[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6189055,"mediaKeyId","5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881","parentId",5058720,"title","Board approves 2025–26 student handbooks; trustees discuss cell-phone enforcement and messaging","audioSeconds",205,"startMs",3376000,"endMs",3581000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881&start=3376&end=3581","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881/thumbnail_3376000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189055/Missouri/Board-approves-202526-student-handbooks-trustees-discuss-cell-phone-enforcement-and-messaging","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189055-2a69211b533ecd066f66bcb285fa623d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775445232&Signature=X9oLsbig0ymocGbt3XnL7GHfU4oQIpibNLxFhz3LIKzrOnrmBl0f45lyU0WWs3HKAlxIMnzp7C0FocKP47Y6qoHuTlf8qA~qZgi-oOapSMiSCiqNxpvyXBsDDZOIRTNcShUzmppR93yF2QihinFQBeh4LYFm035s8P21CQ9-qt7nuDMtCGgmuNVfh-BW-g1qYG4lVdqOlGFSmtV~h7mLnvk9tlTJNHySf0sb48amfXJV~T6ULtcQYdcV12u0KFenToC5QwCKvA4Lzfco7BKVnKXnLC6uSVypVehkTMmYUDw7HoNzY~-vlGG-8KNEEUy0a9pzzL4RRG3L9b0RZVYhNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Liberty 53 School District","date","2025-06-24T13:36:35Z","article","The Liberty Public Schools Board of Education approved the district’s 2025–26 student handbooks and discussed communication and enforcement strategies for changes that will take effect when classes start.

Administrators told trustees the handbooks are largely complete but may require addenda to reflect changes from the recent legislative session and sample policies from the Missouri School Boards Association. “They are pretty close to bridal, knowing that we will change them and provide additional information, based on what we find from MSBA,” a staff member said.

Trustees pressed on how the district will highlight significant changes — for example, device and cell-phone expectations — so that students, parents and staff know what has changed and why. “Do we highlight things that are new and different that parents and students maybe need to be more aware of?” one board member asked.

Board members suggested using multiple formats to reach students and families, including advisory-class presentations, targeted messaging to incoming cohorts (freshmen) and short video summaries or presentations that could be tracked for completion. Several board members noted enforcement consistency across grade levels is a key implementation challenge.

The board approved the handbooks after discussion and asked administrators to prepare clear messaging, class-level rollouts and any required addenda once legislative policy updates are finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","LPS Board of Education Meeting | June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees approved the 2025–26 student handbooks and discussed how to highlight key changes, enforce policies consistently across grades and use video or class presentations to ensure students and families understand new rules, especially on devices and classroom enforcement.","taxTitle","Liberty 53, School Districts, Missouri","taxId",13567,"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},6189061,"District opens distribution center; South Valley and Discovery nearing occupancy; health services director to retire; meal prices tick up",89,1420000,1509000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881&start=1420&end=1509","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881/thumbnail_1420000.jpg","/articles/6189061/Missouri/District-opens-distribution-center-South-Valley-and-Discovery-nearing-occupancy-health-services-director-to-retire-meal-prices-tick-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189061-c3a97e18aa8ad24290516f7bc1ab006b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775445232&Signature=hUFkzZYLj7hObMDddMpd-lWNwUtZfJ5WjK2HpYeJV81mTFCZ79FlO6ExgCOAsZEQq~vIMRdew47iOMc0EuxPLgpL7QME5WqqAobDsd3ELpnx2M1C9zCr72jBCTgxOGiOJyDAJ5bvKCAenrtliY2bLvyfebyuClffsFFH~y4w6pThEPf99iY-gNdM9zC3xJxtD-yAI07Qq~9yerl5hy70CuKiONKxzL2yzNVk8UVjasDB5aXCL--Atqb9IDi5HqgvFFepgIUop1aHHQ3nB3Kl1l3parx1sDyUziJZr10wUp1XnpoSOkp2nyILknakeCrtgtWPCDTst1IPZmepl4MvIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Operations staff told the Liberty Public Schools Board of Education the district’s new distribution center is open and two major school construction projects are wrapping up, while the board approved modest meal price increases for the 2025–26 school year.

Mister Anderson thanked the facilities team for summer coordination and said the distribution center is “now open” and available for board members to visit. He reported South Valley and Discovery Middle School projects are finishing and the district expects occupancy in July. “All that is looking great and right on schedule,” he said.

Anderson also recognized Kathy Ellemeyer, the district’s long-serving health services leader, who will retire in one week after 23 years with the district and 19 years as Director of Health Services. “She is about as committed to this place as anybody,” Anderson said, thanking her for her service.

On nutrition services, the board approved the district’s proposed 2025–26 meal prices. The district will increase milk by $0.05, student breakfasts by $0.05 and student lunches by $0.10; adult breakfast and adult lunch will increase by $0.15 and $0.25, respectively. Anderson said the price adjustments are driven by federal and program requirements and noted adult meal pricing is often used to help balance program costs.

