Scheets, Gettys sworn in; Board hears budget, facility updates

With no election required this spring, the Houston Board of Education swore in returning members Jennifer Scheets and Jeff Gettys during its regular meeting Tuesday, April 8.

Scheets and Gettys were the only candidates filing. 

The board then reorganized for the year, unanimously electing Scheets as president, Darren Ice as vice president and Gettys as secretary/treasurer. Other appointments included Charlie Malam as the district’s Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA) delegate and Tressie Neugebauer as the alternate. Tanya Bathon was reappointed as executive board secretary.

COMPENSATION REVIEW AND SURVEY RESULTS

The CCC (Climate, Culture and Compensation) Team presented data gathered through a staff survey conducted in fall 2024, which drew 109 responses, and the MSTA (Missouri State Teachers Association) salary book. Among highlights:

• Licking leads area districts in base pay; other schools, including Houston, are tied at $40,000.
• Houston ranks second in insurance benefits and first in bachelor’s-level pay after adjustments for insurance cost to the employee.
• The district is third for master’s-level salaries and seventh for master’s +10 years of experience.
• New legislation has raised Missouri’s minimum teacher pay. Though Prop A, districts like Houston are currently exempt, changes may be coming.

Priorities identified for consideration include:

• Offering a fully paid insurance option and exploring lower-rate providers,
• Maintaining Career Ladder tiers at $1,500, $3,000 and $5,000,
• Addressing salary compression – or little to no difference in pay between employees with different levels of experience or education, and
• Continuing annual step increases.

PRTC UPDATE

Dr. Justin Copley, superintendent, shared that the district continues working with Bartlett & West Engineering – which has offices in Rolla – on planning related to the Piney River Technical Center (PRTC). A grant supports the early phases. The preliminary cost estimate came in at just over $1 million. Copley said the district expects about $533,000 between grant and local funds and added the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is expected to allow an extension on grant spending through September.

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

Copley provided a breakdown of district finances, noting:

• Revenue comes from 39.39% local/county, 43.5% state and 17.11% federal sources.
• Expenditures fall into six categories: salary, benefits, purchased services, supplies, equipment and debt, with roughly $11.5 million going to salary and benefits.
• The district has just over $1 million in capital projects, including furniture, fixtures and equipment. Debt service totals a little over $500,000. The operating levy is 2.75, and the debt service levy is 0.80. Current debts include the Tiger Fieldhouse, library and a lease purchase related to the PRTC project.

As part of his presentation, Copley said he aims to complete two budget amendments each year to provide better visibility. The board unanimously approved the FY25 budget amendment.

OTHER MATTERS

• The board approved Administrative Procedure IGBH-AP1 and reviewed an MSBA 2024D update, which required no action.
• Theresa Hudson, coordinator, gave a quarterly update on the HALO program. A student liaison reported on recent and upcoming activities in athletics, academics and prom planning.
• About $18,000 was raised during the Career and Technical Education (CTE) fundraiser on March 29. 
• Copley recommended the board discontinue its bus route to Southern Missouri Technical Institute (SMTI) in West Plains for the 2025-’26 school year, citing low usage (four students) and cost concerns. He said the district remains open to offering an auto body program locally. After discussion, the board consensus was to continue the partnership with SMTI through the 2025-’26 school year. 

The board will meet next at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 in the high school library media center.