Public Service Commission sets schedule for hearings on Liberty Utilities rate hike request

(From Public Service Commission)

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) announces local public hearings, starting on July 21, 2025, to receive customer comments in an electric rate increase request case filed by the Empire District Electric Company d/b/a Liberty. There will be both in-person and virtual local public hearings.

Liberty has requested to increase rate revenues from its Missouri electric retail customers by $152.8 million per year, and increasing its monthly fixed residential customer charge from $13 to $16.

The Commission has scheduled five in-person local public hearings and two virtual local public hearings. Any person may participate at any of the hearings, but are encouraged to attend the hearing corresponding to the location nearest to their service area for the most relevant information. In order to ensure broad participation and the ability for every citizen to offer comments, comments may be time-limited.

Below is the local public hearing schedule:


July 21 — Joplin. Missouri Southern State University, Corley Hall, 3950 Newman Road.
The hearing starts at 6 p.m., beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.

July 22 — Nixa. City Council Chambers, 715 West Mount Vernon Street.
The hearing starts at Noon, beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.

July 22 — Bolivar. Southwest Baptist University, McClelland Joe Roberts Room (Dining Hall), 1600 University Avenue.

The hearing starts at 6 p.m., beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.

July 23 — Branson. City Council Chambers. 110 West Maddux Street.

The hearing starts at Noon, beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.

July 24 — Aurora. Recreation Center, 126 West Hadley Street.
The hearing starts at Noon, beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.

July 23 — Virtual Local Public Hearing starts at 6 p.m. See further details below*

July 25 — Virtual Local Public Hearing starts at Noon. See further details below*

*To attend a virtual local public hearing by telephone, at the time of the virtual hearing, call toll-free 1-855-718-6621, listen to the prompt and enter the meeting number/access code 2861 936 9973 for the July 23 hearing at 6 p.m.); or 2866 586 9948 for the July 25 hearing at Noon; followed by # (pound/hashtag symbol). If prompted for a password, enter 0261.

To attend a virtual local public hearing by video (internet), visit the website www.webex.com. You can also download the Cisco WebEx meetings application on your mobile device, laptop, desktop or tablet prior to the hearing and join the meeting at the hearing time by entering the corresponding meeting number/access code and password listed above.

These local public hearings will be held in facilities that meet the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any person who needs additional accommodations to participate in these hearings should call the PSC’s hotline at 1-800-392-4211 or TDD hotline at 1-800-829-7541 before the hearings.

To facilitate an orderly presentation that can be preserved for the record, members of the public who wish to participate in the virtual hearings should register, but are not required to register, by sending their first and last name, phone number, email address and the hearing they wish to attend to pscinfo@psc.mo.gov or by calling 1-800-392-4211 by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing.

If you are unable to attend a local public hearing and wish to make written comments, you may click the link below, contact the PSC, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102, or by using the Commission’s electronic filing system (EFIS) at https://psc.mo.gov/General/Submit_Comments. From this webpage, click on “e-Filing Instructions” under the heading “Submit Comments in Writing”. When submitting comments, please reference File No. ER-2024-0261.

In addition, you may also provide comments or request additional information from the Office of the Public Counsel (Governor Office Building, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102-2230, telephone 1-866-922-2959 (toll-free) or 573-751-4857, email opcservice@opc.mo.gov). The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency that represents the general public in matters before the Commission.

Jill Carter offers highlights of just-completed legislative session

(From Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby)

Session has concluded for the legislature. This next few weeks we will focus on the highlights of the session and give you a snapshot of what got passed.SB150 was a bill we sponsored that was a broad, sweeping education reform bill that included a major expansion of career and technical education opportunities. 

Representative Ann Kelley has long had a deep passion for advancing career tech programs, and it was an honor to work with her on this important issue. 

The key provision allows students who qualify for A+ funding to use those resources toward certification programs. I was proud to work with her to help get this bill across the finish line and deliver meaningful opportunities for Missouri students.

