Monett school board approves pay scale, teachers to see $300 increase in 2026-27

The Monett school board closed out its school year with a boost in pay for teachers for the coming year and a generally upbeat report on student progress. 

The budget for the coming school year authorized a $300 increase in base pay for teachers and a $300 increase in steps for years of service. That set the base pay for a new teacher with a bachelor of science degree at $42,300. A teacher with a master’s degree can start at $47,800. A teacher with a doctorate can start at $53,800. 

Pay for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree tops out after 13 years at $48,400. Master’s degree teachers reach a peak pay of $62,800 after 30 years of service. A teacher with a doctorate would see raises every year up to the 32-year cut-off. 

Business and industry teachers at the Scott Regional Technology Center would start at $42,300 with a temporary certificate and top out at $48,400 after 13 years of service. Advanced certified teachers would start at $48,800 to start and reach a pay peak of $64,800, seeing a raise every year. 

In federal funding, the district anticipates a reduction in money. Superintendent Dr. Mark Drake observed federal funds have dropped 40 percent since 2021. Three-quarters of the money goes into Title 1 programs, supplementing students identified as academically at-risk. 

The report noted some federal funds are shared with parochial schools of Trinity Lutheran in Freistatt, St. Lawrence in Monett, and St. Mary’s in Pierce City. Those funds help identify student and staff needs to develop service plans to support academic success. “The district remains committed to providing high quality services while ensuring full compliance with federal requirements,” the report concluded. 

Reports

- Megan Gidney, principal at the Early Childhood Center, reported approximately 85 incoming kindergarten students participated in Summer School. “This strong participation provides students with valuable opportunities to build relationships, establish school routines, and strengthen foundational literacy, math, and social-emotional skills before the start of the school year,” she stated. 

- Delisa Johnson outlined what each grade at Monett Elementary focused on during Summer School. Learning school routines, she noted, would help students build confidence in preparing for a successful school year. Several field trips were also taken, including outings to Neosho, Strafford and Diamond. 

Principal Jennifer Wallace outlined wins for instruction at the intermediate school. Data collected on student progress would be shared with teachers and intervention teams as classes start to aid in student placement and small-group instruction. 

- The middle school had 182 students for Summer School under nine teachers, the largest group coming from current fifth graders. The high school had 124 seated students, up from 92 last summer, an almost equal number of students seeking dual credit and A+ classes as a year ago, but lower numbers taking summer weights and virtual classes. 

- Operations director Steve Garner reported a new fuel tank was now operational at the bus barn. With use by the district’s maintenance team, the tank was expected to reduce fuel costs over time. Garner further noted the heating and cooling units that had failed at the middle school had been replaced. A report was underway to determine why the previous system failed. 

Garner commended the maintenance crew for painting at Monett Elementary and deep cleaning classrooms. 

- The annual technology report, submitted by Lauralie Powell, emphasized establishing a technology maintenance, improvements, and refresh schedule. Wireless access points, she noted, need to be upgraded across the district in the coming year. Security cameras also needed to be upgraded across the district and moved to a new server.

Personnel hired

Board members hired four teachers for the coming year. Brittany Freeman was hired as a kindergarten teacher. Sydney Walker will join the faculty as a pre-kindergarten teacher for three-year-olds, both at the Early Childhood Center. 

Two joined the special services faculty. Kenneth Carney will be a teacher at the high school. Jamie Gazaway will join the faculty at the Early Childhood Center. 

Lacy Creed transferred to a new position as the Cubhouse director. 

Four paraprofessionals resigned and four were hired. Three of the new hires will focus on functional skills at Monett Elementary as part of the special education staff. 

Other action

The board approved, without comment, the alternative methods of instruction application. It noted that on days when classroom work was not possible, attendance would be determined by the completion of lessons turned in on the next day of attendance or submitted electronically. Students could prepare their work on Chromebooks or iPads. Either parents or the district would provide an internet connection for students. 

Board members also approved leasing 400 S. Linden Lane in Monett to the Creative Therapy Center, signed by its chief executive officer Deanna Cecenas, for $1,100 per month for the coming school year. The lease was contingent on approval by the Barry and Lawrence County Boards for the Developmentally Disabled, to whom the center sought underwriting grants. 

The next board meeting will be at 6 p.m. on July 30. The opening of school meeting with all staff will be at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 17 in the high school performing arts center.