Eagles to return to Ozark 7 Conference

By Murray Bishoff Special to the Cassville Democrat

Purdy will have a new high school principal next year. 

Stephanie Heman, the former Monett High School principal, has been selected to take over, filling out the administrative team. 

Superintendent Travis Graham announced Heman’s selection in his newsletter. Graham has been serving both as superintendent and high school principal this school year to give the district time to find the right candidate. 

Heman has 34 years of experience as an educator and 15 years in school administration. She has been engaged in high school operations, supporting areas such as student discipline, faculty evaluation, curriculum alignment and the development of policies and programs. Graham also noted Heman’s experience in analyzing data to improve student outcomes, implementing instructional strategies and overseeing alternative education programs. 

Graham also announced that with the 2026-27 school year, Purdy will return to the Ozark 7 Conference, leaving the Southwest Central League. The SWCL had two schools leave two years ago, leaving Purdy in with Blue Eye, Galena, Southwest, and Kirbyville. Graham said after continuing for another year, “it was evident that we needed to make changes to our conference organization.” 

Both Purdy and Southwest have been welcomed back into the Ozark 7. Other schools include more local teams: Exeter, Wheaton, and Verona, along with Thomas Jefferson in Joplin, College Heights, and Golden City. 

The March school board meeting concentrated on financial concerns in the coming year. 

Graham walked board members through the latest legislation before the Missouri General Assembly. HB 2780 proposed lowering the state tax levy for schools from $2.75 per $100 of assessed property to $2.20. What that would do, Graham said, is lower revenue to the Purdy school district from $1,168,799 to $935,023, a loss of $233,776 or 20%. Discussions have revolved around how that would reduce the per-pupil reduction. 

Legislators are also talking about cutting income taxes, and how mandatory open enrollment would cut students attending in Purdy by 5%. Open enrollment would obligate the district to pay for sending its students to another school district of their choice, a significantly greater expense added to less funding. 

Another bill, HB 2230, would mandate 70% of elementary work to be done by pencil and paper. The change would theoretically address digital instruction resulting in lowered literacy rates. Lawmakers anticipated the change would come with a cost to district in books and time for teachers. 

Uncertainty remains at the federal level where overhauls to education funding seem to be advancing. The total allocation, Graham noted, is only slightly less than the previous year, but with staffing in the Department of Education cut nearly in half, and talk continuing about moving education programs to different departments, it’s not clear what will happen. 

At the state level, local voters on April 7 will vote on freezing property tax increases on their primary residences. This would also reduce local school funding, which relies on property taxes. Those eligible for tax freezes would include senior citizens. The long-term effect of such freezes is as yet unknown. 

Graham told school board members, “There are a lot of moving parts in preparing the FY27 district budget. With the level of uncertainties regarding financial resources, I am working on several scenarios and will be attending legislative sessions as I am able.”

In his staff newsletter, Graham reaffirmed his commitment to raise the salary schedule to reach the mandated $40,000 minimum for certified teachers. Presently, Purdy pays $38,000. He submitted seven different salary scenarios for the staff to review, and to see the extended impact over all the steps. 

The main presentation at the board meeting came from special education director Darcy Brown. She reported the district presently has 73 students receiving special education, 8 in the preschool, and 14 deemed high needs students. Eleven students have one-on-one paraprofessionals. Two students have been placed outside of the district. Brown also reviewed the number of students receiving speech/language, occupational, physical, and visual therapy. The largest group receives speech/language therapy remotely through television. Two have orientation and mobility therapy. 

A number of Purdy’s special education students would be competing at Special Olympics in Carl Junction on April 8. 

Elementary Principal Julie Dalton reviewed plans for Dr. Seuss Week. She noted the second preschool and kindergarten screening would be held on April 17. 

Dalton noted the middle school volleyball team took second at the Southwest Volleyball Tournament. 

At the high school, Courtney Patterson was commended for advancing to the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program’s national competition in Salt Lake City in prepared speaking. 

Graham announced the board would hold its reorganization meeting on April 9.