2026 - 27 Carthage BOE Press Release
2026-27 Carthage BOE Press Releases
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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:
Partney, Andrew
SPED Teacher
Carthage Intermediate Center
New Hire
Meyer, Eugene
Agriculture Education Teacher – PSRS Critical Shortage
Carthage Technical Center
New Hire
Support Hire:
Silvers, Jackie
Summer Custodian
Carthage Junior High School
Re-Hire
Tupper, Jacob
Summer Custodian
Sixth Grade Center
New Hire
Cline, Breckin
Summer Custodian
Sixth Grade Center
New Hire
Huntley, Dylan
Summer Custodian
Carthage High School
New Hire
Hedrick, Cheryl
Practical Nursing Instructor (Part Time)
CTC-North
New Hire
Lopez Gomez, Margarita
Evening Custodian
Carthage High School
New Hire
Endicott, Will
Accompanist
Carthage High School
New Hire
Bausinger, Kimberly
Bright Futures Coordinator
Bright Futures
New Hire
Carlton, John
Summer Maintenance
District
New Hire
Flores, Sandra
Cook
Columbian Elementary
New Hire
Crahan, Cayden
Bus Mechanic
Transportation
Re-Hire
Arciga, Olga
Cook
Carthage Junior High School
New Hire
Noah, Logan
Evening Custodian
Carthage Junior High School
New Hire
Miller, Stormi
Cook
Carthage Junior High School
New Hire
Wells, Hanna
Sped Paraprofessional
Columbian Elementary
New Hire
Certified Transfer:
Daniel, Dawn
SPED Teacher
Fairview Elementary
Transfer
Hole, Kayla
1st Grade Teacher
Steadley Elementary
Transfer
Lock, Charissa
Speech Language Pathologist
Steadley Elementary
Transfer
Support Transfer:
Beaver, Judith
Library Media Aide
Mark Twain Elementary
Transfer
Dudolski, Sydnee
Admin Assistant to Counselors
Carthage High School
Transfer
Martinez, Victoriea
Sped Paraprofessional
Columbian Elementary
Transfer
Approved resignation and retirement from employment of certified, support, and substitute staff as presented.
Certified Resignation:
McAlister, Nathan
Art Teacher
Carthage High School
Resignation
Support Resignation:
Reyes Hernendez, Addis
Cook
Carthage Junior High School
Resignation
Marsh, Collyn
Custodian
Carthage Intermediate Center
Resignation
Cline, Aidan
Evening Custodian
Carthage Junior High School
Resignation
Camfield, Briana
Sped Paraprofessional
Steadley Elementary
Resignation
Lopez Gomez, Margarita
Evening Custodian
Carthage High School
Resignation
Pauley, Leighton
Student Worker
Carthage Technical Center-South
Resignation
Lambeth, Gabriel
Student Worker
IT Department
Resignation
Osborne, Haysia
Student Worker
Bright Futures
Resignation
Gonzalez, Nancy
Student Worker
Food Service
Resignation
Samuelson, Caelyn
Student Worker
Carthage Technical Center-South
Resignation
Carroll, Riley
Student Worker
Carthage Technical Center-South
Resignation
Rogers, Abigail
Student Worker
Carthage Technical Center-South
Resignation
Support Retirement:
Holderbaum, Leasha
Counseling Secretary
Carthage High School
Retirement
Verderosa, Yvonne
Paraprofessional
Early Childhood Center
Retirement
Substitute Resignation:
Avey, Mallory
Substitute Cook
District
Resignation
McCaslin, Celeste
Substitute Bus Driver
Transportation
Resignation
Sater, James
Substitute Bus Driver
Transportation
Resignation
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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:
Bittner, Adrian
Art Teacher
Carthage High School
Avise, Kelly
MO Options/Alternative Education Teacher - PSRS Critical Shortage
Powers Learning Center
Steele, Daniel
EL Teacher
Carthage Intermediate Center
Rogers, Tracy
Speech-language Pathologist (PSRS Critical Shortage)
Fairview Elementary
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:
Harris, Jadyn
Bus Aide
Transportation
Fix, Brittany
Title 1 Instructional Assistant
Steadley Elementary
Higgins, Diana
Bus Driver
Transportation
Ramos, Rena
Bus Aide
Transportation
Kuhl, Cassandra
Sped Paraprofessional
Early Childhood Center
Valenzuela, Jacqueline
Cook
Carthage Junior High School
Guitareo, Amber
Cook
Steadley Elementary
Logan, Tosha
Sped Paraprofessional
Steadley Elementary
Connelly, Brittany
Sped Paraprofessional
Steadley Elementary
Scribner, Shylia
Cook
Carthage Junior High School
Minor, Juli
Sped Paraprofessional
Carthage Junior High School
Jeffries, Kristian
Payroll Clerk
Administration Office
Morales, Fredy
Sped Paraprofessional
Carthage High School
Myers, Tyler
Sped Paraprofessional
Carthage Junior High School
Donham, Shaely
Tiger Prep Academy Paraprofessional
Fairview Elementary
Anderson, Amy
Sped Paraprofessional (Autism)
Columbian Elementary
Adams, Emily
Sped Paraprofessional
Carthage Junior High School
Washburn, Caine (Allison)
Sped Paraprofessional
Early Childhood Center
Substitute Hire:
LaTendresse, Ivy
Substitute Cook
District
Newell, Tracy
Substitute Teacher
District
Pearce, Trish
Substitute Teacher
District
Pearce, Trish
Substitute Bus Driver
Transportation
Marlett, Jackson
Substitute Teacher
District
Oney, Glenn
Substitute Teacher
District
Patrick, Gracelyn
Substitute Teacher
District
Certified Transfer:
Carcamo, Amanda
School Counselor
Sixth Grade Center
Beaver, Ethan
4th & 5th Grade Dual-Language Teacher
Carthage Intermediate Center
Support Transfer:
Brown, Julie
Sped Paraprofessional
Fairview Elementary
Golubski, Keith
Bus Driver
Transportation
Willis, Corey
Bus Driver
Transportation
Jones, Luke
IT Technician (Part Time)
IT Department
Substitute Modification:
Borchgardt, Dakota
Substitute Custodian
District
Borland, Katelyn
Substitute Custodian
Sixth Grade Center
Approved resignation from employment of certified, support, and substitute staff as presented.
Certified Resignation:
Fallis, Katey
School Counselor
Sixth Grade Center
Huff, Brittany
Cook
Fairview Elementary
Ockert, Eric
Evening Custodian
Carthage High School
Schreiber, Marshall
Bus Driver
Transportation
Murray, Connie
Sped Paraprofessional
Fairview Elementary
Substitute Resignation:
McDaniel, James
Substitute Custodian
District
Eastin, Alana
Substitute Cook
District
Cook, Dana
Substitute Nurse
District
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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.
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
September 21, 2026
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
October 19, 2026
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
November 16, 2026
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
December 17, 2026
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
January 19, 2027
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
February 16, 2027
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
March 15, 2027
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
April 19, 2027
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
May 17, 2027
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Carthage R-9 School District
Board of Education Press Release
June 21, 2027