Budget I continue to prepare for the fiscal year 2025 budget that begins July 1, 2024. The state legislators have until the May 10th deadline to approve the Governor’s budget proposal which includes full funding of transportation as well as the funding of Career Ladder. The DESE provision that has allowed districts to utilize their 2020 enrollment for state funding has ended which will have a negative impact on state revenue. I must be mindful of the state tax cut that went into effect on January 1st which will reduce state revenues by an estimated $1 billion. I’m also closely monitoring the Missouri Attorney General’s lawsuit against Jackson County which is requesting the 2023 assessments go back to the 2021 values. The case is scheduled to be heard before a Clay County jury this summer. To end on a positive note, the levy transfer of 2021 continues to have a positive impact on our revenues for the upcoming year. Taking all things into consideration, which includes the board approved salary enhancements from March, I’m working to create a balanced budget for the board’s approval in June. Health Insurance Fort Osage’s health insurance plan year runs from January 1 through December 31. The year to date insurance claims that began January 1, 2024 is 95%. In other words, for every $1.00 Fort Osage paid into the insurance fund, the provider, Cigna, was paid $0.95. This amounts to a savings for the district. Separately, we were recently notified that many staff members received a letter outlining negotiations between Cigna and Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). These are typical negotiation practices that occur every few years with insurance corporations and healthcare providers. Our contact at Cigna is confident there will be an agreement reached soon. There are no changes to plan coverage at this time. We will continue to keep staff informed of any updates. Career Ladder Career Ladder continues to have a positive impact on our school district. There are additional student clubs, tutoring opportunities, and more support for beginning teachers than ever before. A survey was conducted this Spring to receive feedback to determine what has gone well and what we can improve with Career Ladder. Based on feedback we will move our deadlines up to start clubs and tutoring earlier next fall. Career Ladder Celebrations Include:
Staff Survey The information below was discussed regarding the staff survey that was conducted. Celebrations and Feedback Include:
Wellness Plan The information below was discussed regarding the wellness survey. Celebrations and Feedback Include:
Legislative Update The legislative session began in Jefferson City on January 4th and will end on May 10th. There are over 500 education bills that have been filed. Below are a few bills to which I’m paying special attention. SB 727: The bill passed on April 18 and will be sent to the Governor for his signature. The bill has 21 provisions that will cost the State up to an estimated $1 Billion after full implementation. Even though the bill has some provisions that will be beneficial, the concern is if the state will have enough revenue to fund it in the future. Beyond that, there are some provisions that are concerning. It will take some time to review the entire 167 page bill to know how it will fully impact Fort Osage. A few of the provisions include:
HB 1989: Open Enrollment - Passed the House and now has moved to the Senate. SB 799: Personal Property Tax - It would depreciate someone’s personal property at a faster rate which would reduce revenue. Superintendent Advisory Committees The superintendent advisory committee meetings have continued to provide an opportunity for me to have excellent dialog with staff from across the district. In the next few weeks I will be sending an email asking for interest on filling the vacant positions for next year’s committees. Team Fort Osage Several years ago, Team Fort Osage was created in order to receive staff feedback regarding important topics impacting the district. Like in years past, ⅓ of the current members will rotate off the committee. New Team Fort Osage members will be selected to replace the vacant spots. The members of Team Fort Osage for the 2024-2025 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 2024-2025 school year. Certificated STaff
Classified Staff
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