Southern Boone School Board considers incentives for longer school year

This is a shared byline story I worked on with two younger reporters, Sabrina Pan and Phong Nguyen, training them to take over coverage of the district’s Board of Education meetings for the spring semester as I transitioned beats.

The Southern Boone School Board reviewed the 2026-27 calendar at its meeting Jan. 20. The board discussed the implementation of two additional student instructional days.

The additional days would allow the district to receive financial incentives outlined in Senate Bill 727.

The proposed calendar would convert one teacher professional development day and one inclement weather day into student instructional days, meeting the bill’s 169-day attendance minimum to qualify for additional state aid.

The proposed 2026-227 calendar would grant the district an additional 2% of the previous year’s state aid beginning in the 2028 fiscal year. Superintendent Tim Roth said this would amount to roughly $200,000.

The funds provided based on the state incentive must be exclusively used to increase teacher salaries. Alternative Methods of Instruction days will also count for attendance, according to Senate Bill 68.

The board will vote on the calendar at its Feb. 17 meeting.

Policy revisions

The board approved several policy revisions as part of the ongoing process led by Karen Pfingsten, the district’s school improvement coordinator, to review and update policies and administrative procedures to better align with modern language and recommendations or requirements set by the Missouri School Board Association.

A policy concerning school libraries and students’ intellectual access was revised to include language and administrative procedures reflective of Senate Bill 159 and recommendations from the association.

The state requires public and school libraries to have a policy dictating the “reconsideration” procedures of library materials when a complaint is made about the material from a member of the community.

The revised policy allows parents, guardians and community members to access, upon request, the library’s catalog of resources.

According to the policy, parents or guardians who believe that a library material is “inappropriate for their student” may request the school not make that material available to their student.

The policy aligns with the association’s recommended process, which outlines how complaints and objections that cannot be resolved informally should be formalized and the process of formal review.

According to the policy, the board “encourages community input and comments about the district’s instructional, media, and library materials and directs district staff to respond to and attempt to resolve, as needed and as practicable, public comments or concerns about these materials.”

Bond issue

The board unanimously approved to place a $4 million bond issue for renovations, repairs and improvements over the district’s buildings on the ballot for the April 7 municipal election.

The money will go toward replacing old and worn down roofs and HVAC systems across various district facilities. The bond will also bring improvements, furnishings, renovations and equipment supplies for the facilities.

According to the proposed ballot initiative, the tax levy for the district’s personal property tax is not expected to be raised from its current $1.7423 per $100,000 of assessed property valuation.

“(The tax rate) is not expected to increase,” Roth said.

District residents will vote on the bond issue in the April 7 election. An approved majority of 57.4% will be required for the bond to pass.

Roth said the bond issue will be explained and promoted at various district-wide community gatherings, such as the Southern Boone Golden Eagles Club Dinner.

Voters in the Southern Boone School District have voted to approve the past three bond issues.

Student athlete recognition

Activities Director Trent Tracy and Assistant Superintendent Jacob Watson led the recognition of six student athletes at the board’s meeting, honored for exceptional performance and behavior both on and off the field.

• Senior Hayden Endsley, Second Team All-State Defensive End, Football

• Senior Gracie Britton, All-State Pitcher, Softball

• Senior Nova Porter, All-State Outfield, Softball

• Freshman Brinna Young, All-State Pitcher, Softball

• Sophomore Miles Butler, Second Team All-State, Soccer

• Senior Zachary Hawkins, Second Team All-State, Soccer