Base pay still below state minimum

By Murray Bishoff Special to the Cassville Democrat

The Purdy school board, meeting on June 29 to assess year-end finances, approved a reduced budget for the coming year and took stock of other pressing issues such as roof repairs. 

The board’s monthly meeting started with an extended review of the budget. Superintendent Travis Graham had warned board members that program cuts may be needed with anticipated revenues dropping below the previous year. 

“With the challenges districts are facing statewide regarding state funding and revenues, the Purdy Board of Education and district administration are strategically analyzing the 2026-27 fiscal budget with the expectation of making reductions in the areas of operations,” Graham said. “Once we have navigated through our 2026 tax rate hearing that is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 13, we will amend our budget, ultimately taking a reserved approach to spending for the 2026-27 fiscal year.”

The preliminary budget called for setting the base pay scale at $38,000, making the district reliant on state grants to meet the mandated salary base of $40,000. The salary scale would include a step increase for years of service for all certified and non-certified staff except for the building and district administrators and directors. Board-paid health insurance would remain at $576.35. 

Other budgeted financial commitments included $53,000 to OM Construction Repair and Maintenance for continuing deferred maintenance needs, plus $125,000 for district technology and upgrades. Board members agreed to continue work on both short-term and long-term plans for facility improvements. A planned discussion with a representative from the investment banking firm Stifel for financial options was postponed until later in the fall. 

Roof issues

Board members continued their discussion of financial matters by reviewing the aftermath of the April 28 hailstorm. Graham reported talks were continuing over hail damage on roofs, where an initial adjuster called the impact on one of the metal roofs only “cosmetic.” He enlisted drones to review the roofs on the middle school and the FEMA shelter/performing arts center, which he thought may be replaced. 

“Beginning the 2025-26 school year, we began to seek out solutions to address our roof needs,” Graham said. “We had a few roof vendors come out and inspect our roofing systems over the past few years – Coryell Roofing, CCR Roofing, and Oak Ridge Commercial Roofing Solutions – ultimately leading us to partner with Oak Ridge Commercial Roofing Solutions. Currently, a majority of our roofs – the high school wing, elementary wing, and cafeteria area – are standing metal seam roofs, which were installed approximately 40 years ago. Due to budgetary reasons, we fiscally cannot replace our roofs. We looked into two options: one, restoration, and two, single ply, ultimately selecting restoration as the best solution for our standing seam metal roof areas.”

Quoted prices for restoration of five roofs ran about half of the replacement costs for a single-ply roofs. 

“The restoration process removes existing aged coatings and fabric from the current roof surface as needed,” Graham aid. “Then, they pressure wash the entire roof area with a Rust Off cleaner to etch metal, remove rust, oxidation and dirt. Once that step is complete, they apply Encase Rust Inhibiting Metal Primer over the entire roof area, apply seam grade premium caulking compound to the standing seam to seal openings between panels, then apply a polyester fabric embedded into it on all end-lap seams. Finally, they apply a white Puma XL Top Coat at the rate of 1.9 ga. per 100 square feet over the entire roof. Resulting in a roof system that has an 85 percent reflectivity, and a UL-790 Class A Fire rating.”

Single-ply, he noted, is more in-depth and costly. 

As for other hail damage from the recent storm, Graham reported the windshield on the district’s van had been replaced. The Suburban and the van were going into Horner’s body shop in Monett to repair the body damage. 

In other action, the board approved sending two students to the GO CAPS program in Monett to attend the medicine/healthcare and the global business strands. The district has sent students to the GO CAPS program through the Scott Regional Technology Center for the past two years. 

Handbook changes

Several changes were approved for the student and faculty handbooks. Graham observed the student handbook has lacked guidance on the A+ program, which has been limited to juniors and seniors in the past. On the advice of incoming high school principal Stephanie Heman, Graham wanted to open participation up to freshman and sophomores to providing tutoring, enabling them to complete those hours earlier. 

Dual credit questions arose last year, he said, when participation expanded. The handbook stated all dual credit classes are weighted. It had since been determined that College 101 was not a weightable class, and would be restructured into core classes. 

Asked about the dress code, Graham said he would enforce it in the coming year. He noted a basketball player who had stars dyed into his hair for the summer will have to remove them for the school year. 

School opening hours would also change, starting both the elementary and upper grades at 8:15 a.m., moving up the start time for lower grades to over clogged drop-off lines. Doors will open at 7:35 a.m. as well, rather than 7:40 a.m. Graham said he would also adjust the preschool drop-off time accordingly, noting that with a third teacher, handling more students should be easier. 

The employee handbook would have updated verbiage on paid time off. 

Board members agreed to change a policy from the Missouri State High School Activities Association that barred fourth and fifth graders from playing on traveling basketball teams and a school team. Graham found no justification for the state rule, and that it discouraged play on the school team. “Let them be kids,” said board president Ken Terry, as the consensus was to allow students to play in both squads. 

Personnel action

The board approved hiring Rebecca Botts as a high school teacher. Graham said Botts was retired with many years of experience teaching English. Principal Heman knew her and convinced her to take the position. Botts was able to return to work without penalty to her retirement as the position qualified under the critical shortage waiver, an advertised post in core subject matter that had not been filled and was approved under the waiver qualifications. 

A science teaching post has yet to be filled. 

Seth Shoemaker was hired as head middle school basketball coach and assistant to the high school program. Brock Morey was tapped as baseball assistant coach. 

Board members approved Raely Henderson moving from full-time to part-time as a paraprofessional. Four other paraprofessionals were hired, along with two food service staff and a bus driver. 

The first day of school will be on Aug. 26.