Ken Terry named board president

By Murray Bishoff Special to the Cassville Democrat

The Purdy school board reorganized at its April 9 meeting, returning one incumbent and adding two new members following the April 7 election. 

Board secretary Kristy Cook swore in returning incumbent Nathan Lamp, back for a second term, and first-time members David Wormington and Kaley Thigpen. The sudden death of board president David Young opened a third vacancy. 

Rather than seek an appointment, board members opted to accept all three candidates on the April ballot, filling Young’s seat with Thigpen. 

In the vote for officers, the board tapped Ken Terry for president, a post he held years ago. Mason Roller was named vice president. 

In board action, members hired Pamela Peterson as a new high school math teacher, and approved Cailyn Ridenour’s resignation as an elementary teacher. 

Three paraprofessionals and two food service staffers resigned. All the remaining classified staff and two new paraprofessionals were hired for the coming school year. 

Superintendent Travis Graham walked the board through the latest machinations by the Missouri General Assembly over new legislation impacting public schools. He reviewed the proposal to reduce the voter-approved minimum tax levy from $2.75 per $100 of assessed property to $220, a move that would cost the Purdy district $233,756. The legislature has not fully funded the State Adequacy Target, an amount supposedly set for the next three years. At full funding, Purdy would receive $7,145 per student. Currently, Purdy receives $6,900 per student. Graham expects that to fall to $6,740 next school year. 

While open enrollment has not been discussed during the current session, Graham said he would not be surprised to see it sneak through in a late move as the Missouri Senate’s Omnibus Property Tax Bill takes shape.

He saw open enrollment and giving school districts a letter grade as a marketing scheme to lure students to more affluent districts. With 60 percent of students falling below the poverty rate and 49 percent of students qualifying as English language learners, Graham said Purdy faces many challenges in providing academic rigor for students. 

In addition, he reported Senate Bill 1442 proposes an overhaul to reading intervention. The bill would require each school building to have a dedicated reading intervention teacher and require holding back students who fall below the grade level performance. Students falling two grade levels behind or more would receive a reading success plan. Graham said good intentions in this plan nonetheless presented challenges implementing it. On this point, Assistant Principal Jennifer Cornelius noted Purdy already gives such plans to dyslexic students. 

Graham distributed a budget plan for next school year. He added revenue projections remain “a moving target.” Several areas offered little wiggle room. He had a column showing what cuts of 3 to 5 percent would look like. 

Terry urged board members to review the proposed reductions in spending and to make suggestions “as we look at tough times ahead. If it’s not something making our kids smarter, we need to consider [cutting] it. ” 

At the next board meeting, Graham said a financial advisor from the Stifel Financial Corporation would be on hand to suggest options. 

On the schedule, Graham reported state standardized testing [Missouri Achievement Program MAP tests] would take place during the last week in April. May 15 would be the last day of school. Baccalaureate will be held on May 6, and graduation was slated for May 9. Summer school will run May 26 to June 19. 

The next board meeting will be on May 21.