[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6553469,"mediaKeyId","5067563-d71a676fcc4cf38858f26ac7bb2c1381","parentId",5067563,"title","Excelsior Springs board approves FY26 budget, salary schedules and step increases; one abstention on final budget vote","audioSeconds",2773,"startMs",2141000,"endMs",4914000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067563-d71a676fcc4cf38858f26ac7bb2c1381&start=2141&end=4914","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067563-d71a676fcc4cf38858f26ac7bb2c1381/thumbnail_2141000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6553469/Missouri/Excelsior-Springs-board-approves-FY26-budget-salary-schedules-and-step-increases-one-abstention-on-final-budget-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553469-f24734459290781ec0560ea15ce2c967/orig.mp4?Expires=1770751137&Signature=cfvqJS66KXfgN6RTfgwDDBAWNNJcVjfcvU9Pluw7sXpAiuSnAa3nDMRNQIJ35fySF5XCZJhMZHXhRXEQ-s0U1St5lS6sMWFXve90pl-xCFL0592CSeoNWxi172pBa73Jdit5mFZqUT7woAxC3GT97BDAfYO5U43hAp3KpwnM6ARmoOma0Rh8xgvuhbIyajlM6-bBEkWtcZpVbvFUuLQ4RM4jbQpbsxV-MoRBjmVkXb4h71SaLtvJCFbeDSe7e~6lKM4pWBTfbvbbbDybnXR7fjtP5AvIn~VJ59IaCgrCL06Q3ZHPotpZScNa-sDP39VR99ZZfqgIKi6~SCHoK3OmOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Excelsior Springs School District","date","2025-06-25T02:39:01Z","article","The Excelsior Springs School District Board of Education approved the district's fiscal year 2025-26 budget, the 2025-26 salary schedules and a district-wide step increase, after extended discussion about revenue forecasts, state appropriations and district reserves.

Board members voted 6-0 to approve the salary schedules and the salary step increase. The FY26 budget was adopted with a 5-0 vote and one abstention.

District staff highlighted several changes incorporated into the proposed budget: an adjustment to comply with Missouri's updated minimum-wage law (classifed pay minimums moved from $14 to $15 per hour where applicable), an unplanned capital expenditure for a high-school chiller replacement estimated at $220,000 (the district said insurance will cover the cost after review), and a recommendation to apply a step increase to all staff as a scheduled raise.

Finance presenters also described larger fiscal trends driving the budget conversation: declining weighted average daily attendance, rising costs for utilities and contracted services, and reduced investment income compared with prior years because the district no longer holds the same large investable principal. Officials said these factors combine to produce a projected operating deficit in the near term and that the board's reserves would be used to smooth near-term gaps.

In discussion, staff provided approximate reserve targets and scenario context: presenters described a low-end reserves estimate near $7 million and a preferable position near $9 million; they reiterated the district's multi-year view and the need to monitor state revenue actions (including any governor's withholding) that could further affect the budget. A board member noted a projected shortfall figure discussed in the meeting of roughly $2.4 million and said that while the district can absorb short-term deficits from reserves, persistent trends would require reductions or other changes in later years.

The board approved three separate motions as part of the fiscal package:
- Approval of the 2025-26 salary schedules (voice vote 6-0).
- Approval of a 2025-26 district-wide step increase for all staff (voice vote 6-0).
- Approval of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget as presented (roll-call/voice; vote 5 in favor, 0 no, 1 abstain).

One board member announced an abstention on the final budget vote, citing unresolved questions about assessed valuation trends and debt scheduling that the member said they still wanted clarified; the meeting record shows the budget carried with one abstention.