SB150 also put into place articulation agreements between higher education and two year colleges, so students do not have to repeat credit hours when they move from a 2 to 4 year institution, saving students costs and loss of time.

Lastly, SB150 also expanded the mission statement for Missouri Southern State University, to include immersive experience, and life and health sciences. A great win for MSSU and the region.

Upcoming Liberty Utility Town Hall

The office of public council is hosting another series of town hall meetings to address issues with customer service or billing from Liberty Utilities. If you are having these issues, please try to attend on the town halls below:June 10th at 6:00 pm 126 W. Hadley St. Aurora, MO
June 12th at 6:00 pm 3950 E. Newman Rd. Joplin, MO

As always, we love seeing all of you when you come! If you have concerns, join the Community Text Group, where I'm the only one that gets your texts but can send one out to all of you, to keep you informed: 417-216-6077

Ten years ago today: C. J. Huff "retires, $300,000 + buyout package

Ten years ago today, C. J. Huff "retired" as Joplin R-8 superintendent.

I broke the story on the Turner Report. Later that day, the following news release came from the district:

During a gathering with principals and administrators this morning and in a letter to staff, Dr. C.J. Huff announced his plans to retire from Joplin Schools effective June 30, 2015.

"This has been a difficult decision for me to make," Dr. Huff said. "But, it's time for me to step aside based on two primary factors. First, I love my family dearly and have missed them greatly. They miss me too. It’s time to be a dad and husband again. Second, I’ve had many opportunities in recent months to visit with my principals, as well as with many, many teachers and support staff. It is crystal clear, Joplin Schools is on the right track. I've seen amazing work going on in classrooms and buildings across our district, and I will leave knowing that our kids and our community's future are in good hands. I am proud and honored to have worked with this team for the last seven years."

Dr. Huff began his career with Joplin Schools in 2008. During his tenure, the district has experienced more than $325 million in construction projects and facility improvements. These include the completion of three new middle schools and the reconstruction of several schools, including two elementary schools, a middle school, a high school and a technical school, after half of the school district was damaged or destroyed in the May 2011 tornado. In addition, renovations have been completed at nearly every school in the district and thirteen community safe rooms have been constructed across the district with a final safe room scheduled for completion in October 2015.

Upon his arrival to Joplin Schools, Dr. Huff was tasked with improving a dismal graduation rate. In 2008, the graduation rate at Joplin Schools was 73.3%. That rate has improved to 87.5%. Dr. Huff has also led the district through a devastating natural disaster - the costliest tornado in the nation's history, as well as the worst economic disaster since the great depression and the controversial and most significant national education reform movement in decades. Dr. Huff has served 19 years in the education field as a teacher, principal and superintendent.

“We have seen a great deal of change over the last eight years, and that has taken strong and dedicated leadership," said Board of Education President Jeff Koch. "Operating at a sustained peak for such a long period of time can make the work/life balance unequal. We will continue to draw on Dr. Huff’s expertise over the coming months and know that with a steady foundation, there can be a smooth transition. We appreciate Dr. Huff’s guidance through many challenges and accomplishments and wish him the very best in the future."

By the time the one-year anniversary of Huff's "retirement" arrived, the Turner Report had already confirmed that the exact wording of that news release was part of the deal made between the board and Huff.

Early on the morning of his announcement, Huff sent the following e-mail to employees:

Last night I spent two hours staring at a blank piece of paper trying to figure out what to say to the most amazing group of people I’ve ever had the privilege of serving. Over the next few days, the rumor mill is going to fire up. We’ve seen it time and again. I want you to hear from me first these words that I have so struggled to find up to this point. In short, it’s time for me to step aside.

