Warrensburg Board of Education targets $2.4M in reductions
Published 8:10 pm Wednesday, November 11, 2026
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WARRENSBURG — The Warrensburg Board of Education met in front of a library full of community members to discuss the ongoing budget reductions process Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Warrensburg High School.
The work session spanned three hours and four minutes. The board reached a consensus to target $2.4 million in reductions for the 2027-28 school year, matching the district’s forecasted deficit.
The meeting began with Superintendent of Schools Steve Ritter reiterating previous presentations on factors attributed to the deficit. The board then collaborated, going through a two-page document of items that could potentially be included for consideration and discussion.
The first item on the sheet dealt with establishing the $2.4 million figure – a number Ritter emphasized could be a tentative target number.
“This is probably the minimum right now,” Ritter said. “[Assistant Superintendent for Support Services and district treasurer] Mr. [Zack] Danner is still looking through numbers and trying to balance out the budget … He’s gone through and looked at some of those oddities for like $300,000 in transportation since the bill got sent out after July 1. Things like that. Trying to balance that out with projections.”
Board member Betsy Kreisel inquired if the district should target more to put money back into the district’s reserves and avoid the possibility of the district having to take out a loan at the end of the calendar year to cover expenses such as payroll when reserves are at their lowest.
“I want to really make sure we’re honoring what we say our missions are,” board member Natalie Tye said. “I printed them out. They’re right in front of me. The reason why we’re here is we want our students to be successful. That’s doing the minimum we can to effect that. Let’s keep our teachers and students in mind the best we can moving forward.”
During the meeting, board members inquired why specific items were proposed for reduction.
Ritter stated he asked department heads to make suggestions to match a dollar amount.
At points in the first 90 minutes of the meeting, board members inquired if they could hear from school-level administration to add context to why items were included on the list.
An hour and 17 minutes into the work session – approximately 45 minutes into discussing the topic document, members inquired whether going through the document item-by-item was effective.
“We’re not getting any rationale,” Kreisel said. “What I’m struggling with is we’re not getting the information I need to make a decision.”
Board member Brian Gremaud supported the strategy, which was moderated by Board President Gary Grigsby.
“I think it makes a lot of sense to move down on the list because it’s organized, you know where we’re at, and they can see our thoughts on what the proposals are, if you want to say,” Gremaud said. “Otherwise it’s a haphazard amount of crazy. Even if it’s out of order, like no particular order at a point.”
Educational impact
Among the conversations included classroom sizes in elementary schools.
The document states elementary building leadership recommended reducing two full-time teachers at Maple Grove Elementary, Ridge View Elementary and Martin Warren Elementary. Sterling Elementary suggests a one-teacher reduction.
Ritter asked Assistant Superintendent for Student Services John Finnane to address class sizes.
“It’s all a balance,” Finnane said. “You have to look at what is a kindergarten number, what’s a first grade number, what’s a second grade number, what’s a third, fourth, fifth grade and on … What’s the, I’m going to use the term breaking point, or ‘that’s too much for a classroom at a specific grade level.’”
At the secondary level, which consists of Warrensburg High School, Warrensburg Middle School and the Warrensburg Area Career Center, the list of potential reduction opportunities includes two positions that could become open through attrition, a computer technology program at the Career Center, the French program and the reduction of one high school art teacher.
The board honed in on discussions related to the French program and the impact reducing high school art staff could create.
Board member Toni Hawley inquired where the students who typically take French would go.
“Part of that is going to be having conversations about classes that are only having single-digit enrollments,” Ritter said. “I think I have shared previously with our presentation – we need to look at are there online opportunities? Are there partnerships with the university to be able to take some of the classes there and direct students to those opportunities?”
Ritter also emphasized the district’s internship program, which allows students to gain experience through area businesses.
Kreisel challenged building administrators to look at low-enrollment classes.
Tye questioned how to measure the impact different cuts would have on students.
“I don’t think there’s a single educator or employee in our district that’s going to raise their hand and say they’re not making an impact and what they’re doing is not important,” Ritter said. “We do great things in our district as far as our educators and our staff … They love doing what we do. Otherwise we wouldn’t have everybody in the room tonight obviously. That’s a part of the challenge. Trying to gauge how do we do smaller pieces in multiple areas to allow more things to be able to continue.”
Recommendations also include the potential of reducing the number of instructional coaches within the district.
There is currently an instructional coach in every elementary school, the middle school and the high school.
The positions work in supporting teachers to improve classroom instruction during their careers.
“I don’t want to lose that mentorship,” Hawley said. “That’s important for a new teacher to be successful.”
The potential of adjusting the elementary tech aide position was also considered, a suggestion cited by the evolution of technology in the classroom.
Central Office + administration
The possibility of adding a residency requirement for administration was discussed, along with charging administrators who live out of district for their children to attend class in the district.
The possibilities of discussing whether assistant principals should be contracted for 10 or 10.5 months, the reduction of one central office administrator, the cut of a food service assistant position, the reduction of administration contracts by three or five days, the reduction of two elementary assistant principal positions and a review of WMS and WHS assistant principal position needs were also discussed.
The food service assistant and food service director positions are currently open. Ritter stated the food director position is a must-fill. Since becoming vacant, Finnane has been taking on the role.
The emphasis on making sure the Central Office is included in reductions, not just schools, was made.
“As far as an opening statement about central office, this is where the board is going to have to make a concerted effort to do our due diligence,” Kreisel said. “Administrators are not going to cut themselves.”
Athletics & activities
Items discussed from the list include cutting seventh grade sports, C teams at the high school and the high school boys and girls swim teams.
Ritter said athletic director Jake Duval supplied numbers stating 90 students and two coaches involved in seventh grade sports.
There are 30 students and four coaches involved in C team sports.
The combined cost of the boys and girls swim teams is stated to be $40,000. It is the only sport not a part of the Missouri River Valley Conference. Warrensburg is the only school within the conference to offer the sport.
Board Vice President Julie Lewis boosted the high success of the swim team in recent seasons, receiving applause from the audience – several of which are tied to the high school or Warrensburg Piranhas swimming community. Ritter stated the success can also be attributed to many other athletic programs.
Tye mentioned any cut to athletics and activities would have a high impact.
Classified positions
The district courier position, head of housekeeping, Warrensburg Middle School Library Aide, Morris L. Collins building secretary position, a reduction of student success coordinators, miscellaneous secretary positions and the Warrensburg High School front entrance receptionist or subcaller were included on the list.
Calling subs at the high school is something that the district is currently working on turning into an automated system.
Gateway Educational Center
The list included suggesting a potential change of location for Gateway Educational Center, a change of structure for the program and a change in full-time employees was discussed.
The consensus from the board was that the Gateway program is highly successful and should not be moved again after settling into its current location.
Other mentions
Potential revenue opportunities included early graduation, summer school and a $.13 cent tax levy, generating $540,000.
The board suggested scheduling a town hall to allow the board a chance to hear from community members.
Community input had been collected by the district via a survey before the items for consideration and discussion list was completed.
The district is working to schedule the town hall.
The next regular session school board meeting is Nov. 17. The decision not to place items for action on the agenda related to the town hall was made.
Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.
