 Warmer temperatures have arrived, spring sports have begun, parent-teacher conferences are behind us, and spring break is here! Please take this time to recharge and enjoy a well-deserved break away from school. Know that you are greatly appreciated for the positive impact you make at Fort Osage. I look forward to seeing everyone return on March 24 for a successful end to our school year!
 Team Fort Osage met for the third time this year on March 7. It was a productive meeting with valuable feedback provided by the committee. There was discussion about the budget, health insurance, career ladder, teacher and classified salary schedules, 2024-2025 student calendar, 2025-2026 student calendar, classified work calendars, Master Plan, and legislative update (information provided below on each). The next Team Fort Osage meeting is scheduled for April 16.
Budget I continue to prepare for the fiscal year 2026 budget, which begins on July 1, 2025. The Governor’s budget proposal includes an estimated $300 million shortfall to the foundation formula but does provide full funding for transportation and Career Ladder. Several challenges remain, including rising health insurance and district liability insurance costs. Additionally, reduced revenue streams are expected due to the end of ESSER funding and a state tax cut that will reduce state revenues by an estimated $840 million. Given these factors, achieving a balanced budget will be a significant challenge. However, it remains my goal to enhance the salary schedules and remain competitive. More information on my recommended salary increases will be provided prior to the June Board of Education meeting. Health Insurance Fort Osage’s health insurance plan runs from January 1 to December 31. The insurance claims for the year ending December 31, 2024, showed an annual claims loss of 115%, which led to the district making a supplemental payment of $300,000. Unfortunately, the new calendar year began with similarly high claims. As always, I will continue to monitor this closely. Below is the participation for each health insurance plan which began January 1, 2025 Plan 1 ($3,600 HD Local Plus) 160 people (26%) Plan 2 ($3,600 HD) 398 people (65%) Plan 3 ($2,000 PPO) 54 people (9%) 612 people Career Ladder Career Ladder continues to have a positive impact on our school district. As in previous years, we will provide an opportunity for feedback to identify what has gone well and areas for improvement for next year. With state and board approval, Career Ladder will continue next year. More information will be shared with staff in the coming weeks. Teacher and Classified Salary Schedules We have been reviewing the budget to determine recommended salary enhancements within the available funds to ensure salaries remain competitive. Probationary teachers will receive their contracts from the district before May 15. Currently, the plan is for staff to receive their contracts in mid-April with this year’s salary. Once the recommended salary enhancements are finalized, I will share the details with the staff. Following the Board’s approval of the enhancements, new contracts will be issued in June.. 2024-2025 Student Calendar This year has been marked by uncertainty with our fill of inclement weather. Please keep in mind we must have a 169-day calendar in order to receive 1% additional funding which equates to $220,000 during the 25-26 school year. We know these changes required a lot of adjustments with our staff working calendars and we appreciate your flexibility. 2025-2026 Student Calendar As you know, our school calendar must meet several criteria, one of which is ensuring the school year includes 1,044 hours. With the shift to a 169-day calendar and plans to make up missed days, the school day will be shortened by 12 minutes compared to this year. This adjustment will provide additional time for staff collaboration and work. We are currently discussing how collaboration time will be implemented in each building. Staff Work Calendars The work calendars for next year were approved by the board on March 11. The number of scheduled days for all staff remains consistent with this year’s working calendar. Calendars will be distributed to buildings after Board approval and will contain additional information, specifically related to AMI days and potential weather make up days. Please reach out to your supervisor with any additional questions. Master Plan We are still in the process of gathering information regarding a potential no-tax-increase bond issue, which could take place as early as April 2026. We will continue to keep you informed as we move forward with these plans. Legislative Update There are several bills that are being tracked that would impact Fort Osage. Open Enrollment (HB 711) which has passed the house and now heads to the senate. I’ve continued to oppose the bill and will engage on all the bills that would impact Fort Osage. Legislative Dates Below: March 17th-21st- Legislative Spring Break May 9th- Budget Bill Deadline May 16th- Last Day of Session  A $25.00 gift card to Frye's Greenhouse, located at 2910 N Buckner Tarsney Road in Buckner, will be given away to one lucky winner utilizing the RNG. For those of you interested, please send an email to [email protected] with ‘Flowers' in the subject line. Entries will be accepted until 8:00 am on Monday, March 24.
Giveaway prizes are not purchased with District funds. Only Fort Osage employees are eligible to enter the drawing.  I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside each of you. The impact you’re making on our students every day is incredible. As you reflect on the week, month, or year take a moment to think about the many students you’ve interacted with and the positive difference you’ve made in their lives. Thank you for all the hard work and dedication you put into helping our students succeed.
 I am currently working on the fiscal year 2026 budget, which will be presented for approval at the June board meeting. The Governor’s budget proposal includes full funding of the foundation formula as well as full funding for transportation. While Fort Osage faces a tighter budget next year, I am confident we will continue to prioritize our staff and maintain competitive salaries.