At the Board meeting Tuesday night, I submitted my retirement letter to Joplin Schools Board of Education effective June 30. I was not fired, disciplined, given an ultimatum, or asked to resign. This was my decision, and one that I have been considering for the last several months based on two primary factors. First, I love my family dearly and have missed them greatly. They miss me too. It’s time to be a dad and husband again. Second, I’ve had many opportunities in recent months to visit with my principals, as well as many, many teachers and support staff. It is crystal clear, Joplin Schools is on the right track, and, without question, you’ve got this.

Over the last seven years, I have been witness to unprecedented acts of determination, compassion, faith and love…not only for our children, but also for one another. To say the last four years have taken a heavy toll on all of us would be an understatement. We’ve been through a lot together. I can’t imagine a school district anywhere in this great nation that has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. You stayed the course. You never waivered in your commitment to the children of Joplin Schools. That has been your focus…no matter what.

Simultaneously we have faced the most costly tornado in our nation’s history, the worst economic disaster since the great depression, and the most significant AND arguably the most controversial national education reform movement in decades. It was no small task by any measure, and the bottom line is we got through it together.

I’d ask that you t ask that you take a step back this summer, take a deep breath, and look around you. What we have done together can never be taken away. Nor can what you have done individually - the sacrifices you have made, your collective commitment to excellence under extreme circumstances, your willingness to take risks, your patience, your understanding…always hopeful, always looking ahead, striding towards the finish line of a recovery effort that has been a marathon at a sprint pace. We’ve crossed that finish line.

More important than the construction we have all endured that has resulted in many beautiful buildings and additions is the programming we have put in place. The joining together of JHS/FTC and the unique programming opportunities is truly a one-of-a-kind learning experience for our kids. This along with the strong partnerships we have created within our community ensures the long-term continued progress towards our vision of college, career, and civic ready graduates. From a systems standpoint, everything (and I do mean everything) from the great work of our support staff, to the work of our Parents As Teachers program, to our preschool, through the work of our elementary and middle schools is lined up with our expected outcomes for our graduates. I’ve seen it first hand. What you have done and are doing is amazing.

Karen Evans, Joplin Schools 2015 Teacher of the Year, sent me an email yesterday that says in a two sentences what it has taken me this long to articulate (Karen…forgive me, but it’s worth sharing).

“When you look back over the last four years, you can see how all the changes to our district, good and bad, are all working towards the good. I always remember that the hardest things I go through result in the best thing that ever happened to me.”

– Karen Evans, 2nd Grade at Kelsey Norman

I think we would all agree these are wise words and a good reminder to us all. To my Joplin Schools family, I want you to know that, as an educator, you have all been the best thing that has ever happened to me. In closing, I love you all. Thank you for the many words of encouragement, the hand written notes, emails, phone calls, etc. We propped each other up when we could have easily fallen apart. My family and I are committed to Joplin. My children attend the best schools in the country and are taught by the best educators in the world. I can assure you I will be there every step of the way cheering you on.

Stay the course.
CJ

The June 1 Turner Report made it clear what a bunch of nonsense the statements by the school and Huff were. I posted two articles that day, beginning with the one that revealed just how much Huff was being paid to "retire."

C. J. Huff's quarter of a million buyout package

So much for C. J. Huff's "noble" decision to be a husband and father.

That decision came at a price of $262,912.50, a year and a half's salary, plus $50,000 in consulting fees to help the incoming superintendent.

The decision was made on a 4-2 vote with Board President Jeff Koch, Mike Landis, Randy Steele, and Lynda Banwart approving the payoff, while Debbie Fort and Jennifer Martucci voted against it.

C. J. Huff recommendation letter: Joplin is "unengaged, apathetic community"

C. J. Huff is not only leaving the Joplin R-8 School District with $262K, plus a $50,000 consulting fee, but the separation agreement calls for the district to provide Huff with a glowing letter of recommendation,

And not just any letter of recommendation, but one that was provided by Huff and once again praises his "heroism' following the May 22, 2011, Joplin Tornado and refers to Joplin as an "unengaged, apathetic community."

