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Congratulations on completing the school year! It’s amazing how everyone works together to make the year a success. I appreciate everyone's hard work and dedication for making the numerous celebrations possible. Regardless of your position, you play an important role in the great things happening across the District. Have a wonderful summer!
Team Fort Osage met for the fifth time this year on May 23. It was a productive meeting with valuable feedback provided by the committee. There was discussion about the budget, health insurance, Proximal Health, teacher and classified salary schedules, calendar and collaboration opportunities, protected days, roundtable, Master Plan, legislative update and Team Fort Osage members, (information provided below on each). This was likely the last meeting of the year. Budget I am continuing to prepare for the fiscal year 2026 budget, which begins on July 1, 2025. The state budget bill is currently awaiting the Governor’s signature. While the bill includes the $300 million that was originally withheld, there is still uncertainty about whether the full amount will remain in the final budget. The bill also provides full funding for transportation and the Career Ladder program. I will continue to monitor the situation closely as we await the Governor’s decision. Several challenges remain, including rising costs for health insurance, district liability insurance, and other general price increases. In addition, revenue streams are expected to decline due to recent state tax cuts and the County’s decision to comply with the State Tax Commission’s order to cap 2023 assessments at 15%, despite their ongoing appeal. Given these factors, achieving a balanced budget in the coming year is unlikely. Nonetheless, my priority remains enhancing our salary schedules and maintaining competitive compensation. Health Insurance Fort Osage’s health insurance plan runs from January 1 through December 31. As of April, insurance claims have reached 104%. I will continue to monitor this closely as we approach the January 1 renewal date. This summer, I will begin working with the actuary to determine renewal rates for 2026. Proximal Health Our health insurance consortium continues to explore ways to provide quality healthcare while reducing expenses. Musculoskeletal (MSK) claims represent the highest volume of claims for each school in the consortium. For example, Fort Osage files approximately 200 MSK claims each year, totaling around $700,000 in annual costs. At the May board meeting the board approved an agreement to help address these claims. The agreement outlines that beginning September 1, 2025, the Fort Osage School District will pay Proximal $4.00 per month for each individual covered under our health insurance plan, including retirees. In return, Cigna covered employees, retirees or qualified dependents who choose to have a procedure performed by Sano will receive a $1,500 benefit paid directly to them. This is an automatic benefit for all employees enrolled in the District’s insurance plan—there is no additional cost and no need to enroll separately. Sano is a medical facility specializing in vascular, skeletal, and muscular repairs, including joint replacement surgeries such as hip and knee replacements. Their services are offered at costs approximately 30% lower than those at traditional hospital facilities. This initiative is expected to deliver high-quality care while significantly reducing MSK-related claim expenses. More information about this program will be shared in the coming months. 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. As part of the budget, I will be making the salary proposal to the board at the June meeting. Following the Board’s approval of salary enhancements and steps, new contracts will be issued in June. Please reference my May 23rd email to staff regarding my salary proposal. 2025-2026 Calendar and Collaboration As previously shared in your buildings, the instructional day across the district will be shortened by 12 minutes starting next year. This change will provide teachers with dedicated time, without students present, to complete important tasks and engage in collaboration. Protected Days Fort Osage is one of the few area districts who have not yet implemented protected days off for staff. “Protected days” are specific dates on a student calendar of which staff are not permitted to request personal leave, unless the event for leave meets District criteria. We are considering the implementation of protected days for the upcoming school year. More information will be shared once a decision has been made. Roundtable Team Fort Osage members provided feedback on both successes and areas for improvement. Highlighted positives included recent increases to salary schedules for both certificated and classified staff, thoughtful planning of pre-service days, implementation of behavior support systems and the continuation of ESSER-funded positions even after funding ended. Some of the challenges shared included concerns with students' use of AI, as well as some hurdles with Intellispark. Master Plan We are currently gathering information about a potential no-tax-increase bond issue, which could occur as early as April 2026. We will keep you informed as these plans develop. Recent news from the County indicates their compliance with the State Commission’s order to cap the 2023 assessments at 15%. This will affect our bonding capacity, and we will need updated information from the County to understand the full impact. Legislative Update Over 400 bills were tracked during the session that could have impacted Fort Osage. Open Enrollment (HB 711) passed the House but lost momentum after an amendment was added requiring the state to fully fund transportation before additional students could qualify for open enrollment. Below is a list of bills that have passed and are now awaiting the Governor’s signature. SB 68 – Includes 32 provisions that impact public education. We are continuing to review the bill and will seek necessary clarifications, when needed, to appropriately implement all provisions. A few of the provisions are listed below: Cell phones (electronic personal communication) - School districts in Missouri are required to create a policy that outlines their electronic device parameters. Devices are prohibited during instructional time and may be prohibited during other times of the school day. We will receive input this summer from administrators and members of our Fort Forward Advisory Committee to help create the language. Inclement Weather Day Provision- Allows schools to forgive inclement weather days after certain thresholds are met. DESE will solidify their interpretation of this provision and provide written guidance in late July. Substitute Teaching in Retirement- It extends the provision to waive the working after retirement limits allowing PSRS/PEERS retirees to work as a substitute teacher after retirement through June 30, 2030. School Safety Measures- There are several school safety measures outlined in SB 68 which Fort Osage has already implemented. Other provisions outlined will be implemented by the deadlines outlined in the bill. Active Military Members and MSHSAA Eligibility- Students who are participating in active duty and miss practice shall have those days count toward their eligibility. Teacher Representative on the State Board of Education- It modifies the appointment of the teacher representative to the State Board of Education by providing that, for the second and succeeding appointments, the teacher representative shall not be appointed from the same congressional district as the immediately preceding teacher representative. HB 567 – This bill mandates a minimum wage increase to $15.00 per hour by January 1, 2026. Pending board approval at the June meeting, all job classes at Fort Osage will be paid above this amount under the proposed 2025-2026 salary schedule. Team Fort Osage Members Several years ago, Team Fort Osage was created in order to receive staff feedback regarding important topics impacting the district. Like in years past, approximately ⅓ of the current members will rotate off the committee. New Team Fort Osage members have been selected to replace the vacant spots. The members of Team Fort Osage for the 2025-2026 school year are listed below. Members were selected based on a range of years of experience, a variety of grade levels or subjects taught, and different positions held. The years of experience listed is based on the 2025-2026 school year. Certificated STaff
Classified STaff
This summary highlights key insights from the 2024-2025 annual staff, student, and parent survey. We sincerely thank everyone who took the time to share their feedback—your input plays a vital role in shaping the future of our schools. Your voices help us celebrate what’s working and identify opportunities to grow. To view the Survey Summary click here
A $25.00 gift card to AMC Theaters will be given away to one lucky winner utilizing the RNG. For those of you interested, please send an email to [email protected] with ‘Summer Fun’ in the subject line. Entries will be accepted until 8:00 am on Monday, June 2. The card will be mailed to the winner's home address.
