Report of the Missouri State Board of Education Meeting (May 17, 2022)

Notes from May 17, 2022 meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

2023 Budget Report

Kari Monsees, Deputy Commissioner, and Pam Victor, Chief Budget Officer, presented the 2023 education budget approved by the legislature. Some significant budget items for 2023 included:

  • American Rescue Plan funds for Missouri schools totaling $1.9 billion.
  • Increase to the transportation fund, bringing it to 75% of the minimum level of funding for a total of $214 million (one-time funding).
  • Raising minimum teacher salary from $25K to $35K. Requires 30% local match. Total of $21.7 million.
  • Career Ladder added back into the budget at $37.4 million.
  • The Legislature added:
    • $700K for active shooter response training
    • $350K for Teach for America
    • $150K for fine arts academy programs
    • $500K for new patriotic and civics training program for teachers
    • $3.5 million for Career Technical Education deferred maintenance
    • $2 million for a workforce diploma program for adults without a high school diploma
    • $1.7 million for Missouri Project Aware grant program
    • $2.5 million for Care to Learn
    • $19.2 million for school nutrition services to address supply chain issues

There were multiple additions to the education budget by the legislature for new programs: additional funding for childcare, feminine hygiene products, asthma treatments, evidence-based reading, St. Louis Broadcasting alumni, and homeless students. Several other bills included increases for state school building maintenance and a large investment in statewide broadband development. The complete 2023 budget report can be found here.

Update on the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission

The members of the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission have been appointed and will hold their first meeting in June 2022. The group will develop a report for the State Board suggesting strategies to be addressed to improve teacher recruitment and retention. The 18-member committee includes ten business leaders, four state legislators (Senators Cindy O’Laughlin, Lauren Arthur, and Representative Ingrid Burnett), three members of the State Board of Education, a representative from the Governor’s staff, a DESE staff member, a local school board member, and two former state teachers of the year, Darrion Cockrell and Misty Grandel. The goals of the commission include:

  • Developing strategies that address teacher recruitment and retention.
  • Providing recommendations for increasing teacher pay and improving retention.
  • Addressing long term and sustainable funding for increased teacher compensation.
  • Strategies to attract students to pursue a career in education.
  • Investigating the factors impacting the well-being of teachers and respect for the profession.

 

In other business the Board:

During the regular renewal process for several charter schools, the Board requested additional performance data from the Commission. DESE staff provided current information for DeLaSalle, Genesis, Hogan Preparatory, and Tolbert Academy in Kansas City and LaSalle in St. Louis.

The Board received an update on the Special Administrative Board of Riverview Gardens School District. The Board approved the appointment/ reappointment of five members to serve on the SAB with two locally elected members.

DESE staff updated the Board on bills relating to education and early childhood programs during the 2022 legislative session. A complete listing of the bills can be found here. Missouri NEA’s final Legislative Update of the session can be found here.

The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be on June 14, 2022. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Rebeka McIntosh at 800-392-0236 or rebeka.mcintosh@mnea.org. Details of state board agenda items can be found here.

Respectfully submitted,
Rebeka McIntosh, MNEA vice president