School Board takes a stand against open enrollment legislation

The Webb City R-7 Board of Education Tuesday voted unanimously to join more than 200 other districts across the state that are opposing legislation being debated that would allow students attend school in a neighboring district.

Superintendent Brenten Byrd asked the board to take a stand against open enrollment “at least until they get it figured out.”

For instance as it’s currently written, he said Webb City would be responsible for transporting any student on the free-and-reduced school lunch list from outside the district – which could be as far away as Jasper.

“In my opinion, there’s not enough clarification” and lots of potential flaws, Byrd told the board members.

“We shouldn’t be having competition in education,” said board president Jason Woodmansee, who with Erin Taylor have volunteered to be the board’s legislative liaisons.

Woodmansee urged parents and others to contact local legislators because “they know what superintendents think – they want to hear from parents.”

There’s also controversy at Jefferson City about Gov. Mike Kehoe not including a recommended $300 million for school funding in his budget proposal.

Partly because of that, Byrd told board members that he is projecting the district’s general revenue won’t be increasing. He also cited the prediction that revenue from sports gambling will be less than expected. And locally, he said the senior property tax credit is expected to lessen the district’s growth in assessed valuation.

Junior high sports changes

Athletic director John Roderique and assistant junior high principal Darrell Hicks informed the board about game scheduling changes that have become necessary for winter junior high sports.

Next year, seasons for winter sports (boys and girls wrestling, and boys and girls basketball) will be at the same time.

A shortage of officials is the main factor. Roderique said the officials shortage is worse than ever, and it’s being exacerbated by the fact that schools are playing more games.

Rather than trying to play all games on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Hicks said he’s having to schedule games on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. And sometimes, it may be necessary to schedule games on Wednesdays.

Board members stated concern that there will be repercussions from coaches against players opting to go to church on Wednesdays instead of playing a game.

Although distant Waynesville is now a conference opponent, Hicks said the Central Ozark Conference does not require the junior high to schedule games with all of its opponents. He said he will avoid going to Waynesville, especially on a school night. “They don’t want to come here either,” he added. Rather, he said he will try to fill schedules with non-conference schools such as Carl Junction and McDonald County.

John Roderique: Allow dual-sport players

Roderique made a strong pitch to allow students to participate in two sports in the same season.

Specifically, he said a soccer player should be allowed to kick field goals for the football team. But he cited other examples, such as a girls soccer player running for the track team.

“There is only one school of that doesn’t allow this – and it is us,” he said.

“I believe we are limiting kids’ opportunities,” he said, citing a Nixa soccer/football player, who was awarded a scholarship to be a place kicker at the University of Kansas.

“I think this needs to change,” Roderique said.

Woodmansee said the board will take his recommendation under advisement.

Project Graduation seeks advice

Two Project Graduation officers appeared before the board asking for ideas on how to meet their goals.

Amber Lenker, president, and Samantha McDaniel, marketing director, said they are bumping up against a deadline for their biggest fundraising challenge to sell enough tickets to raffle off a Ford Bronco.

“It’s been a difficult year,” said Lenker, noting that it’s the first year for Project Graduation not to be assisted by a high school staff member.

One of the issues depending on fundraising is whether the after-prom event can be held off campus. Tee Time in Webb City and Gen 3 in Carthage are being considered.

Board members expressed concern that parents have a way of knowing whether their seniors are actually attending the event. Lenker and McDaniel said they will find out how the high school does that for the prom.

Byrd asked Lenker and McDaniel to come back in June to discuss how best to go forward in future years.

In other action:

• After a closed session, the board extended contracts for building administrators.

• Scott Roderique was approved as the next principal of Eugene Field Elementary School. He is currently an assistant junior high principal. His father, board member Will Roderque, abstained from voting.

• Deborah “Denise” Powley, was approved as an assistant principal for the middle school and Webster Primary Center. She is moving here from New Mexico.

• The 2025-2026 169-day school calendar was approved. It is much the same as the current calendar, with Aug. 18 being the first day. There will be a full week off for Thanksgiving and two weeks off for Christmas (starting Dec. 22 and returning Jan. 6.)

– Summer school this year will be from May 29 to June 25.

• Board members were asked to attend three upcoming events: the ribbon-cutting breakfast for the bus barn remodeling on Feb. 18, the MAP Banquet on March 3, and the Foundation Banquet on March 4.

• Phasing in an increase for mileage reimbursement was discussed, with the goal of eventually keeping up with the federal guideline.

– The purchase of two low-mileage vehicles was approve for staff to take on school-related trips instead of their own vehicles.

• Webb City Community Teachers Association salary and welfare committee requests to increase the length of maternity and paternity leave were discussed.

• The board accepted retirement letters from:

– Joe Moore, junior high industrial arts teacher, after 25 years in education (three with the district).

– Susan Campbell, high school science teacher, after 27 years in education (18 years with the district).

• The board accepted the resignation letter of Mikala Decker, a first grade teacher taking time off after with five years with the district.

• The board approved contracts for:

– Laura “Simone” Pendergraft, a speech language pathologist. Kayla Cullers, director of special education, said the board’s salary increase for SLPs is attracting candidates for open positions.

– Daniel Osborne, junior high math.