"The district will provide to Superintendent, within seven days after the revocation period in paragraph 13 has passed, a letter of recommendation signed by the school board president in the form set out as Exhibit B." (The letter is shown in the photo accompanying this post and can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The letter reads as follows:

To whom it may concern,

I am honored to have this opportunity to write this letter of recommendation on behalf of the Joplin Schools Board of Education for Dr. C. J. Huff. I have known Dr. Huff since his arrival in Joplin in July of 2008.

When Dr. Huff was hired as the superintendent of schools by the Board of Education, he was hired tackle several challenges the District had yet to overcome. The primary issues included an unacceptable graduation rate that hovered between 72 and 75 percent and an unengaged, apathetic community that was not intimately involved in the life of our schools. Within a few short years, Dr. Huff successfully tackled both challenges through the development of a comprehensive dropout prevention program resulting in graduates rates exceeding 86 percent, as well as a nationally recognized community engagement framework known as Bright Futures that has been replicated by 35 communities in seven states across the country.

Unfortunately on May 22, 2011, Dr. Huff was suddenly thrust into the national spotlight as a part of the recovery effort following the most costly tornado in our nation's history. On that day, Joplin Schools lost seven students, one staff member, and six school buildings. Four other school buildings sustained damage. Over the course of 87 days, Dr. Huff led his team and the community through an amazing recovery effort resulting in the scheduled opening of school on August 17, 2011.

Through that incredibly challenging time, his focus on what was best for our children, our families, our teachers, and our community did not waiver (sic). His commitment to the rebuilding effort and the personal sacrifices he has made to see our school community through this unimaginable disaster has resulted in state of the art school facilities for our children, but more importantly, 21st Century academic programming that has been recognized as a model of innovation for the state and national level, as well.

It is without hesitation Joplin Schools Board of Education recommends Dr. C. J. Huff for a position in your organization. He has consistently demonstrated he is a capable leader and a man of commitment, character, and integrity.

Probable cause: Joplin man stopped for car theft says, "There's going to be methamphetamine in my blood"

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed felony tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by fleeing charges, as well as misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked and possession of drug paraphernalia charges against a Joplin man today following an early morning pursuit by the Joplin Police Department.

An arrest warrant was issued for Dawson Allen Ray Howell (DOB 1998) with bond set at $150,000 cash or surety.

From the probable cause statement:

On 05/28/2025 I, Officer C. Moreno, was dispatched to 1904 E 20th St (Casey's) reference a motor vehicle theft. 

The victim, identified as Chad Read, stated he observed he was vehicle was stolen at this address. Read stated he observed a white male with a shaved head and wearing a black t-shirt driving his vehicle in the parking lot. Read stated he wished to pursue charges. 

Officers located the vehicle, activated their emergency lights and siren, and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed and had sparks coming from underneath it when it hit a bump. 

Officers located the vehicle at E 15th St / S Highview Ave facing east in the westbound lane and with the driver's side tires on the curb. Officer Tobolski and Encarnacion located a white male with no shirt, a shaved head, face tattoos, later identified as Dawson Howell, outside a residence near the vehicle. A black t-shirt was located on the ground near Howell. 

Upon search incident to arrest, Officer Encarnacion located a glass pipe containing a burnt white crystal-like substance was located in Howell's front left pocket. I brought Read to his vehicle and he identified a black hoodie with white writing on the chest as an item which did not belong to him. 

I contacted Casey's employee James Dixon who stated a male matching Howell's description walked into Casey's wearing a black hoodie with white writing just after Read. 

Dixon stated an unidentified female informed him Howell had stolen Read's vehicle. Dispatch confirmed using Howell's identifying information that his driving status was suspended. 

Officer Encarnacion conducted a DWI investigation. During the investigation, Dawson displayed numerous signs of impairment. 

While preforming standardized field sobriety test, Dawson made the statement "I am so high right now, I can't balance." 

Additionally, after consenting to a chemical test sample of his blood, Dawson stated "There is going to be methamphetamine in my blood." 

Dawson also confessed to being under the influence of methamphetamine, and stated he last consumed methamphetamine shortly before being contacted and arrested by Officers.

Jasper County Circuit Court records show Howell pleaded guilty to tampering with a motor vehicle in 2021 and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Golden City man by father of passenger killed in motorcycle crash

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed today in Barton County Circuit Court against a Golden City man who was operating a motorcycle that crashed and killed his passenger May 14.

According to the Highway Patrol report, Dakota Greenlee, 33, traveled off the right side of C Street in Golden City, with the motorcycle overturning and ejecting Greenlee and his passenger, Chloe Brower, 24, Golden City.

While Greenlee was treated for minor injuries at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin, Brower was airlifted to Cox South Hospital, Springfield, with serious injuries. She died May 19.

The lawsuit, which was filed by Brower's father, Charles Brower, accuses Greenlee of negligence, offering the following reasons:

a. He negligently and carelessly operated the Harley Davidson motorcycle in a reckless and imprudent manner; 

b. He negligently and carelessly operated the Harley Davidson at a speed which was excessive under the circumstances; 

c. He operated the Harley Davidson in an impaired condition; 

d. He failed to keep the Harley Davidson motorcycle under proper control; e. He failed to keep a careful lookout.

Brower is asking for damages, additional damages due to the aggravating circumstances behind his daughter's death and costs.

 Brower is represented by Randy J. Reichard of Lowther Johnson LLC, Springfield.

Missouri Supreme Court order reinstates ‘de facto abortion ban’ across the state

By Jason Hancock

Missouri Independent

The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a judge in Kansas City to lift an injunction that had blocked restrictions on abortion, a decision that upends access to the procedure six months after voters enshrined reproductive rights into the state Constitution.

The two-page order imposes a “de facto abortion ban” in the state, according to the leaders of the state’s two Planned Parenthood affiliates. Abortion appointments at the Planned Parenthood clinics Kansas City and Columbia were cancelled in the wake of Tuesday’s decision.

Over the course of two rulings — one in December and one in February — Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang pointed to the voter-approved constitutional amendment in issuing a temporary injunction blocking abortion restrictions enacted over numerous years by state lawmakers.

Most notably, Zhang struck down licensing requirement for abortion clinics, arguing the regulations were “unnecessary” and “discriminatory” because they do not treat services provided in abortion facilities the same as other types of similarly situated health care, including miscarriage care.

The injunction allowed abortions in the state to resume while the case made its way to a January 2026 trial.

On Tuesday, the state Supreme Court determined Zhang applied the wrong standard in rulings, ordering her to vacate her earlier orders and re-evaluate the case using the standards the court laid out. That leaves the door open for Zhang to potentially implement another injunction.

Tom Bastian, spokesman for the Missouri ACLU, painted Tuesday’s ruling as only a temporary setback. His organization believes its arguments for halting restrictions met the standard set by the Supreme Court and expects Zhang will grant another injunction “blocking the ban and restrictions, once again allowing Missourians access to abortion care.”

Despite the potential ambiguity, Republicans celebrated the Supreme Court ruling.

“Today’s decision from the Missouri Supreme Court is a win for women and children and sends a clear message – abortion providers must comply with state law regarding basic safety and sanitation requirements,” Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in an emailed statement.

Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. and Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, released a statement decrying the ruling as putting Missouri “back under a de facto abortion ban and is devastating for Missourians and the providers they trust with their personal health care decisions.”

A decade ago, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. By 2020, when abortions were still legal, that number fell to 167, a drop that abortion providers attributed to the state’s growing list of regulations.

Missouri’s trigger law banning all abortions with limited exceptions for medical emergencies went into effect the same day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

Last November, Missourians narrowly approved Amendment 3, which states, in part, that “the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”







Soon after the amendment went into effect, Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri sued to overturn laws restricting access to abortion, leading to the temporary injunction in February and Tuesday’s state Supreme Court order.