Board members asked about construction schedules and foundation work at Heritage (an older building undergoing work), and discussed messaging and enforcement plans for upcoming student-handbook changes that administrators will finalize after reviewing recent legislation.

Trustees received the operations report and approved the meal-price schedule on a recorded vote.","Operations staff reported the new distribution center is open, South Valley and Discovery Middle Schools are nearing completion with anticipated July occupancy, longtime Director of Health Services Kathy Ellemeyer will retire in a week, and the board approved modest increases to school meal prices for 2025–26.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6189066,"Liberty announces seven students in Grow Your Own teacher cohort for 2025–26",92,1860000,1952000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881&start=1860&end=1952","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881/thumbnail_1860000.jpg","/articles/6189066/Missouri/Liberty-announces-seven-students-in-Grow-Your-Own-teacher-cohort-for-202526","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189066-f1a44938964de52eef59b7c4b4c323a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775445232&Signature=h-FjUWYrcij4GbnBMr2yPgtOOEgbXIbSGl8g5eAZVaNdmYUFtwuhyhuLgN37yBxnvCWwJFwa4~Ki9K5MkmNvHysfShtAOsz5Sg6VqfINj9zKCglpjcx4pZSTTS4OJEqdA8AYAw14pFF6IA7MJidebpOUJ2tXV5sNjIXmTdl4EQwV0ngGcHnO8hPAwl-1vJL3P4qJsdUw6LSAQIxUZq7NpYKLoxIEVe52x7aey1rVkx8JPH5tZFWmZz3PJbh9Y7qtYUKNlQsL0qug0KM3KCZrez04BxQgnucm0-BkFqa5q7mObn~w86gqIzXLa~NpblB4zgZ0rDKm9mBTrdeAKCCFxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty Public Schools Board of Education heard a presentation introducing seven students selected for the district’s 2025–26 Grow Your Own Teachers (GYOT) cohort.

Doctor Marriott introduced the recipients and invited Doctor Copeland to present their names, college placements and intended areas of study. “This year, we have seven future college students who comprise our GYOT 25, 26 cohort,” Doctor Copeland said as the students stood at the front of the meeting room.

The recipients and their colleges and study areas, as presented to the board, are: Addison Birkenholt — Northwest Missouri State, elementary education; Lillian Bridal — University of Central Missouri, secondary math education; Catalina Eddy — Truman State, elementary education; Lydia Pierce — Kansas State University, elementary education; Madison Lowe — Maple Woods Community College, elementary education (not present at meeting); Jasmine Mesa — Maple Woods Community College, elementary education; and Samira Shaw — Lincoln University, instrumental music education.

Marriott said several prior GYOT recipients are already working in the district as teachers, and Copeland noted that five of the new cohort had participated in the district’s Educational Internship Program during their senior year. “They had a lot of good experience already in our Liberty classrooms,” Copeland said.

Board members congratulated the students in the room and welcomed the program’s continuation as a recruitment strategy to address teacher shortages.

The board received the report; no formal action was required.","The board recognized seven high school graduates selected for the district’s Grow Your Own Teachers cohort; the recipients and the colleges and areas of study were announced during the human resources report.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6189070,"Board reviews lease purchase for buses and $5.5M energy contract first read",165,4020000,4185000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881&start=4020&end=4185","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881/thumbnail_4020000.jpg","/articles/6189070/Missouri/Board-reviews-lease-purchase-for-buses-and-55M-energy-contract-first-read","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189070-d418b39001db373e3683453ee40d8713/orig.mp4?Expires=1775445232&Signature=P7NeBYPKodJ0VNkwFap3-Ge0uxfGZTqu2nzFNyZr4WSMA0NjXPoQxrADGAAibrEkX1UG8cXpj4LSiGNsZblW9NsBCU0YX-IbNe9ywMyuIBJI~XakVPoA7ldlQ84nzz4Ajxm2zlpFma3hTX2AjVZ3Vta9dNKOBeGg~az8-gFN4m6WH~qkL4RIEXzfLifq7JawlLgKolRiDVV~t6Z~0VoiNwUU0upl1nLx69ciEsvFHbsrOU1FEGohDS2KHosUUtHJQtUgZ7xrHFhgOJ3OYC1W6Y1ThjKGLQ1s4Yby511-5b1e7DgPIb~InZU-3UKbb9ZSf9t9WXQUFkJ45Ok8R2inTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty Public Schools Board of Education reviewed, on first read, two lease-purchase proposals the district plans to bring back for approval: financing for 15 buses and an energy-savings performance contract that includes LED lighting work and will help fund future roof and envelope projects.

Operations staff described the bus purchase as a standard lease-purchase that spreads the roughly $2.5 million cost for 15 buses over multiple years to avoid a single-year capital spike. “It allows us to kind of spread it out over time,” Mister Anderson said, explaining the approach is consistent with past vehicle purchases.

