(From the Carthage R-9 School District)The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, July 21, 2025, 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, Ms. Maria Sanchez, and Mr. Patrick Scott. 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 meetings, payment of bills, district financial report, and set date for tax rate hearing.
Ms. Maria Sanchez provided a Carthage R-9 School Foundation update stating scholarships and major saver campaigns for the 2025-2026 school year are being worked on.
Dr. Matt Huntley, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, provided the Board information regarding the request for adoption of the professional development handbook for the 2025-2026 school year.
Dr. Holley Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, provided the Board information regarding facility use priority and fee structure for their review and consideration of approval at the August 18, 2025 board meeting.
Dr. Luke Boyer, Superintendent, spoke regarding the proposed purchase agreement authorizing the purchase of real estate. Mr. Collier read to the Board a “Public Disclosure of Conflict of Interest” provided by Board Member, Lora Phelps, in regards to agenda item “Consider Proposed Purchase Agreement Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate."
The Public Disclosure of Conflict of Interest stated the following and is signed by Lora Phelps:
“July 21, 2025, Public Disclosure of Conflict of Interest, To Carthage R-9 Board of Education: My name is Lora Phelps, and I am the Secretary for the Carthage R-9 School Board. The Carthage R-9 School Board has proposed to purchase a parcel of 25 acres owned by the William Phelps Family Trust, located at 1210 East Airport Drive in Carthage, Missouri, for a sale price of $400,000. The trust belongs to my husband, William (Bill) Phelps, and I am a contingent beneficiary of the trust. The Board plans to discuss and vote on this matter during its meeting on July 21, 2025. Because my husband and I have a financial interest in the sale of the property, I will recuse myself from any discussion or vote related to the Board’s decision of whether or not to purchase the property.”
Mr. William (Bill) Phelps and Mrs. Lora Phelps excused themselves from the board meeting. Dr. Luke Boyer and the Board reviewed and discussed the real estate purchase. Dr. Boyer asked the board to consider the purchase of the parcel of 25 acres owned by the William Phelps Family Trust, located at 1210 East Airport Drive in Carthage, Missouri, for the sum of $400,000 and authorize administration to proceed with the preparation of documents to complete the real estate purchase. Mr. William (Bill) Phelps and Mrs. Lora Phelps returned to the board meeting. 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 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:
Support Hire
Lilian Hernandez Pelico, cook, Sixth Grade Center
Caelyn Samuelson, marketing intern, Carthage Tech Center-South
Holliday Foster, special education paraprofessional, Steadley Elementary
Anthony Miller, bus driver, transportation
Jonathan Brinkhoff, special education paraprofessional, Carthage High School
Kayla Hole, Title 1 instructional assistant, Steadley Elementary
Abigail O'Brien, cook, Carthage Junior High School
Veylin Lopez, cook, Sixth Grade Center
Michele Edwards, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary
Dakota Sisseck, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary
Kimberly Thomas, cook, Pleasant Valley Elementary
Dawna Middleton, Tiger Prep paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary
Sky Ladd, choir accompanist, Carthage Junior High School
Claudia Lopez, cook, Carthage Junior High School
Amilia Etcheson, cook, Carthage High School
Savannah Ruth, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary
Ronna Patterson, PAT screener, Parents as Teachers
Taylor Harmon, cook, Carthage Junior High School
Jeremy Caddick, bus driver, transportation
Certified Resignation
Nicola Higgs, fifth grade teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center
Support Resignation
Paige Blankenship, student worker, district office
Kristen Silvers, cook, Columbian Elementary
8 comments:
The immediate question is what is the School District planning to do with the 25-Acres. Are they Buying for Future Expansion or is there a Project Plan in place. The Cost of the 25-Acres is $16,000 / Per Acre or $400,000 - hopefully they are not spending Taxpayers Money on Speculation - Plus that seems a little high at $16,000 Per Acre -
Psssst- What if it's a windmill farm?
16k per acre believe it or not that is reasonable for this situation, I would have asked for 25k an acre. In another 20 years when they want 25 more acres it will likely cost 48k an acre. Unless we have a huge reset and we get everything back to pre-Covid norm.
Why aren't the citizens of Carthage asking that thought provoking question, why are they buying 25-acres, what is its intended use. The local, county, state, and federal governments, spend everyone else's hard-earned money without a blink of an eye.
FYI - Overview of Carthage High School - Carthage High School is ranked 231st within Missouri.
Carthage High School 2024 Rankings - Carthage High School is ranked #12,469 in the National Rankings. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college.
I hate to say this, but you can read about the use in Friday's Joplin Globe page 3. Part of it will be used in conjunction with the agriculture program and some it will be a gravel lot for additional parking for the new baseball field. There was some mention that part if not all of the purchase price could be covered by a private donation.
FYI very interesting factoids you have supplied.
I never would have known Carthage High was ranked #12,469 nationally.
SHAZAM!
If they were ranked higher they could buy more than 25 acres with no questions asked?
Or could they buy 25 acres at a higher cost with no questions asked?
What about that #12,469 national ranking?
What is the ranking of the parents of the Carthage High students? Or does that matter?
6:06PM, You must have been one of the highly coveted educated graduates of Carthage, who would rather invest in acreage than in education, no wonder your school is ranked 12,469 nationally. So, they are spending $400,000 for a parking lot - 6:06PM, I am assured your unbelievable lack of knowledge in anything would astound most 2nd graders. Way to keep America Dumb, SHAZAM!
PPPP!
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