Board members approved the budget at Monday’s regular meeting. Patrons voiced concerns about the hike during the budget hearing at the beginning of the meeting. Board President Justin Sturgeon pointed to less state aid for following the high school bond issue (aid is reduced more and more each year) and lower state aid for special education, as well as the current inflationary environment. He noted the mill rate had gone down by 2.7 mills the last five years.

“I think I can speak for the board when I say I understand the pressure taxes place on our families,” Sturgeon said. “We are taxpayers ourselves and understand the responsibility we have in relation to taxation.”

The mill rate will be 60.944, up from the current rate of 59.778.

Board OKs personnel recommendations

Board members approved a long list of personal recommendations at Monday’s regular meeting.

Contract/work agreements were approved for Gail Kiefer, Tonganoxie High School assistant cheer coach; Heather DeMaranville, THS assistant cheer coach; Maddie Mahoney, THS assistant dance coach; Grizz McCloy, Tonganoxie Middle School assistant football coach; Jennifer Kooser, TMS assistant volleyball coach; Shawna Pankey, Tonganoxie Elementary School building aide/cafeteria monitor; Terri Smith, TMS student nutrition; Craig Martin, Future Business Leaders of America sponsor; Kelli Jo Swift, Health Occupation Students of America and THS drama; Alicia Hendron and Henry Schandt, FFA (Future Farmers of America) assistants; Nicole Snider, assistant student council sponsor; Jaime Fahlgren, THS assistant baseball coach; Megan Dusseller, TES early childhood paraprofessional; and Curtis Brooks, TMS custodian.

The team leads for 2025-26 are Kacy Marxen, pre-kindergarten; Kelcie Spencer; kindergarten; Michelle Smith, first grade; Kristin Barnes, second grade; Becky Pisani, third grade; Jessica Jeffery, fourth grade; Ellie Schaecher, fifth grade; Zac Engle, specials; Michelle Bonthuys; counselor, Annette Bradley, counselor; and Amanda Albert, instructional coach.

Building leadership team members for 2025-26 are Mary Parks, Shelley Scates, Ginger Lobb, Megan Carlton, Laura Kidwell, Jeff Dickson, Cindy Espy, Rachel Padfield, Kasi Brown and Hayes Farwell.

THS department chairs for 2025-26 are Stacy Emmot, Kaelyn Thierolf, Steve Harrell, Hannah Kemp, Crystal McCoy, Angela Slabaugh and Nicole Snider.

THS instructional leads for 2025-26 are Stacy Emmot, Angela Slabaugh, Kaelyn Thierolf and Crystal McCoy.

THS class sponsors for 2025-26 are Nicole Snider, Cassandra Spoon, Kelli Jo Swift and Susan Yetter.

Resignations were approved for Nicole Schneider and Amanda Burch, TMS student nutrition.