September BOE Meeting Recap
The Board of Education held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Below is a summary of key business items, updates, and discussions. The complete agenda and supporting documents are available through the Paperless Board Meeting portal.
Tax Rate Hearing: The Board conducted the district’s 2026 Tax Rate Hearing at 6:00 p.m. and approved the operating and debt service tax rates.
SUMMARY OF 2026 APPROVED TAX LEVY:
2026 Operating Levy $3.8473
2026 Debt Service Levy $0.9100
2026 Total Levy $4.7573
The district’s total tax levy remains unchanged from 2025 and has remained at $4.7573 since 2024.
The regularly scheduled Board meeting began following the Tax Rate Hearing.
Items for Action
2026-2027 Budget Plan: The Board approved the 2026-2027 Budget Plan. The plan continues to support strong academic programs, student opportunities, competitive staffing, safe facilities, and reliable transportation. While the budget projects an operating deficit due to reduced state and transportation funding and rising costs, the district remains financially stable because of responsible planning and healthy reserves. We will continue monitoring revenues and expenses closely while evaluating future priorities to protect the district’s long-term financial health.
2026-2027 Amended Budget: The Board approved the amended 2026–2027 budget, reflecting updated revenue and expenditure information received since the original budget was adopted in June, 2026. Amending the budget is routine and helps the district track finances accurately and make necessary adjustments throughout the year.
Agriculture Learning Laboratory Project: Following a formal competitive bidding process, the Board approved a $1,867,871 contract with Herner Construction, Inc., of St. Joseph to construct the district’s new Agriculture Learning Laboratory. Six general contractors submitted bids, with Herner providing the lowest bid and meeting the project’s scope and timeline requirements. The facility will expand hands-on, career-focused learning opportunities for Lawson students.
District Concession Operations: After the Lawson Athletic Booster Club dissolved, the Board authorized transferring its concession account to the Lawson R-XIV School District. The district will now manage and operate concession stands at district athletic events. Bringing the account under district oversight will ensure financial accountability, appropriate tax-exempt treatment, and inclusion in the district’s annual audit.
Items For Information:
Spring 2026 Bond – Update: The Board approved Herner Construction, Inc. of St. Joseph to construct the district’s new Agriculture Learning Lab. The district will now issue the formal notice to proceed, allowing the first phase, procurement of the metal building structure, to begin immediately.
Groundbreaking is expected in late October 2026, with the project scheduled for completion by July 1, 2027.
Financial Outlook Series – Update: Dr. Stephenson updated the Board on his plan to present a Financial Outlook series to staff and the community over the next several weeks. While the district remains financially stable due to responsible planning, changing state funding, rising operating costs, and other long-term pressures require continued attention.
The series will explain how Missouri schools are funded, where Lawson’s revenue comes from, how district funds may be used, and the factors that will influence future financial decisions. Its purpose is to provide clear, transparent information and build a shared understanding of the district’s financial outlook.
Superintendent – Update: Superintendent’s Update: Dr. Stephenson updated the Board on two recent state decisions and what they may mean for the Lawson School District.
The State Board of Education approved a new accountability system that will assign every Missouri public school and district an overall letter grade of A through F. The grades will be based primarily on student achievement, academic growth, graduation rates, and college and career readiness. Lawson will review its preliminary grades once they are released and provide the Board and community with additional context. While the system may make school performance easier to understand, one letter grade will not fully reflect Lawson’s progress, programs, student opportunities, or areas of continued focus.
The State Board also approved a request for approximately the same level of foundation formula funding for 2027–2028 that Missouri districts are receiving this year. This is not a reduction in Lawson’s current-year funding or the final decision on next year’s state budget. However, it is an early indication that the district should not build its next budget expecting increased state formula revenue. As the costs of salaries, benefits, transportation, utilities, insurance, supplies, and services continue to rise, the same level of funding will support less.
Lawson remains financially stable because of responsible planning. These state-level decisions reinforce the importance of conservative budgeting, careful review of performance data, and long-range planning to protect the staff, programs, and opportunities the Lawson community values.
Additional Announcements:
The October Board of Education meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in the SW Commons at 6pm.