This year, we are facing a decrease in assessed valuation, resulting in an $800,000 loss in revenue. Additionally, changes like the state tax cut and the passage of SB 190 will affect state revenue. At the same time, rising costs for insurance, supplies, and other expenses make balancing the budget very challenging. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to investing in our people. Thanks to community support and sound financial planning, Fort Osage has consistently improved its salary schedules. We are proud to allocate a larger percentage of our budget to salaries and benefits than most other districts in the Kansas City area, reflecting how much we value our team. Looking ahead, I’m committed to staying competitive with salaries and benefits to retain and recruit high quality staff.  The legislative session began in Jefferson City on January 8 and will continue through May 16. Thus far, there have been over 1,800 bills filed and approximately 500 of them could impact education in at least some fashion. We are monitoring several bills including ones pertaining to funding, school choice, charter school expansion and more. A few of the bills being monitored are discussed below.
HB 477- This bill requires written parental consent be obtained and maintained for initial placement, placement changes, or other revisions to a student’s IEP as specified in the bill. HB 371- The bill seeks to add an additional classification for MAP results that would clearly indicate if students were at grade level for MAP tests in grades 3-8. HB 711- This is an open enrollment bill that would allow up to 3% of a school’s prior year enrollment to transfer schools. SB 87- This bill reduces the assessment percentage for real property for residential from 19% to 17%, for agricultural from 12% to 10%, and for utility, industrial, commercial, and railroad from 32% to 30%.  For those of you interested, a $20.00 gift card to Casey's General Store will be given away to one lucky winner. To enter, send an email to [email protected] with "Casey's" in the subject line. Entries will be accepted until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 3.
Giveaway prizes are not purchased with District funds. Only Fort Osage employees are eligible to enter the drawing.  It’s incredible how quickly time passes, and it’s truly inspiring to reflect on all that has been accomplished the past year. The achievements of our District’s students and staff are a direct result of the dedication and hard work from everyone involved. As we approach 2025, there is so much to be proud of and many reasons to celebrate. Let’s finish the first semester strong, ensuring that Fort Osage remains a special place where students continue to learn. Thank you for your continued efforts to make this possible!
 Team Fort Osage met for the second time this year on December 5. It was a productive meeting with exceptional feedback provided by the committee. There was discussion about the budget, health insurance, legislative update, master plan follow up, annual performance report, AMI, school calendar, salary and benefits summary, and superintendent advisory committees (information provided below on each). The next Team Fort Osage meeting is scheduled for February 20.
Budget The state is fully funding the foundation formula as well as transportation, which is positive news for the District. However, year-to-date revenues are down compared to this time last year. Recently, the court case involving the State Tax Commission and Jackson County regarding assessed valuations was dismissed, meaning the assessments will remain at their current values. As always, I will closely monitor any new legislation that could impact funding as I prepare for the FY 26 budget, which will be presented to the Board of Education in June. Health Insurance The insurance plan will renew on January 1, 2025, with the District’s contribution increasing to $800.00 per month per eligible employee. Fort Osage will continue its participation in the SipGKC consortium, which includes Blue Springs, Grain Valley, and Smithville School Districts. Cigna will remain the health insurance provider. One of the highlights of our membership in the consortium is the Consiglio Wellness Center, which continues to be a valuable resource for our district. If you have any questions regarding health insurance, please reach out to Laura Ford, Benefits Coordinator, at [email protected]. Legislative Update The 2025 legislative session will begin in Jefferson City on January 8th. Throughout the session, I will actively engage in the legislative process and keep you informed of any major bills that may impact Fort Osage. Important dates of the session are listed below: December 2nd- Bill Filing Opens January 8th- First Day of Session January 13th- Inauguration March 17th-21st- Legislative Spring Break May 9th- Budget Bill Deadline May 16th- Last Day of Session Master Plan Follow Up Thank you for the thoughtful questions and valuable insights regarding the remaining items in our facilities master plan. We are still in the process of gathering information about a potential future no tax increase bond issue, which could take place as early as April 2026. We will continue to keep you informed as we move forward with these plans. Annual Performance Report The results of the most recent Annual Performance Report (APR) were reviewed and discussed with the team. We celebrated our successes and identified areas for improvement. Each school team will continue to implement their school improvement plan strategies to drive further growth and progress. AMI The expectations of AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction) were reviewed. 2025-2026 Calendar Feedback was provided regarding our current school calendar, and suggestions were made for the development of the 2025-2026 calendar. A survey will be sent to all staff in January to gather additional feedback. Once all input is collected, the final draft of the student calendar will be presented to the Board of Education, with a recommendation as early as February. Salary and Benefits Summary The team provided positive feedback about receiving the salary and benefits summary in the mail this fall. The information was appreciated, as it helps staff fully understand all the benefits provided by the district. Superintendent Advisory Committees I have continued to meet with each Superintendent Advisory Committee this year. These meetings have provided valuable opportunities to disseminate information, celebrate accomplishments, and discuss areas for improvement.  The holiday season is a great time to enjoy a movie and some popcorn. A $20.00 gift card to AMC will be given away to one lucky winner using the RNG. If you're interested, please email me at [email protected] with ''Movie" in the subject line by 8:00 am on Monday, December 9.
Giveaway prizes are not purchased with District funds. Only Fort Osage employees are eligible to enter the drawing. |
Archives
May 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed
