2026 - 27 Carthage BOE Press Release

Carthage R-9 School District

Board of Education Press Release

July 20, 2026

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, July 20, 2026, 6:00 pm, at Carthage South Technical Center – Community Room.  Present were board members Mr. Ryan Collier, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Dr. Mark Westhoff, Mr. Jeff Jones, Ms. Maria Sanchez, and Mrs. Robin Blair. Ms. Niki Cloud was absent. 

Mr. Ryan Collier led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous meeting, payment of bills, district financial report, and set date for tax rate hearing. 

Mr. Jeff Jones provided a Carthage R-9 Foundation update stating for more information regarding the Raise The Curtain campaign contact the Carthage R-9 Foundation. 

Dr. Holley Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, provided the Board information regarding the districts internet content filter with Content Keeper. 

Dr. Matt Huntley, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, provided the Board information regarding the request for adoption of the professional development handbook for the 2026-2027 school year. 

Dr. Luke Boyer, Superintendent, provided the Board information regarding the new and revised polices and regulations for their review and consideration of adoption at the August 17, 2026 board meeting. 

Dr. Boyer and the Board discussed a future board workshop. 

Dr. Boyer presented his report to the Board. 

The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss legal, personnel, and student matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (1), (3), and (6) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.

In closed session the Board approved the following personnel actions:

Approved the employment of certified and support staff as presented contingent upon receiving a clear criminal record check from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a clear check of the Adult Abuse/Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services for all employees new to the district:

Certified Hire:

Support Hire:

Certified Transfer:

Support Transfer:

Approved resignation and retirement from employment of certified, support, and substitute staff as presented.

Certified Resignation:

Support Resignation:

Support Retirement:

Substitute Resignation:  

Carthage R-9 School District

Board of Education Press Release

August 17, 2026

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, August 17, 2026, 6:02 pm, at the Carthage South Technical Center – Community Room.  Present were Board members Ms. Niki Cloud, Mr. Ryan Collier, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Dr. Mark Westhoff, Mr. Jeff Jones, Ms. Maria Sanchez, and Dr. Robin Blair. 

The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous meeting, payment of bills, district financial report, and new and revised policies and regulations. 

Mr. Jeff Meredith, Carthage Economic Development Corporation CEO, provided the Board information regarding economic development information in the Carthage area. 

Dr. Holley Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Mr. Dan Hill, Director of Maintenance, Mrs. Catherine Steverson, Director of Information Technology, and Mr. Larry Swinehart, Director of Security, provided the Board information regarding the CSIP Priority 3: Operational Efficiency report. 

Mrs. Crystal Brown, Director of Carthage R-9 School Foundation provided a foundation update to the Board. 

Dr. Matt Huntley, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, provided the Board information regarding the 2026-2027 district assessment plan. 

Dr. Goodnight provided the Board information regarding the Missouri State Highway annual bus inspection report. 

Dr. Goodnight, Mr. Hill, Mr. Joel Gundelfinger, Navitas Business Development Market Manager, and Mr. Ryan Terry, Navitas Business Development Manager, provided information to the Board regarding the HVAC assessment. 

Dr. Luke Boyer, Superintendent, provided the Board information regarding the FY26 final budget.

Dr. Boyer presented his report to the Board. 

The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss legal, personnel, and student matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (1), (3), and (6) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.

In closed session the Board approved the following personnel actions:

Approved the employment of certified, support and substitute staff as presented contingent upon receiving a clear criminal record check from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a clear check of the Adult Abuse/Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services for all employees new to the district:

Certified Hire:

Bittner, Adrian, Art Teacher, Carthage High School – Ms. Bittner recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) in Art Education at Missouri State University while also pursuing a Master of Arts in Education, both from Missouri State University. Her practical experience is with teaching elementary, primarily K-3rd grade.

Avise, Kelly, MO Options/Alternative Education Teacher-PSRS Critical Shortage, Powers Learning Center – Ms. Avise is being recommended for rehire under PSRS Critical Shortage. Ms. Avise returns to the district after her recent retirement, and she brings many years of experience to this role.

Steele, Daniel, EL Teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center – Mr. Steele is a secondary education graduate from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in English education.

Rogers, Tracy, Speech-Language Pathologist – PSRS Critical Shortage – Mrs. Rogers is being recommended for rehire under PSRS Critical Shortage. Mrs. Rogers recently retired from Neosho School District, but worked in Carthage for many years prior to that. In total, she brings 30 years of experience.  Mrs. Rogers earned her Bachelors and Master’s degrees from Missouri State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders/Speech Language Pathology.

Support Hire:

Substitute Hire:

Certified Transfer:

Support Transfer:

Support Modification:

Substitute Modification:

Approved resignation from employment of certified, support, and substitute staff as presented.

Certified Resignation:

Support Resignation:

Substitute Resignation:

Carthage R-9 School District

Board of Education Press Release

August 17, 2026 (Tax Rate Hearing)

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in the tax rate hearing on Monday, August 17, 2026, 6:00 pm, at the Carthage South Technical Center – Community Room.  Present were Board members Ms. Niki Cloud, Mr. Ryan Collier, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Dr. Mark Westhoff, Mr. Jeff Jones, Ms. Maria Sanchez, and Dr. Robin Blair.   

Ms. Niki Cloud led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Following a hearing on the district’s proposed tax rate, the Board established the total tax levy for 2026-2027 including Incidental Fund $3.6000 and Debt Service Fund $0.8300 totaling at $4.4300.  This is the same rate at 2025.   

Carthage R-9 School District

Board of Education Press Release

September 21, 2026

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, September 21, 2026, 6:00 pm, at the Carthage South Technical Center – Community Room.  Present were Board members Mr. Ryan Collier, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Dr. Mark Westhoff, Mr. Jeff Jones, and Dr. Robin Blair.  Ms. Niki Cloud and Ms. Maria Sanchez were absent. 

Mr. Ryan Collier led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous tax rate hearing and open session meeting, payment of bills, and district financial report.

Mr. Matt Arnold, Director of Human Resources, provided the Board information regarding CSIP Priority 2: Recruitment and Retention of High-Quality Staff report.

Ms. Natalie Cowley, Director of Language Services, provided the Board an update on the districts dual-language program. 

Mr. Jeff Jones provided a Carthage R-9 School Foundation update to the Board. 

Dr. Holley Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, provided the Board a KE Baker remodel update. 

Dr. Goodnight provided the Board information regarding the renewal of the districts cyber insurance.

Dr. Goodnight provided the Board information regarding the purchase of a 2025 Micro Bird 35 passenger school bus.   

Dr. Luke Boyer, Superintendent, and the Board discussed selecting an additional delegate to the Carthage R-9 Foundation Board.   

Dr. Boyer presented his report to the Board. 

The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss legal, personnel, and student matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (1), (3), and (6) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.

In closed session the Board approved the following personnel actions:

Approved the employment of certified, support and substitute staff as presented contingent upon receiving a clear criminal record check from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a clear check of the Adult Abuse/Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services for all employees new to the district:

Certified Hire:

Sawyer, Jana, Dual-Language Teacher, Carthage Junior High School – Mrs. Sawyer is being recommended for rehire after recently retiring after 32 years of service to the district as a teacher and Director of Language Services.

Support Hire:

Substitute Hire:

Certified Transfer:

Support Transfer:

Support Modification:

Substitute Modification:

Approved resignation and retirement from employment of certified, support, and substitute staff as presented.

Certified Resignation:

Certified Retirement:

Support Resignation:

Substitute Resignation:

Carthage R-9 School District

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