WESTPHALIA — Fatima R-3 school board members approved the proposed property tax levy for $3.9393 per $100 of assessed value at their meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The tax levy will be divided between the incidental fund for $3.191 and the capital projects fund for $.81. The assessed valuation increased 4.5% from $134.84 million to $140.94 million. Superintendent John Kitchens noted there would be an increase in revenue of $276,000 for the district.

In other business, board members approved a revised high school handbook for the 2026-27 school year.

“We are just trying to clarify a few things,” Kitchens said. “We had some things that didn’t have any rhyme or reason, and we made those things make more sense.”

Kitchens noted that the discipline policy on vandalism was made tougher because of several incidents last year.

Several board members voiced concerns that the number of days students were being allowed to change classes shrunk from five days to two.

“Is a kid going to know how things are going in just two days?” Board Member DJ Schroeder asked. “I mean they almost need five days to figure out if they are in the right class.”

“I think the big thing is that last year we had over 50 senior schedule changes,” Kitchens said. “This year for all four grades, we have 40 schedule changes.”

He explained that students had time to come in before schools started and make scheduling changes.

“The other side of that is the learning aspect,” Kitchens said. “If a kid can wait five days to change classes, it puts more pressure on the teacher to catch that student up. We were getting into a situation where teachers weren’t going very far into the subject matter because so many students were changing classes. The emphasis should be on learning.”

Schroeder noted that for most classes, the first couple of days involved handbook review and introduction to the classes, which didn’t give students a good feeling for whether the class is right for them.

“The students are in classes that they want to be in and that they should be in, and that’s why we are not seeing a lot of scheduling changes this year,” said High School Principal Somer Hinshaw. “They really don’t need additional days.”

Hinshaw added that the handbook review took only the first several minutes of class on the first day.

“We are not spending a lot of time on that,” Hinshaw continued. “They are getting started with things pretty quickly.”

“I don’t know if that is the reality,” Schroeder said.

School board President Suzanne Massman asked why most students were changing classes.

“I was told by the counselors that they are changing because they want to be in class with their friends,” Hinshaw said.

Special Education Coordinator Janah Massman noted that the school can make exceptions if needed.

Schroeder said that if exceptions could be made if necessary, he was fine with the change.

• Board members approved increasing reimbursement for all teachers and staff using personal vehicles for travel to $.70 per mile. The administration had discovered that they were paying Parents as Teachers (PAT) staff $.45 per mile and other district staff were receiving $.65 per mile.

“With gas prices high, I just want to bring everyone up to the same level,” Kitchens said.

The new rate is the same as the state reimbursement rate for mileage.

Kitchens noted that PAT was often overlooked in its importance in early childhood development.

“It’s an important program,” Massman agreed.

• The board approved the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Special Education Compliance Plan for the district.

Massman noted that the district approves the plan as presented annually.

• Board members approved a stipend of 5.5% for the junior high and high school cheerleading coaches. The stipend was eliminated without Kitchens understanding the impact it would have on the current cheerleading coaches.

“To maintain the program, we will split it between the junior high and high school,” Kitchens explained. “We don’t have many students involved right now, but we would like to see the program grow.”

Kitchens said that he has discussed plans to build up the program with the coaches.

• The board approved the Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) plan for the district as directed by DESE.

“We have not changed this since 2023, but they (DESE) want to make sure the board has their eyes on this,” Kitchens said.

He added that he understands the concerns with AMI, but believes it is a good tool for the school to have in place. DESE allows school districts up to 36 hours of AMI instruction per school year.

• Board members approved the following additions to the staff: Tina Paschal as a Title 1 instructor, Scott Kilgore as a golf coach and trip driver, and Emily Reinkemeyer for PAT, and accepted the resignations of Cody Strope and Skyla Schroeder as junior high wrestling coaches and high school wrestling assistant coaches, and Patricia Boeckman as a full-time substitute teacher.

• The board approved outstanding bills totaling $214,334.78.

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

Kitchens noted there was a nice buzz among teachers and staff for the beginning of a new school year.

“It is good to see the energy,” Kitchens said.

He noted that the kitchen staff is planning to prepare more homemade things in the cafeteria this year and has reached out to Linn R-2 for some ideas.

“We’re going to focus on more homemade things and just take some steps in the right direction,” Kitchens said. “I’m excited to see the changes.”

The district planned an active shooter training coordinated by the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, the Osage County Ambulance District, and area fire departments.

“We are giving our staff more realistic training for something we hope we never have to do,” Kitchens said.

Kitchens noted that notices were posted on Facebook and to parents regarding the training exercise, and that there was no emergency on campus.

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL REPORT

Principal Somer Hinshaw noted that she and the staff are excited for the new school year. Hinshaw said that she has had good feedback from parents on being able to do both payments and registration online this year.

• The high school is implementing a new leadership team this year, and according to Hinshaw, teachers are already signing up to be a part of it.

• The theme for the 2026-27 school year is “One Team, One Purpose.”

“We are all here for the same exact reason,” Hinshaw said. “We are excited to be back.”

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL REPORT

Principal Renee Ellingsworth-Albert noted that the elementary school has a Lego theme for the 2026-27 school year.

“Our theme is ‘Growing Together and Going Further,’” Ellingsworth-Albert said.

• The PTO carnival is scheduled for Sept. 25, and trunk-or-treat is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 16.

• On Oct. 19, the school will host an event to celebrate Grandparents Day, from 5 to 7 p.m. “It will be a lot easier and lots of fun,” Ellingsworth-Albert said.

SPECIAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Special Education Coordinator Janah Massman reported that the district has started receiving referrals from the parochial schools, and that her staff planned to start testing as soon as school began.

Special Ed will have a total of 90 students for the start of the new school year.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Athletic Director Matt Baker noted that the Hudl camera approved over the summer is up and running and was to be ready for the first softball game.

Baker noted that he has gotten some complaints that tickets and family passes will need to be purchased online this year with Hudl.

”We get a rebate of 20% on ticket sales,” Baker said. “That doesn’t seem like a lot, but everything helps. There will be cash at the gates if you absolutely refuse to come into the 21st century.”

Baker reported that volleyball had a record number of participants. The softball teams had 16 athletes, and the coach is optimistic about the cross country team.

• The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16 at 6 pm.