7 School District would lose $6,238,464 in state funding (11.4% of its overall revenue). That would amount to a loss of $1,459 for each student and would be the equivalent of 113 (one-third) teachers or 197 (half) of the support staff.
Byrd likened the district’s revenue to a three-legged stool. “They’ve already cut the federal and state funding legs from under us. Now they’re going after our local taxes.”
Under House Bill 2780, Byrd said the district would be one of 63 districts that would have to roll back the minimum tax levy for operations from $2.75 per $100 assessed valuation to as low as the new minimum of $2.20 per $100 assessed valuation.
Byrd estimated passage of that bill could potentially cost the district $456,000 per year in local funding.
He cited other property tax reduction measures that would have an effect of lowering education funding.
If open enrollment passes, 3% of the district’s students could go to another district, taking their state funding with them. Byrd said that would potentially be a $1.2 million loss for the district.”
He also opposes the proposed A–F grading system for school districts. Although the district’s test scores are in the top 20%, he said Webb City would as of now receive a D minus or F grade. “It’s because they’re throwing in the growth model nobody understands,” he said.
“They’re ultimately trying to prove public education is failing,” he added.
On Thursday morning, as the district’s teachers gather for a professional day, Byrd said he is going to explain the effect bills being discussed in Jefferson City would have on them and encourage them to reach out to their legislators. “They need to know” what is going on at the state level, he told the board.
He also said he wants to activate the community to support public education. “It’s our voices that matter.
“If we don’t stand up and say something” the legislators are going to think the measures they’re considering are OK, Byrd said.
He and board member Stephen Crane, along with some teachers, are planning to visit the Capitol April 12-13.
Allison Pope, assistant superintendent for instructional services, reported that teachers and administrators on the AI task force are preparing to roll out AI assisted instruction beginning in April – just in the high school.
There will be additional training in the summer and when school starts in August.
She emphasized that teachers have to preview content and students have to learn how to protect themselves.
As board member David Collard put it, “Half of the information (provided by AI) is bogus. You have to check it.”
“That’s why we’ve been conservative and slow moving because we want to do it right,” Pope replied.
Pope also addressed the need to reign in the growing number of students choosing virtual learning instead of being in the classroom.
Mainly, she proposes requiring freshmen and sophomores to be in the classroom. “Showing up and being there every day increases the rigor to create thinkers,” she said.
The board approved Byrd’s recommendation that Denise Powley become the principal at the Webster Primary Center. She will replace Amanda Eggleston, who was approved last month to succeed Jeff Wilke when he retires as the high school principal.
Powley was a principal in New Mexico before being hired a year ago as assistant principal at Webster and the middle school.
Andrew Campbell was also approved as a high school social studies teacher and assistant wrestling coach.
Letters of resignation were accepted from:
• Brooke Bundy, physical education teacher and assistant girls basketball coach. (Four years with the district)
• Nathan Hulstine, junior high multi-media teacher. He’ll be an administrator at Neosho. (18 years)
• Alison Johnson, teacher at Madge T. James Kindergarten Center. (Four years)
• Elizabeth Beaver, third grade teacher at Mark Twain Elementary School. (Four years)
• Kristen Gavenda, fourth grade teacher at Eugene Field Elementary School. (One year)
• Lisa Stanley, kindergarten teacher at Bess Truman Primary Center. (Two years)
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Adam Bell, director of technology, received approval to purchase before prices go up further:
• New laptop computers for high school teachers at a cost up to $100,000.
• Student chromebooks to replace those at the end of their cycle for a cost of $265 each, up to $120,000 total.
• IT equipment to replace aged systems at the elementary schools at a cost up to $150,000 plus an 80% match.
• A different internet content blocking system for $20,000.
Josh Flora, assistant superintendent for business services, received approval to have Midwest Synthetic Turf Professionals respray the track surface and improve the high jump area and javelin runway at a cost of $170,000.
The track was last sprayed 13 years ago. The new surface will be marked so that Special Olympics meets can be held there.
He also received approval to renew a bus leasing agreement with Central States Bus Sales. Three 66-passenger buses with lifts will replace three existing buses. They will cost a total of $185,087 to lease each year, which will be reimbursed.
He said he is still working on a way to continue offering driver’s education.