Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Nixa board member Linda Dardy to leave in April; district warns Senate Bill 3 could hold or cut property-tax funding
Summary
Linda Dardy said she will leave the Nixa Board of Education in April after 18 years. The meeting highlighted student programs and recognitions and reported a fiscal warning that a Christian County ballot measure, called Senate Bill 3, could result in flat or reduced property-tax funding for local services if approved on April 7, 2026.
Linda Dardy, a member of the Nixa Board of Education, said she will leave the board in April after 18 years of service and used her final board report to highlight student programs and a district revenue warning.
Dardy reported that district staff showcased Nixa High School’s teaching academy, a program that lets students interested in education visit classrooms across the district to explore teaching as a career before college. She also recounted a range of student recognitions: Nixa High’s Dalton Jones was named a National Merit finalist; the junior high esports team, coached by Liz Tiller, was recognized for its competitive structure; and student Caleb New House earned a first-place finish at a state competition.
Dardy said the board heard a financial update from district staffer Brenda Rants that flagged possible budget pressure if a local ballot measure known in the briefing as Senate Bill 3 is approved by Christian County voters on April 7, 2026. According to the report Dardy relayed, the measure could leave public entities that rely on property-tax revenue—schools, fire districts, senior services and other community programs—with flat funding or potential reductions, which in turn could force cuts to services when expenses rise.
The board also heard from student groups and community partners: Mixup Project Graduation presented fundraising plans for a supervised post-graduation event; the junior high nature club provided a gift to mark board appreciation week; and a student ambassador reported that more than 100 students donated blood at a recent drive. Dardy said student council is planning engagement activities to help with testing stress and that students will elect Nixa representatives to student government for the 2026-27 school year.
On routine business, Dardy said the board approved the consent agenda, including payment of bills and employment recommendations, and approved updates to district policies after reviewing the district’s food service program. Board President Heather Zarsky thanked career and technology students for providing a dinner to the board, promoted a recent board forum, and congratulated the girls wrestling team on a championship.
Dardy closed by noting a recent trip to the state capitol, where board members met with an elected official, and directed listeners to the district’s website for more information about school-board business and upcoming meetings (www.nixapublicschools.net).
