Bob Foos
The start of junior kindergarten next year was announced during the Webb City R-7 School Board meeting Tuesday.
Allison Pope, assistant superintendent of instructional services, said junior kindergarten will be an option primarily for 5-year-olds with late birthdays (April, May, June, July) or others that may not be quite ready for kindergarten. Rather than stay home another year, they’ll be able to attend junior kindergarten and then advance to regular kinderten the following year. Some in junior kindergarten could catch up and be promoted directly to first grade.
Pope said the concept will be fully announced to parents during kindergarten enrollment in April.
She said she doesn’t anticipate a need for more teachers since junior kindergarten may reduce the number of classrooms for regular kindergarten.
Superintendent Brenten Byrd said he wanted to let board members know that “if you hear we’re not hiring a (vacant) position, they’re right.”
So far, he said there are two teaching positions being vacated by retirement or resignation that won’t be filled. Of those positions, one is at Eugene Field Elementary and the other is at Mark Twain Elementary. He emphasized that classroom sizes will still be reasonable in those schools.
Taking advantage of attrition is one way to prepare for budget shortfalls, he said. “Where we find opportunities to save money we will.”
The amount of state funding for education next year is being debated in Jefferson City.
The board approved a three-year an extension of its agreement to have 35 students participate in the dual-enrollment career exploration program offered by Missouri Southern State University and known as MOSO CAPS.
“It is great for kids,” Byrd said.
High school principal Jeff Wilke added that there are always more applicants than the 35 spots alloted to Webb City.
Under the agreement, the district will pay $2,498 per seat for a total of $87,430 by Aug. 1 for the 2025-26 school year. The cost will increase by $150 per seat for each of the next two years.
In other action, the board:
• Approved the purchase of a 2021 77-passenger school bus and a 2022 66-passenger bus at a cost up to around $210,000.
“Fun fact” – Josh Flora, assistant superintendent of business operations, noted the district is transporting 45% of its students to school.
• Heard an explanation of the upcoming ballot proposal to raise the county sales tax by 1/4 cent to establish a children’s services fund primarily for children with mental health issues.
Stephanie Theis, executive director of Children’s Haven, and Terry Wachter, with the Jasper County for Kids Coalition, discussed the proposal, which is advertised as JasperCounty4Kids.
• Accepted retirement letters from:
– Kanda Cornell, high school physical education and health teacher, after 23 years with the district.
– Jeremy Butler, high school art teacher for the past 27 years.
• Accepted resignation letters from:
– Riley Biancarelli, fourth grade at Eugene Field, three years.
– Shelby Lortz, second grade at Webster Primary, three years.
– Joseph Dankelson, high school special education, two years.
– Caitlin Hershey, art teacher at Madge T. James Kindergarten and Carterville, four years.
– Brittany Lane, third grade at Harry S Truman, one year.
– Nick Harmon, high school social studies and soccer coach.
– Mollie Keene, first grade teacher at Webster Primary, was granted a one-year leave of absence.
• Approved contract offers for:
– Cara Stevens, Madge T. James Kindergarten.
– Sonya Kew, junior high math.
– Jon Bishop, junior high assistant principal.
– Fred Mintert, junior high art.
– Sean Gilmore, speech language pathologist.
– Bailey Arends, high school physical science.
– Allyson Stolte, high school physical education/health and softball coach.
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