Giveaway prizes are not purchased with District funds. Only Fort Osage employees are eligible to enter the drawing.  Each year, I’m amazed at how quickly time passes, and this year is no exception. I’m grateful for the many accomplishments happening across the district every day. Every individual’s dedication to providing the best education does not go unnoticed. Thank you for everything you do to help make this a successful year. Let’s finish strong!
 Team Fort Osage
Team Fort Osage met for the fourth time this year on April 16. 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, staff survey, calendar and collaboration opportunities, Master Plan, and legislative update (information provided below on each). The next meeting is scheduled for May 23. Budget I am continuing to prepare for the fiscal year 2026 budget, which begins on July 1, 2025. The Governor's budget proposal, which has passed the House, initially included an estimated $300 million shortfall in the foundation formula. However, during Senate debate, this amount was reinstated. Additionally, the budget provides full funding for transportation and the Career Ladder program. I will continue to monitor developments, as the state budget must be approved by May 9. Several challenges remain, including rising health insurance and district liability insurance costs, as well as various price increases due to tariffs. Additionally, reduced revenue streams are expected due to the end of ESSER funding and a state tax cut, which is projected to reduce state revenues by an estimated $840 million. Given these factors, achieving a balanced budget will be difficult. My goal, however, remains to enhance the salary schedules and keep our compensation competitive. More information on my recommended salary increases will be provided before the June Board of Education meeting. Health Insurance Fort Osage’s health insurance plan runs from January 1 to December 31. The insurance claims through March is 99%, which has resulted in a $220,000 reserve. 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 provided an opportunity for feedback to identify what has gone well and areas needed improvement for next year. This year, 318 certificated staff members received a stipend for Career Ladder hours, with over 30,100 total hours logged. Students were provided the opportunity to participate in various clubs (108 clubs total) or tutoring (670 hours). With state and board approval, Career Ladder will continue next year. More information from the HR office 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 are required by law to receive their contracts from the district before May 15. Contracts with this year’s salary were sent this week. Once the recommended salary enhancements are finalized, I will share the details with the staff. Following the Board’s approval of salary enhancements and steps, new contracts will be issued in June. Survey Results Thank you to everyone who took the time to share feedback through our recent survey. Results were gathered and analyzed not only from staff, but students and families as well. Highlights from the feedback point to several areas of strength including a strong commitment to student success, positive school experiences, and meaningful connections within our school communities. These affirm the incredible work happening across our district every day. At the same time, the surveys provided some key opportunities for growth, such as greater consistency across schools and departments, improving two-way communication, and amplifying student voice and school pride. District leadership will continue to use staff feedback to reflect on current practices and inform continuous improvement efforts. 2025-2026 Calendar and Collaboration As shared in your buildings, the instructional day will be shortened by 12 minutes across the district starting next year. This change provides teachers with dedicated time at the end of the day to complete important tasks and supports collaboration outside of student attendance hours. During last week’s PDC, each building began discussing how to use one day a week--Thursdays—for intentional collaboration aligned with building-specific goals and needs. For more details, please connect with your PDC representatives or building principal. 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 Several bills are currently being tracked that could impact Fort Osage. Open Enrollment (HB 711) has passed the House, is now in the Senate, and remains a hot topic in Jefferson City. I continue to oppose the bill and will remain engaged on all legislation that could affect Fort Osage. Below is a list of other bills being closely monitored: HB 594 – This bill eliminates the state capital gains tax, which would reduce state revenues by an estimated $429 million annually. HJR 4 – This resolution caps the residential assessment increase at 2% per year. If this cap had been in place over the past five years, it would have reduced Fort Osage’s revenue by $27 million. HB 567 – This bill mandates a minimum wage increase to $15.00 per hour by January 1, 2026. Regardless of whether the bill passes, Fort Osage’s goal is to ensure that all job classes are paid above this amount under the proposed 2025-2026 salary schedule. Legislative Dates Below: May 9th- Budget Bill Deadline May 16th- Last Day of Session  For those of you interested, a $20.00 QT gift card will be given away to one lucky winner. To enter, send an email to [email protected] with "QT" in the subject line. Entries will be accepted until 8:00 am on Monday, April 22.
Give away prizes are not purchased with District funds. Only Fort Osage employees are eligible to enter the drawing.  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. |
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