Earlier this month, the GOP legislative supermajority placed a new constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would reinstate the abortion ban with limited exceptions for medical emergencies, rape and incest.

Noel police officer charged with committing perjury on probable cause in fatal hit-and-run case

Five and a half months after a felony leaving the scene of a crash charge was dismissed against a Noel woman due to a false statement made by a Noel officer on the probable cause statement, the McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a perjury charge against that officer.

An arrest warrant was issued today for Rhonda G. Wise (DOB 1983), Noel, following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Bond was set at $1,500.

According to the probable cause statement, Wise falsified evidence indicating that she had traced the vehicle driven by Gloria Trejo, 53, the suspect in the hit-and-run that resulted in the death of Michael Lynn Pruden, 59, November 2 by using a number on a taillight lens.

The lens that was collected as part of the evidence in the case did not have any number on it.

Wise told the Highway Patrol that she found the information after she "went to the Google," and provided the Patrol with her Google searches, which did not show what she said they did. Similar searches conducted by the Patrol also did not turn up anything to back her story, according to the probable cause statement.

The charges against Trejo were dismissed and on December 13, following a public uproar, McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Maleia Cheney issued a news release explaining the reasons for her decision:

While I typically do not make public statements related to specific cases and/or officers, I will make a brief statement to clarify the misinformation in the community regarding the hit and run in Noel, MO.

The Prosecutor’s office reviewed and filed charges against a single defendant upon receipt of a probable cause statement from a Noel officer.

However, within the following week, our office received additional follow-up on the investigation which showed that the officer had made a false statement in the probable cause affidavit which would likely affect the case outcome.

The Prosecutor’s office will never proceed in a case in which we find that we’ve been given untruthful information, nor will we proceed in a case where we are not confident that we have it correctly charged.

The prosecutors and other law enforcement have met with the officer and suggested further investigation and evidence that would be needed for us to pursue charges.

Once we receive that information, we hope to be able to file charges related to this incident.

No charges have been filed against Trejo.

Carthage R-9 Board hires five teachers, hears plans for bond sale

(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, May 19, 2025, 6:00 pm, at the Early Childhood Center. Present were Board members Ms. Niki Cloud, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Dr. Mark Westhoff, and Mr. Jeff Jones. Ms. Maria Sanchez and Mr. Patrick Scott attended via Zoom. Mr. Ryan Collier was absent. Ms. Niki Cloud 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, grant applications for 2025-2026, adopt revised policy, and re-adopt Southwest Missouri Bank transaction resolution. 

Ms. Becky Esrock, Stifel Public Finance, reviewed the process for selling the general obligation bonds authorized by voters on April 8, 2025, for construction of an auditorium, including classroom space. 

Dr. Luke Boyer, Superintendent, provided to the Board information regarding revised Regulation 4319, 4320, and 2610 for their review and consideration of adoption at the June 16, 2025 board meeting. 

Dr. Holley Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, presented to the Board change order request #3 for the Carthage Stadium Elevator. Dr. Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, presented to the Board the employee health insurance plan for the 2025-2026 school year. Dr. Goodnight stated the plan itself did not change as far as the benefits we provide for our fulltime employees. A review of the current plan’s funding levels and funding considerations for the future was conducted which resulted in a 4.00% increase in premiums for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Dr. Goodnight presented to the Board information regarding a third-party administrator for the employee health plan and stop-loss carrier for 2025-2026. Dr. Goodnight stated the district’s third party provider for medical benefits remained with BMI – Benefit Management Incorporated and XSRE Sirius as the stop-loss carrier. 

Dr. Goodnight presented information to the Board regarding the CMAR (Construction Manager At Risk) proposals and interviews conducted for the Carthage High School Auditorium. Dr. Goodnight recommended Crossland Construction as the CMAR for the project. 