The district also described a planned energy performance contract with an energy services provider that will fund about $5.5 million of LED and other efficiency work. Anderson said the LED phase is expected to generate energy savings that will be tracked and help support later phases that include larger envelope projects — notably roof replacements at South Valley and Discovery middle schools. He said the district had previously completed about $3.5 million in LED upgrades under the bond program and that an expected Evergy incentive program that had been available a year earlier did not continue.

“These phase 1 work will really be what is the focus of what will fund phase 2, which is replacements of the roof at South Valley [and] Discovery,” Anderson said, describing the rationale for the financing strategy. Anderson estimated the first-round work could take roughly two years to complete but said final timing depends on scheduling and coordination to avoid major disruption during the school year.

Board members discussed how the district will account for realized energy savings and how rate changes might affect savings over time. Anderson said the district has tracked savings from prior projects and plans to do the same for this scope of work; the full measurement and verification approach will be part of the contract brought back for a vote.

Both the bus lease and the energy performance contract will return to the board for action in the July meeting, with additional financing details and formal contract documents.","Trustees received a first reading on two lease-purchase items: financing for 15 replacement buses and an approximately $5.5 million phase of an energy performance contract focused on LED and future envelope work; both items will return for formal approval next month.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6189076,"Liberty Public Schools adopts 2025–26 budget after mixed revenue signals",286,2782000,3068000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881&start=2782&end=3068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058720-07fa80bb6db0bec0e86a4a26695c2881/thumbnail_2782000.jpg","/articles/6189076/Missouri/Liberty-Public-Schools-adopts-202526-budget-after-mixed-revenue-signals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189076-7a9950c839fe592ef87b3fe151d1e4af/orig.mp4?Expires=1775445232&Signature=gimtTswx4Ldb9578oyN9C~67ZYol1LucM97yB8BBiVdxOR6HfFsRZlg72jAEzM4atOoNKRNIjM6ZKlXp59sEeFOsooeTPK3JSIn83XyATb-JzixjWUTZfb6fOPcld1dHc1bNXaJHDK8twns3vTGckDtkqV6lcq6HiZzlmVx8UN96XbfbW-3sCW0h5imajEjBUm4Se15XNvJxi-c7cyvzFtvUcMTzt-92zoFAy5FXGFrX~vaU7a0r3Rod~KxQex1VzDeySG0BzUST-2U3jKwwPy1VQmeHlETVFKNQt-czVUtpN5bpdPcR41Ob2Gk4nyridCVQQBYignXf0oyziVY56g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty Public Schools Board of Education adopted the district’s completed 2025–26 budget after officials reported higher-than-expected local tax collections but a small shortfall in state foundation funding.

Cindy Sullivan presented the completed budget and the changes since the preliminary document, saying the district reduced projected revenue by $16,486.06 and increased projected expenditures by $280,717. “We collected a 100.42% of amounts levied,” Sullivan said, noting that collection rates historically run lower and that the extra collections are unusual.

The district also reported a gap in state foundation funding tied to the adequacy target. “It does leave us with a shortfall of a little over $131,000, for foundation formula revenue this year,” Sullivan said. She told the board the shortfall came mainly from lower-than-expected lottery, gaming and cigarette-tax receipts.

Sullivan told trustees the state’s supplemental appropriation did not fully cover the scheduled adequacy target and that the district had taken a conservative approach when building the coming year’s budget. She also warned that some federal reimbursements had been delayed into next year, affecting near-term cash flow: “We have not been informed that we won't get it. Timing is just a little bit different than we expected on some of that,” she said, referencing Title I, early childhood and IDEA allocations.

Board members asked whether the extra tax collections and the foundation shortfall were reflected in the documents before them; Sullivan said current-year collections that arrived after the budget document’s compilation were not reflected and would be considered in future amendments if necessary. She noted the district historically budgets state aid conservatively and would amend the budget later if state receipts changed.

Trustees voted to adopt the budget. The motion to adopt the 2025–26 district budget carried with the following roll-call: Nick — yes; Jen — yes; AJ — yes; Dan — yes; Drew — yes; Angie — yes; Karen — yes.

The board was told the audit/finance committee reviewed district finances this month and had no items to pass on. District leadership said they will continue to track the timing of federal reimbursements and the state adequacy calculation and will bring amendments to the board as needed.

The adopted budget package included a change log that identifies the small revenue decrease and the larger expenditure increases the board reviewed before voting. The district will monitor collections and year-end results and return to the board for any material adjustments.","The district board approved the 2025–26 budget after hearing that tax collections exceeded expectations but the state foundation formula returned slightly less than projected, leaving a roughly $131,000 shortfall for the current year; the board voted to adopt the completed budget and will monitor federal and state allocations going forward.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves 2025–26 student handbooks; trustees discuss cell-phone enforcement and messaging

District opens distribution center; South Valley and Discovery nearing occupancy; health services director to retire; meal prices tick up

Liberty announces seven students in Grow Your Own teacher cohort for 2025–26

Board reviews lease purchase for buses and $5.5M energy contract first read

Liberty Public Schools adopts 2025–26 budget after mixed revenue signals