School Board approves list of 311 2025 graduates

The Webb City R-7 Board of Education on Tuesday approved a list of 311 seniors who will graduate Friday evening.

Commencement will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Cardinal Stadium.

It’s the largest senior class since 2022, when there were 314 graduates. A new record is expected in 2026 because there are 343 in the junior class. The sophomore and freshman classes are both counted at 348.

Friday, May 23, is the last day of school.

Summer school will start Thursday, May 29, and end Wednesday, June 25.

Angie Broaddus was one of the summer school principals telling about their plans to continue educating students in class and on field trips.

“We’re going to keep devices out of their hands and have some good old fun,” Broaddus said.

A trip to the Crystal Bridges art museum in Bentonville, Ark., is one of the field trips planned for middle school students.

At the high school, principal Jeff Wilkie said summer school is a good opportunity for students who have fallen behind to get back on the path with credit recovery.

He also said some choose to take speech in the summer because the audience of fellow students they have to speak to is smaller than during the fall and spring.

Driver’s education is still being taught during summer school.

Band and Redettes are going back to Disney World

The start of the regular meeting was quite crowded as recent performers at the state choir and band festivals were introduced.

The board approved a return trip to Walt Disney World by the band and Redettes. It will be over spring break in 2026. The last time the band marched in the Magic Kingdom was in 2022.

Jeff Brown approved as new middle school principal

Jeff Brown, an assistant principal at Webb City High School the past three years, was approved as the new middle school principal. He will replace Keith Robertson, who is becoming the principal of Carl Junction High School.

Brown got his start in education as a special education teacher at Joplin High School in 2006. He has has also taught dual-credit psychology at Missouri Southern State University and was the career services coordinator at Franklin Technology Center. Prior to his current position, he was an assistant principal at Seneca High School.

Faculty resignations were accepted from:

• Dayna Hernandez, second grade at Webster Primary Center for the past three years.

• Elexa Brouwer, first grade at Webster, one year.

• Megan Dotson, first grade at Webster, eight years.

• Natasha Jackson, middle school fifth grade, three years.

• Victoria Amos, fourth grade at Eugene Field Elementary, two years.

• Sarah Chambers, middle school fifth grade, three years.

Faculty contracts were offered to:

• Sean Kelley, counselor at Carterville Elementary.

• Kiley Copher, first grade at Webster.

• Jazmin Still, second grade at Webster.

• Katie Scheurick, special education at Webster.

• Harry Sargent, high school special education.

• Brandon Joines, high school math.

• Alane Golubski, district-wide English language learner instructor.