Ending: The budget and personnel items take effect for FY26. District staff said they will prepare mid-year budget revisions as state and county revenue and assessed-valuation numbers become final and will schedule follow-up briefings with financial advisors to review debt scheduling and long-term forecasts.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Excelsior Springs Board of Education Meeting June 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved the 2025-26 fiscal year budget and related personnel items, including salary schedules and a district-wide step increase. The final budget passed with five votes in favor and one abstention after extended discussion about revenue uncertainty and reserves.","taxTitle","EXCELSIOR SPRINGS 40, School Districts, Missouri","taxId",66945,"location","Missouri","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6553473,"Excelsior Springs board approves 2025-26 career ladder revisions, expands tutoring and volunteer-coach credit",1360,772000,2132000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067563-d71a676fcc4cf38858f26ac7bb2c1381&start=772&end=2132","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067563-d71a676fcc4cf38858f26ac7bb2c1381/thumbnail_772000.jpg","/articles/6553473/Missouri/Excelsior-Springs-board-approves-2025-26-career-ladder-revisions-expands-tutoring-and-volunteer-coach-credit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553473-e682e63039b582bd2ed6291d6fab9f43/orig.mp4?Expires=1770751137&Signature=azva5abICPQ9GUZJmcQ~rFaTatslsyMImg~C3BRo4GPruRHY4A3HuKXJ22IjWXhSf0xw00XwJSTHST~LDkObPm7wbzAj42YIZ5m7X0hRE2NEnk9zWTFid2WS2SEQlW67~v70wVlkg7HYBNuiM1AhK1F6YmG8x19caSzyPenIbnJ9J6DzZhZk1biXUUlcCBcSRjrARDwuo9edj9GRWV1sSljdMDzetjYrtBw9TTKzkValDU3-TAI-6VMjES6RIgCwVr~yELg47sLHobUhrq02VbqdQGLg9qAoDAYrep69wDg9SeIx-BwYovSVSoxE1UgYOQUUSW2cIuHN2D2rdcQvwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Excelsior Springs School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve revisions to the district's 2025-26 career ladder, adopting changes to how staff accrue career-ladder hours and which activities qualify for those hours.

The board's adoption follows a multiweek review by a career ladder committee that analyzed 2024-25 program data, solicited staff feedback and compared models used by neighboring districts. The committee's recommended changes include a clarification of the direct student contact requirement (30% of total ladder hours), a specification that at least half of those direct-contact hours (15% of total ladder hours) must be tutoring, an allowance for up to 30% of an individual's total accrual to come from volunteer-coaching hours (subject to conditions), and new caps for LETRS and mentoring hours.

The revisions are intended to broaden the kinds of student-facing activities that qualify for career-ladder credit while preserving equity and program integrity. Board member Jill Everett, who served as the board liaison to the committee, said she was \"impressed because the teachers really work collectively well together\" and praised the committee's attention to equity across buildings.

Key changes adopted by the board include:
- Direct student contact: 30% of a participant's total career-ladder hours must be in direct student contact; at least half of that direct contact (15% of total hours) must be in tutoring or specified academic-support activities such as Battle of the Books, homebound instruction and academic clubs.
- Volunteer coaching: Up to 30% of an individual's total accrual may be counted as volunteer coaching hours, provided those volunteer positions do not displace contracted (stipended/certificated) coaching roles; volunteer coaches must meet the same training requirements as paid coaches and be monitored by the activities director.
- LETRS training: Completion of LETRS modules may count toward career-ladder hours, with a cap of 50 hours credited for LETRS; teachers may choose either college-credit reimbursement or career-ladder reimbursement for LETRS but may not claim both.
- Mentoring: Teachers serving as official mentors may count up to 10 career-ladder hours for mentoring duties; the change aims to preserve the value of the formal mentor stipend and avoid compensating unofficial mentors at the same level as official mentor stipend positions.

The board discussion emphasized that the committee attempted to maintain the intent of the career ladder's student-impact and teacher-retention goals while addressing staff concerns about documentation, equity and workload. Board members and administrators said the committee sought to prevent unintended pay inequities between volunteer and paid coaches and to ensure that mentoring remains a meaningful, well-documented role.

The committee and board also noted the program's administrative burden: career ladder participants and building representatives must document hours and activities to satisfy state reporting and to justify district reimbursement.

The motion to approve the 2025-26 career ladder revisions received a first by Jill Everett and a second by board member Kenny; the motion passed by voice vote 6-0.

Board members said the changes will be monitored by the activities director and the career-ladder committee, and that the committee will work to clarify categories (for example, which after-hours family events or literacy nights qualify as direct student contact) so staff can document hours consistently.

Ending: The revisions take effect for the 2025-26 plan year as adopted; the board and staff said they will return with clarifications and implementation guidance during the year and will monitor whether state appropriations and reporting requirements affect the program.
","The Excelsior Springs School District board voted unanimously to adopt revisions to the 2025-26 career ladder that raise the percentage of required direct student contact hours allocated to tutoring, allow a portion of volunteer coaching hours to count toward career-ladder accrual, and set new hourly caps for LETRS training and mentoring credits.","actionData","errors"]

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Excelsior Springs board approves FY26 budget, salary schedules and step increases; one abstention on final budget vote

Excelsior Springs board approves 2025-26 career ladder revisions, expands tutoring and volunteer-coach credit