Excelsior Springs Board of Education Prepares for New School Year, Celebrates Summer Success

Superintendent Highlights Summer Progress and Culture Shift

Superintendent Dr. Mark Bullimore updated the board on a range of summer efforts aimed at improving facilities, engaging families, and preparing staff for the new year. While weather delayed work on the high school parking lot, Dr. Bullimore said crews were optimistic about completing it in time for Friday’s staff convocation. Meanwhile, a new stage curtain has been installed at the Performing Arts Center, adding a polished touch to upcoming school events.

Bullimore praised the August 11 resource fair, which distributed more than 270 backpacks and connected families with essential services. He credited district staff and community partners for the event’s success. The board also heard about preparations for new teacher orientation, professional development, and the first day of school on August 20.

Dr. Bullimore emphasized the district’s cultural focus for the coming year: listening, learning, and serving. Based on staff feedback, the district has made intentional changes to Career Ladder participation, blackout day policies, and internal communication. Smaller, quarterly feedback sessions with building leadership teams are planned to promote trust and engagement.

New Cell Phone Policy Reflects State Legislation

The board approved updates to student handbooks across all buildings to reflect compliance with Senate Bill 68, which mandates restrictions on student cell phone use during the school day. High School Principal, Dr. Laura Hartman, and Middle School Principal, Dr. Brett Coffman, explained that while this will be a notable adjustment at the high school, the middle school has already implemented a similar policy, which helped reduce disciplinary incidents and was a contributing factor to the Middle school receiving the Mary Miller Richter Award. Communication to families will continue in the days ahead to ensure clarity and compliance.

Extracurriculars and Activities Emphasize Character and Inclusion

Activities Director Doug Baker presented the district’s annual co-curricular and extracurricular program evaluation. The district recorded over 1,050 activity participants—many of them multi-sport or multi-program students—and earned honors in a variety of athletic, academic, and performing arts competitions.

Baker noted that all but one team achieved a cumulative GPA above 3.49, with several earning All-State academic honors. The district will begin participating in the “Inside Out Initiative,” a character-development program supported by MSHSAA and the NFL that promotes the emotional well-being of student-athletes. Baker also shared that seven homeschool students have already enrolled in extracurricular programs under new eligibility rules, with more expected.

Record Summer School Attendance Highlights Program Growth

Summer school coordinators Anneliese Gould and Dr. Jennifer Harris reported that over 1,080 students attended summer programming, the highest in recent district history. The program served students across all grade levels and included academic enrichment, credit recovery, and transition programs for incoming kindergarteners and sixth graders.

Highlights included field trips, a redesigned sixth-grade curriculum emphasizing local history, and integration of athletic performance training for middle school students. Staff feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with suggestions for more consistent communication and streamlined planning in future years.

Safety and Supervision Investments Approved

In a move to strengthen campus security, the board approved the addition of a fourth School Resource Officer (SRO) to serve Cornerstone Elementary and the Early Childhood Center. The position will be funded entirely through the city’s Public Safety Sales Tax, but only for the 2025-26 school year. Board members acknowledged the importance of evaluating long-term sustainability for the role in future budgets.

The board also approved the creation of three seasonal stipends for athletic event supervision. Each $2,000 stipend will support a staff member assigned to serve in an administrative role during sports events, helping to reduce workload for the high school’s core leadership team.

Financial Planning and Tax Hearing Scheduled

Two meetings were added to the board’s calendar. A financial planning work session with Raymond James Wealth Management will be held on Monday, August 18, at 7:00 p.m., and the annual tax rate hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, at 5:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Support Services Center.

Personnel Updates and Next Meeting

In closed session, the board approved several personnel changes, including new hires in coaching, custodial, and student council roles. The board also accepted resignations and approved updates to the 2025-26 substitute teacher list. (See the list below.)

The next regular meeting of the Excelsior Springs Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, at 6:30 p.m., at the Support Services Center.