Dr. Boyer presented the 2025-2026 budget review. Key areas discussed were revenues, expenses, fund balances, district debt payments, tax revenue, and assessed valuation. The Board will approve the preliminary budget during the June 16th board meeting with amendments made as the year progresses. 

Dr. Matt Huntley, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, presented the MSIP 6: Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (Fall 2025 – Spring 2030) to the Board for their review and consideration of adoption at the June 16, 2025 board meeting. Ms. Maria Sanchez reported she had no update for the Carthage R-9 School Foundation. 

Dr. Boyer presented his report to the Board. 

The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss legal, real estate, personnel, and student matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (1), (2), (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

Mica Oates, kindergarten teacher, Fairview Elementary- Ms. Oates is a dedicated educator currently finishing up her student teaching in Webb City School District. She will be completing her Bachelor's of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, resulting in certification of both areas.

Alecia Arwood, language arts teacher, Carthage Junior High School- Ms. Arwood is an aspiring educator from Seneca, Missouri, currently completing her Bachelor of Science in Education at Missouri Southern State University, with a focus on English for middle and secondary education. Anticipated to graduate in May 2025, Alecia brings hands-on experience through student teaching at Webb City High School and a junior internship at Carthage Junior High School.

Kailey Dallas, business teacher, Carthage Technical Center-  Ms. Dallas is an educator specializing in business and marketing education, currently serving in Diamond School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with a Business major and Spanish minor from Missouri Southern State University, as well as an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Crowder College.

Madison Harris, first grade teacher, Columbian Elementary- Ms. Harris is an aspiring elementary educator currently completing a Bachelor of Science in Education (K–6) at Pittsburg State University, with graduation expected in May 2025. She has hands-on classroom experience through student teaching and internship practicums in classrooms at Liberty Elementary in Galena, KS and Carl Junction Intermediate.

Jacalyn Gacke, EL teacher, Carthage Junior High School- Ms. Gacke is currently serving as a Substitute Teacher for the district, but has experience as a reading teacher in Iowa. She holds degrees in Healthcare Administration, Elementary Education, and Floral Design & Business Management.

Support Hire

Audrey Sisseck, custodian, Carthage High School

Jaymee Hernandez, cook, Fairview Elementary

Patricia Ochoa, special education paraprofessional, Carthage Intermediate Center

Substitute Hire

Emmie Gieles, district

Stephanie Rose, substitute bus driver, transportation, rehire

Sheila McReynolds, substitute, district

Certified Transfer

Eymi Perez-Lopez, art teacher, Carthage Junior High School

Kady Miller, early child special education teacher, Early Childhood Center

Melissa Langston, French teacher, Carthage High School

Elizabeth Arthur, special education teacher, Carthage Junior High School

Support Transfer

Krystel Golay, secretary, Steadley Elementary

Malonna Garrett, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

Wendy Royer, administrative assistant, Sixth Grade Center

Certified Resignation

Jaren Hulette, business teacher, Carthage Technical Center

Julie Burk, early childhood special education teacher, Early Childhood Center

Luis Tovar, AEL instructor, Carthage Technical Center

Support Retirement

Roeshal Franklin, special education paraprofessional, Fairview Elementary

Support Resignation

Marcus Van Dorn, piano accompanist, Carthage Junior High School

Susan Walker, paraprofessional, Early Childhood Center

Miki Smith, speech paraprofessional, Fairview Elementary

Ryan Staggs, custodian, Carthage High School

Christy Siguenza, Title I paraprofessional, Steadley Elementary

Kimberly Sloniker, Tiger Prep paraprofessional, Fairview Elementary

Felicia Rogers, special education paraprofessional, Fairview Elementary

Joseph Bartosh, home school liaison, Carthage High School

Pallavi Farmer, paraprofessional, Carthage High School

Ruby Shaffer, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

Carthage man pleads guilty to sexual exploitation of a child

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Carthage, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child.

