School Board Tables Budget Vote Amid Inflation Pressures, Calls for More Transparency

MSBA Report Highlights Board Training and Summer Summit

During the May board meeting, members viewed the Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA) monthly video update, which spotlighted training opportunities for both new and veteran board members.

MSBA’s Katherine Whitaker emphasized the importance of new board member training, a state-mandated 18.5-hour program that helps participants build connections and develop leadership skills. The upcoming MSBA Summer Summit, scheduled for June 16–18 at the Hilton Branson Convention Center, will feature workshops tailored for school board presidents, including sessions on parliamentary procedure and effective onboarding strategies.

The report also clarified that refresher training requirements reset each election cycle, urging board members to complete their 2025–26 sessions early. Whitaker encouraged all boards to consider summer retreats as valuable opportunities for team-building, particularly when onboarding a new superintendent or board member.

Additionally, the MSBA highlighted Neosho School District’s new state-of-the-art agricultural center and invited viewers to explore more stories via MSBA’s social media platforms.

Board Approves Professional Development Program Evaluation

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Melissa Miller presented the annual Professional Development Program Evaluation, highlighting its alignment with district goals and its growing effectiveness in addressing teacher and student needs. Following her report, the board unanimously approved the evaluation.

Miller praised the district’s Professional Development Committee (PDC), composed of elected teacher representatives from each building, for its leadership in designing impactful, goal-aligned learning opportunities. “This is the first year I’ve rated our program as excellent,” Miller told the board, citing its responsiveness to educator feedback and its strong alignment with the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP).

The program offers a range of learning formats, including a summer academy and regular after-school sessions. Emphasis is placed on instructional strategies that enhance student engagement, which Miller said has contributed to a noticeable decline in discipline referrals across buildings.

Challenges remain, particularly around time demands for implementing state-mandated literacy initiatives and supporting new educators. With teacher attrition posing a significant hurdle, some schools seeing up to 50% of staff in their first or second year, professional development has become crucial in onboarding and cultural integration. “Even veteran educators new to Excelsior Springs receive mentoring so they understand how we do things here,” said Miller.

The district also continues to manage the 1% of state funding required for professional development effectively, often budgeting slightly over to ensure flexibility. Committee members and mentors receive stipends or career ladder hours, reinforcing the district’s investment in teacher leadership.

Board members voiced support for the program’s direction and appreciated its strategic use of resources. “Whatever we can do to support our teachers’ development, we should,” said board member Brett Jones.

Tensions Surface as Board Tables 2025–26 Budget Approval

Excelsior Springs Superintendent Dr. Jaret Tomlinson presented the proposed 2025–26 district budget during the May 13 board meeting, describing the process as collaborative and fiscally disciplined—but not without its challenges.

Tomlinson emphasized the budget’s alignment with district priorities: student achievement, staff support, and maintaining safe, modern learning environments. He noted that while the district has maintained healthy reserves and trimmed non-essential costs, escalating inflation and stagnant revenue streams have tightened financial flexibility. Contracted services, utilities, and operational expenses have all seen double-digit percentage increases, with some categories rising nearly 20%.

Despite these constraints, the proposed budget includes a step increase for eligible employees and a district subsidy to partially offset rising health insurance costs. However, Tomlinson acknowledged the district could not afford to adjust salary schedules, citing the recent failure of a local tax levy intended to support compensation increases. “The community spoke loudly,” he said. “We now face the reality of needing to retain and attract quality educators without additional local funding.”

The $45.5 million spending plan reflects a slight decrease from the previous year and includes significant reductions in capital outlay, driven by the absence of major construction projects. Still, some board members expressed the need for a deeper understanding before taking a vote.

In a motion that reflected both caution and concern, the board voted unanimously to table approval of the budget until a dedicated work session could be held. Board members cited a desire to better understand revenue trends, expenditure allocations, and the broader fiscal picture. “I want to be able to look a community member in the eye and say this budget best meets our students’ needs,” stated Brett Jones, who also made the motion to table the budget approval.

A budget work session is scheduled for June 10 at 5:30 p.m., ahead of the board’s next regular meeting on June 24.

PAC Curtain Replacement Approved to Address Safety, Aesthetic Upgrades

The board unanimously approved a bid to replace the curtains in the high school’s Performing Arts Center (PAC), addressing both aging infrastructure and fire safety concerns.

Incoming Activities Director and current Assistant Principal at ESHS, Doug Baker, explained that the current curtains are original to the facility and have deteriorated to the point where they no longer meet fire-resistance standards. “It’s a huge safety concern, not just for students and staff, but also for community members who use the space,” Baker said.

The new curtains, which will cost approximately $45,000, will maintain the current style and material but will update the color of the main curtain from green to dark gray. The funds were designated to come from a $50,000 allocation already designated for this purpose within the 2024–25 PAC account. But, rather than being funded through the activities department’s budget, the curtain replacement will now be covered under the capital improvement expenditures tied to the district’s lease-purchase funds (see below). This reallocation preserves program-specific funds while ensuring the safety and continued functionality of the PAC.

Board members raised questions about what future upgrades to the PAC might be made. Baker shared that discussions are underway to relocate the soundboard from its current booth to a more central auditorium location to improve acoustics and technician effectiveness during performances. While still in the planning stages, the project would rely on internal labor and existing equipment to minimize costs.

Board member Traci White voiced her support, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the facility’s appeal. She noted her surprise that the original curtains were still in use and said it was important to continue enhancing the space, not only for student use but also to make it attractive for community events and potential revenue opportunities.

