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Warrensburg BOE discusses four-day school week and visitors on district property at its October meeting

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Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect correct wording of the question presented to the School district's community. The Warrensburg Star-Journal apologizes for the error. 

WARRENSBURG — Results from an October 2024 calendar survey shared with the Warrensburg School District community showed that a majority of parents or guardians, students and district employees would support conducting investigations for consideration of a four-day school week in the future.

The Warrensburg R-VI School Board of Education met for its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to discuss the survey that received over 1,500 responses with over 800 coming from parents or guardians of a current student. High school students made up almost 400 of the responses, with the remaining respondents coming from district employees and other community members in Warrensburg.

Respondents were asked if they supported the district in conducting further investigations for consideration of a four-day school week in the future. They were also asked if they support the district moving to the four-day school week if the fifth day was used to provide tutoring and interventions for identified students who have the greatest need of improving in math and reading.

Both questions received over 1,250 responses, with over 1,000 responses voting in favor of each.

Additionally, over 1,000 respondents said they were in favor of the school district eliminating mid-week early release days and instead using three to six full days without students to allow professional development and collaboration for staff.

Superintendent Steve Ritter presented the survey results and offered Independence, Shawnee Mound and Warrenton as district examples that have gone to the four-day week.

Board President Scott Chenault and Board Vice President Julie Lewis asked Ritter about the survey’s findings, suggesting that the 1,500 responses were not representative of the district as a whole. There were also concerns raised about the economic impact that would affect district families that rely on school meals and child care outside of their homes.

Ultimately, the board conferred that the four-day school week would not be approved without further discussion, considering any concerns from the community and engaging with district partners.

“This might be worth having longer conversations about and maybe this isn't something for 2025-26, but maybe it's something for 2026-27,” Ritter said. “We need to work through the what-ifs.”

“We’ll take our time and make sure we get all the data and do it right,” Chenault said.

Policy KK

The school board passed a motion to amend Policy KK which deals with bringing visitors to district property and events.

After discussing the policy at its September meeting, the board discussed it more thoroughly on Tuesday, ultimately deciding to put it to a motion.

Superintendent Ritter reached out to school districts in the West Central Missouri and Kansas City region, receiving 37 responses including local Johnson County districts in Kingsville, Knob Noster, Leeton, Holden and Chilhowee.

“All of them had a similar policy as to what we have currently, where the superintendent is able to go case by case,” Ritter said. “None of them excluded all registered sex offenders across the board.”

Concerns were raised by board members Matt Sergent and Betsy Krisel, who argued that the policy is not strict enough. They argued sex offenders can hide their offenses even under supervision and that one incident on school property can cause trauma for the victim and legal issues the district will have to deal with.

Once the discussion ended, the board amended the policy not to allow any registered sex offenders on school property.

Building Highlights

Martin Warren Elementary School Principal Lorna Cassell spoke to the board about her school’s success in the first few months.

Cassell highlighted the school’s successful STEAM/Title Night during which she was suspended 50 feet above the ground dropping egg contraptions. She also spoke on Martin Warren’s 18 student ambassadors, the district homecoming parade and other school activities that have promoted educational habits like reading and team building.

“It has been a tremendous first quarter at Martin Warren,” Cassell said. “We're having so much fun. But, most importantly, we're learning so much and the kids are really excited about coming to school.”

District Finances

Assistant Superintendent for Support Services Troy Marnholtz addressed the board about the district's September financial statement and quarterly report.

Total balances at the end of September were $11.88 million, with its operating balances at $8.85 million. Comparing operating balances, they are over $530,000 more than last year at this time. Marnholtz restated that the district had paid off its $9 million bond issue on Sept. 1, creating a large discrepancy in the balances from last year.

With its period ending on Sept. 30, the district’s quarterly report showed revenues at over $85,000 more than a year ago due to local and state increases. Conversely, the district’s federal revenues decreased due to SPED and Title program claims for reimbursements.

“As you can see if you see the summary report, the state (revenues) were up $625,000, the local payments were up $376,000 and we were down our federal payments compared to where we were last year,” Marnholtz said.

District expenditures over $480,000 more than they were a year ago with large increases in supplies and construction being major contributing factors. District benefit payments saw a $355,000 decrease from last year due to first salary payments, which are up $21,000, and are expected to be corrected in quarter two according to Marnholtz.

Student Services

Assistant Superintendent John Finnane addressed the board with the district enrollment/membership count that was concluded on Sept. 25.

“The big highlight is 3,559 (enrolled students), a gain of 88 in enrollment from the prior year,” Finnane said. “You can see that our military-connected percentage is right around 15 percent. It was around 15 percent last year.

Unfinished business

With Phase One of the city’s ReThink Maguire project beginning in January, the board approved a temporary easement near Martin Warren Elementary School on Grover and Maguire Street.

The board was originally presented with the proposed easement at its August meeting, which raised questions about the project’s impact on district property.

However, ReThink Maguire engineers assured the board that there would be no major impacts on the school property, with the majority of the work focusing on the lights and crosswalks on the two streets.

New Business

The board approved the subleasing of property at 1047 S. Maguire Street. The unoccupied building was a former Woods Grocery Store building.

“We will be taking over partial responsibility of the actual lease that Woods has with the owner, and so we will be doing a partial payment of that total lease, providing us the opportunity to use the entire building and a majority of the grounds, minus the gas station,” Marnholtz said. “

The district’s hope, according to Marnholtz, is that the property will provide opportunities for the district to manage a site for the storage and maintenance of the bus fleet as well as provide opportunities for the maintenance department to house office spaces and warehouse materials. The remaining space will provide an opportunity for the district to consider renovations that would allow for the expansion of early childhood programming in the district.

Zach Bott can be reached at 660-747-8123.


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