Brandon Phelps (r): we get a slick mail piece (October 24, 2026)

“…Missouri ranks 49th out of 50 in state funding for public education…”

Yep.

Brandon Phelps (r): Public Education? Not so much… (October 29, 2026)

Underfunded public schools by $190M.

Allocated $60M in public funds to private schools

Put elimination of the state income tax on the ballot, which could have cost public schools $1.4 billion

Brandon Phelps (r) [2025 file photo].

Now, it comes home to roost.

A survey by the Warrensburg R-VI School District, distributed to the district community:

School Funding Priorities – Fall 2026

The Warrensburg R-VI School District is facing significant financial challenges that will require us to reduce expenditures in the 2027-28 school year by approximately 4–5%. These reductions are needed due to a combination of rising costs, increased spending for employee benefits, and lack of full funding of the basic formula for education at the state level. These reductions will likely involve difficult decisions, including reductions in staffing, programs, and services.

As we work through this process, it is important that the Board of Education and district leadership understand what our community values most and where we believe resources should be prioritized.

This survey is intended to gather feedback from parents, students, employees, and community members about the broader priorities that should guide these decisions. Rather than focusing on individual programs or positions, we are asking you to consider the overall educational experience we provide and the trade-offs that may be necessary to sustain it.

Your feedback will help inform discussions and decision-making as we work to maintain a strong educational experience for Warrensburg students while ensuring the district’s long-term financial sustainability.

The survey should take approximately 5–7 minutes to complete.

We would ask that all surveys be completed by 3:00pm on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and for supporting the Warrensburg R-VI School District.

*
1. Which of the following best describes your connection to the Warrensburg School District?
(Required.)

Parent/Guardian

Student

District Employee

Community Member

Parent/Guardian and District Employee

Other (please specify)

2. If you are a parent, guardian, or student, which school(s) are you connected to?

Morris Collins Early Childhood Center

Ridge View Elementary

Maple Grove Elementary

Sterling Elementary

Martin Warren Elementary

Warrensburg Middle School

Gateway Alternative Center

Warrensburg Area Career Center

Warrensburg High School

None of the above

3. If you are a student, what grade are you in?

Elementary (K-5th Grade)

6th-8th Grade

9th-10th Grade

11th-12th Grade

*
4. Where do you live?
(Required.)

Within Warrensburg City Limits

Within the school district, but outside Warrensburg

Outside the School District

*
5. Which THREE of the following should be the district’s highest priorities when making difficult financial decisions?
(Required.)

Providing equitable educational opportunities across all schools and grade levels

Providing student support services, including counseling, mental health, and special education

Maintaining extracurricular opportunities, including athletics, activities, and clubs

Maintaining current school calendars and instructional time

Maintaining safe, clean, and well-maintained school facilities

Maintaining a broad range of electives, enrichment, and career/technical education opportunities

Maintaining strong academic programs and core instruction

Providing competitive salaries and cost-of-living increases for employees

Maintaining reasonable classroom sizes and student-to-teacher ratios

Maintaining current staffing levels and avoiding reductions in employees

*
6. When considering potential budget reductions, which statement most closely reflects your perspective?
(Required.)

Protect core academic instruction, even if some extracurricular or elective programs must be reduced.

Other / I am Unsure

Protect current staffing levels, even if some programs or services must be reduced.

Make reductions across multiple areas so that no single program or area bears the majority of the cuts.

Protect employee salaries and cost-of-living increases, even if some programs or services must be reduced.

Protect a broad range of student programs and opportunities, even if classroom sizes or staffing levels increase.

*
7. If the district must reduce some programs or services to preserve others, which approach would you generally support?
(Required.)

Make smaller reductions across a wide range of programs and services

Reduce or eliminate programs that are less essential to the overall educational experience in order to protect higher-priority programs.

Reduce programs that have the least impact on student academic success.

Reduce or eliminate programs that serve fewer students or have lower participation.

Avoid program reductions whenever possible, even if that means making deeper staffing reductions.

I am unsure / Need more information

*
8. How important is it to provide employees with annual salary increases that help keep pace with the cost of living?
(Required.)

Extremely important

Very Important

Somewhat important

Not so important

Not at all important

*
9. If providing employee cost-of-living increases requires reductions in other areas, which statement best reflects your perspective?
(Required.)

Prioritize cost-of-living increases, even if some programs or services must be reduced

Balance employee compensation with maintaining student programs and services

Prioritize maintaining student programs and services, even if employee increases are smaller.

Avoid salary increases if they require reductions in other areas.

Unsure

*
10. Which of the following would you be most willing to support if reductions are necessary? (Select up to three.)
(Required.)

Reducing the number of programs offered across the district

Reducing some extracurricular activities

Reducing or eliminating programs with low participation

Making smaller reductions across many areas

Increasing class sizes in some grade levels or subjects

Reducing employee salary increases

Reducing administrative or operational expenditures

Reducing staffing through attrition or not filling some vacant positions

Reducing some elective or enrichment opportunities

None of the above

11. What is one thing you believe the district should make every effort to protect as it works through these financial challenges?

12. Is there anything else you would like the Board of Education and district leadership to consider as they make difficult financial decisions?

So much for supporting public education, eh?

“…Brandon Phelps puts our kids, teachers, and classrooms first…”

Yeah, no.