District Addresses $253K Cyber Fraud, Outlines Strengthened Cybersecurity Measures

During the May 13 board meeting, Deputy Superintendent and incoming Superintendent Dr. Mark Bullimore addressed community concerns following the recent revelation that the Excelsior Springs School District fell victim to a phishing scam in 2022, resulting in the loss of more than $253,000.

Bullimore explained that the breach stemmed from a compromised vendor email account and emphasized that the district has since taken extensive steps to strengthen its cybersecurity. Among the improvements are updated password requirements, now a minimum of 14 characters, mandatory two-factor authentication for all staff, and increased training in recognizing phishing attempts.

The district’s Technology Department, led by John Coleman, also monitors systems daily for suspicious activity, uses endpoint protection software, and restricts app installations to approved options. Additionally, beginning in the 2025–26 school year, each building will receive a 30-minute professional development session on email safety and cybersecurity best practices.

In response to board inquiries about why the incident was not made public sooner, district leadership clarified that the issue remained in closed session due to ongoing legal proceedings between the district and the affected vendor. A settlement was ultimately reached, and the matter was quietly resolved. Board members emphasized that the lack of public disclosure was due to legal limitations, not intentional concealment.

Bullimore acknowledged the evolving nature of cyber threats. “It’s an arms race,” he said, noting that while no system is impenetrable, the district is doing everything it can to reduce risks and respond proactively.

Read more about this story Here: District Details Cybersecurity Response After $253K Phishing Theft

Board Approves Capital Projects Plan to Spend Remaining Lease Funds

The Excelsior Springs School Board approved a comprehensive capital projects plan aimed at fully utilizing the district’s remaining funds from a lease-purchase agreement originally allocated for construction. The move comes as part of a last-minute effort to avoid federal arbitrage penalties by ensuring all earned interest is spent before the deadline.

Superintendent Dr. Jaret Tomlinson presented the updated project list, noting the unexpected savings from the high school parking lot bid significantly altered the district’s planning. Initially estimated at $800,000, the final accepted bid came in at $455,000—leaving the district with additional funds to allocate quickly.

“That sounds like a good problem, but it’s a lot of work,” Tomlinson said, describing the scramble to identify other high-need purchases that align with the district’s long-term goals.

The approved projects include:

• High school parking lot resurfacing: $455,000
• District office roof replacement: $280,000
• PAC curtain replacement ~$45,000
• Cafeteria furniture and office desks: ~$35,000
• Final payment to Newkirk Novak Construction: $89,592 for work at Elkhorn and Cornerstone
• Aerial lift for maintenance use, eliminating costly annual rentals
• Vehicle purchases for the maintenance fleet

The total expenditure slightly exceeds the remaining $1.162 million in the account by approximately $9,300—a strategic move to ensure all funds are used without risking penalties. Tomlinson emphasized the financial advantages of this approach, which will also ease budgetary pressure in the upcoming fiscal year for incoming Superintendent Dr. Mark Bullimore.

The board also addressed concerns over the unusually low bid for the parking lot project. Tomlinson assured members that the bid was thoroughly vetted. “Anthony [Barry] went through every line of it, even called the estimator, and made sure all our specifications would be met,” he said.

Board members expressed appreciation for the diligence in managing the funds and recognized the significance of the improvements. “It’s a creative and smart way to use available resources to reduce next year’s expenses,” one member noted.

The motion passed unanimously, 5–0.

Board Reviews and Approves Wellness Program Evaluation

The Excelsior Springs School Board concluded its May 13 meeting with a detailed discussion and unanimous approval of the 2024–25 Wellness Program Evaluation, presented by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Christen Everett. The program, which focuses on employee wellness and morale rather than clinical health services, is funded through wellness incentives provided by the district’s insurance provider.

Dr. Everett explained that the 18-member Wellness Committee, made up of teachers, nurses, and classified staff, meets five to seven times a year to organize health-oriented initiatives. This year’s events included a September step challenge, an October mental health awareness activity, and a popular “wellness bingo” in December, which saw the highest staff participation. Staff submitted completed bingo cards to the district nurse to receive gift card incentives.

A key goal for the committee this year was to expand community engagement through a wellness event—the Reindeer Run, organized in partnership with Student Council. Although the run was canceled due to weather, Everett praised the effort and said the group hopes to build on the idea next year.

One of the main focuses going forward is improved structure. Everett noted that this year’s events were often organized on the fly, but the committee plans to begin its work at the start of the school year next time, allowing better promotion and planning.

During board discussion, one member who requested the evaluation be pulled from the consent agenda said that, while some metrics in the written report had declined, they believed it was important to publicly highlight the committee’s work. They also referenced prior remarks by Superintendent Dr. Jaret Tomlinson, who noted in a previous meeting that the district’s high volume of insurance claims was indicative of a “very not-well district.” In that context, they said, a closer look at the wellness program felt appropriate.

Suggestions from the board included developing informational campaigns around cost-saving measures like choosing generic medications, which Everett said aligns with tips already distributed by the district’s insurance provider.

Career ladder compensation was also discussed. Everett said she supports generous recognition of committee members’ time and efforts, allowing members to log hours for work like newsletter creation and event planning.

Board members expressed enthusiasm about the committee’s growing collaboration with students and potential impact on broader goals such as attendance. Everett said these initiatives will increasingly tie into the district’s strategic planning as wellness becomes a more visible component of overall student and staff success.