Uriah Behl, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, to one count of sexual exploitation of children. By pleading guilty today, Behl admitted to secretly recording a naked juvenile in the shower.

The investigation began when the Jasper County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) received a call reporting that a camera had been found in a community shower room in Carthage, Mo. Witnesses found a cell phone in the cabinet under the bathroom sink, recording through a crack in the open cabinet door. Several videos were found on the phone, containing multiple victims, including a juvenile.

In a post-Miranda interview, Behl admitted to JCSO officers that he had set the phone up to record the whole room, including the shower, when motion was detected. Behl claimed that he did not intend to record the juvenile victim; however, clips from the videos focused on portions of the video depicting the juvenile victim naked, with their genitals exposed.

Behl gave JCSO officers consent to search the phone he was using to record and the cell phone he used for calls and texting. A forensic search of the phones found over an hour of videos from the shower room, several clips from those videos containing the naked juvenile victim, multiple searches for child pornography, as well as 161 images depicting child pornography downloaded from the internet.

Under federal statutes, Behl is subject to a sentence of at least 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Behl will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Missouri lawmakers add grade-level performance to standardized test results

By Annelise Hanshaw

Missouri Independent

Missouri parents may soon have a better understanding of whether their child is performing at or above grade level on the state’s standardized test under a sweeping education bill awaiting the governor’s signature.

The legislation contains a provision that would require the state’s education department to add a fifth category to Missouri Assessment Program results, reporting “grade level” in addition to the current levels of “below basic,” “basic,” “proficient” and “advanced.” The new provision would include students in grades 3 to 8.

 

State Rep. Brad Pollitt, a Sedalia Republican and former school superintendent, introduced the bill to make student performance more transparent to parents and lawmakers.

As an educator, he learned that students at grade level score at the upper end of “basic,” but many people incorrectly assume “proficient” means performing at grade level, he told The Independent.

“In order to have accurate conversations about where our students are at, we need to know what grade level is,” he said.

The Missouri Assessment Program, often referred to as the MAP test, began in the 1990s with five scoring thresholds. But in response to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, state lawmakers required the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to align MAP with federal performance standards.

In December 2005, educators met to determine the new standards in line with the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP. They set thresholds based on the percentage of students scoring proficient on the NAEP so that the proportion of students deemed proficient on the state test would be close to the amount reported by the national test.

The National Center for Educational Statistics and the NAEP’s governing board have repeatedly clarified that proficiency reflects “solid academic performance” and “does not signify being on grade level.”

But policymakers, parents and other stakeholders speak about proficiency and grade level interchangeably. And candidates for public office, misinterpreting what proficient means, have used MAP data to push anti-public-education policies.

During former state Sen. Bill Eigel’s run for governor last year, he told ABC17 that “less than a third of our children are able to do reading, writing, arithmetic at grade level.” At the time, 33% of Missouri fourth graders scored proficient or advanced in reading on the NAEP, and math had higher performance levels.

Despite the test’s administrators explaining that this is not a measure of grade level performance, politicians and media reports still repeat the misrepresentation.

“Part of my frustration has been that people criticize public education pretty hard and say we’re failing our kids because 35% of our students in third grade or fifth grade are proficient or advanced in reading,” Pollitt said. “We may have 35% that are above grade level, but maybe 60% of our kids are at grade level. And I think that changes the conversation.”

In a House committee hearing in January, lobbyists for public-education groups spoke in favor of the bill.

Brandt Shields, director of governmental relations for the Missouri School Boards’ Association, said a fifth category would be more “informative” for stakeholders.

“Having only four categories is almost a crude way of trying to differentiate how those scores are interpreted,” he said.

No one spoke in opposition, but the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s lobbyist warned that the change would require work groups to set the new standards, which is estimated to cost just over $1 million.

The language passed by the legislature exempts the department from having to employ work groups, but Pollitt said it is up to administrators to decide.