Too many unknowns to finalize the R-7 budget

As the new fiscal school year nears on July 1, Superintendent Brenten Byrd shared his budget projections Tuesday with the Webb City R-7 School Board.

He said there are still too many variables at this point to approve a budget. That will have to wait until a work session later this month.

One variable is the additional $300 million in school funding approved by the Missouri Legislature that may be cut out of the budget by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

That could mean an additional $1.7 million ($385 per average daily attendance) for Webb City, according to Byrd, but he says he is not counting on it as he prepares the budget for the board.

Byrd also downplayed the amount of an expected increase in real-estate taxes based on the reassessment of homes. The county has been required to assess homes closer to their market value.

He said he believes the district will be able to afford to give raises for faculty and staff, but he’s not certain by how much.

One thing for certain he said, is the state’s minimum raise increase to $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2026. He projects it will cost $150,000 for the required raises and the ripple effect for those already making $15 an hour.

Byrd said one of his goals is to start rebuilding the capital improvement fund, which he projects will drop to $500,000 after spending for a chair lift at the high school, a new bus and required maintenance.

Cell phone policy

A new cell phone policy is another matter that needs to be decided before school starts in August.

Issues with the pending policy include whether phones can be used at all during the school day, how to store the devices, and how to allow legitimate use of phones in the classroom.

Byrd summed it up generally by saying, “Some people will be upset, some people will be happy.”

Maternity leave extended

The board approved the staff recommendation to increase maternity leave from eight weeks to 12 weeks.

Josh Flora, assistant superintendent for business operations, said there has been disgruntlement with the maternity policy for some time and that the salary and welfare committee of the Webb City Community Teachers Association has requested that it be increased. It was increased last year up to eight weeks.

Flora said three teachers during the last two years have resigned because of the maternity leave policy.

Maternity leave is unpaid, with the option to use built-up sick days.

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In other action, the board:

• Recognized the accomplishments of speech and debate students, along with those in Readers Theater and a one-act play. In addition to earning medals at state, two students are going to nationals in debate.

• Approved a recommended list of new band equipment presented by Butch Owens, director of bands.

• Approved the removal of 13 band lockers at the middle school and classifying them as surplus. Flora said more than enough lockers were installed when the building was constructed, and more space is needed now.

• Approved Ashley Ebbs to fill the assistant high school principal position that opened up when Jeff Brown was recently selected to be the middle school principal.

A former Cardinal Teacher, Ebbs is returning to the district after one year as an assistant principal at Noel Elementary School.

• Accepted resignations from:

– Autumn Pounds, Heritage Preschool early childhood special education teacher. She has been employed by the district for three years.

– Tiffany Blair, fourth grade at Eugene Field Elementary – three years.

– Patricia Silva, high school Spanish teacher – four years.

• Extended contracts to:

– Carmi Hinman, first grade at Webster Primary Center.

– Erica Lassiter, fourth grade at Eugene Field.

– Brentan Wilson, special education at the middle school.