SPS forum explores impact of state funding, legislation on schools

With the end of Missouri’s 2026 legislative session a month away, Springfield Public Schools partnered with two teacher groups to host a forum highlighting how decisions made in Jefferson City directly impact funding for school programs, busing and teacher pay.

At least 150 educators, school board members and parents attended the 90-minute event April 9 at Glendale High School.

State Reps. Betsy Fogle, Stephanie Hein and Melanie Stinnett were part of the 90-minute forum that included an update from SPS lobbyist Jason Zamkus, an overview of existing revenue and concerns about uncertainty involving the spending plan for fiscal year 2027 – which must be finalized by June 30 – and future years.

They responded to questions about how flat state funding, proposed tax reform, and legislative proposals that expand funding for families to send their children to private schools could impact public schools.

“We are at a crossroads as a state where we’re making pretty significant decisions about what we want… the future of education to look like in Missouri,” Fogle said.

The operating revenue for Missouri’s largest district was $298 million for fiscal year 2025, and the revised projection for the current fiscal year is $307 million.

“We have major decisions to make when we build a budget, we present it to our school board. They approve a budget every June,” said Superintendent Grenita Lathan in opening remarks. “We have to build that budget throughout the year, and we have to be conservative.”

Lathan said external factors including unfunded or underfunded legislative mandates, proposed tax rate policies at the state level, and shifting demographics – for example, the number of incoming kindergarteners for SPS have been smaller than the number of graduating high school seniors – alter the revenue available for public schools.

Zamkus, a legislative liaison who advocates for SPS with lawmakers at the state level, said more than 3,000 bills were filled during the session, but only eight have been passed by both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly.

He said it is too early to know how a series of education-related proposals, such as limiting access to technology in elementary schools or adding letter grades to state-issued report cards, will fare in the final weeks.

Zamkus said the spending priorities reflected in the final fiscal year 2027 state budget and passage of any tax reform bills will likely have the biggest impact on public schools.

He said recommendations that emerge from the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force – due to the governor in late 2026 – could impact future state revenue to educate students.

“You’ve got competing interests, whether they be property tax reform, whether it be income tax reform,” he said. “We’ve got a task force that’s looking at substantially overhauling the state’s foundation formula.”

Zamkus said with different priorities at play involving state funding for education, the legislature “seems at times to be moving in opposition directions.”

Lathan thanked the lawmakers for participating in the forum, noting all have offered support to SPS. Fogle and Hein are Democrats and Stinnett is a Republican.

Fogle said the proposed state budget for FY27 meant the best scenario for schools was flat funding instead of a cut.

“That is not good enough for me. Fighting for the status quo is not good enough for me. I think our kids deserve better. I think our teachers deserve better,” she said. “I am really proud, and all of us I would imagine are proud that we’ve been able to increase teacher pay to $40,000. Guys, that is not enough in this economy.”

Hein said school districts need “some level of predictability” in state funding so they can budget each year and add staff, or other ongoing costs, when needed.

“They can’t do the things that they need to do to make sure that our children are getting educated when you don’t know what your budget is going to be year to year,” she said.

Gov. Mike Kehoe urged flat funding for public schools in his proposed FY27 budget and more state funds for the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, or MOScholars, a tax credit program that helps families pay for private schools.

Stinnett, R-Springfield, said families need a choice, and she is among those who support giving students another option.

“That doesn’t mean we’re anti-public education,” she said. “We want to support our public schools as well.”

Fogle and Stinnett are running for the Missouri Senate seat currently held by Lincoln Hough, who is term-limited. Hein is running for another term in the Missouri House.

“The majority of children are still going to be served by our public schools, and so we have to maintain the strength of our public schools,” Stinnett said.

Zamkus said flat funding means districts will likely have to cut spending to pay for increased health care, retirement, utility and fuel costs. The state proposed less funding for busing, meaning districts will have to reduce services or pay more of the cost.

“It’s going to be a strain not only on SPS but schools across the state, so I think that’s something we have to be cognizant about, and schools need to be ready for,” said Hein, D-Springfield. “That’s something incredibly concerning for us.”

Hein, who grew up in Wright County, said districts rely upon state funding to pay for the busing needed to get students to and from school.

“We overlook the importance of transportation, but if you’re not getting your child to school, how do they even participate,” said Hein, describing limited busing as a hurdle. “That would be a hurdle that I think we need to keep an eye on as a state.”

The leaders of the Springfield National Education Association and the local chapter of the Missouri State Teachers Association, who helped organize the event, urged the audience to pay attention and get involved.

Jeffrey Pettibone, president of Springfield MSTA, said state funding levels impact the resources available in classrooms.

“There’s a lot of fear around new state mandates adding costs without adding funding, programs like MOScholars and other school vouchers that have little to no accountability diverting public tax dollars from public schools while funding remains flat,” he said. “And there’s a lot of uncertainty with the [proposed] changes to property, income and sales taxes.”

Shannon Benne, president of Springfield NEA, urged the audience to engage in learning about how schools are funding and what changes have been proposed.

“My hope is that you will leave here tonight with a better understanding of how legislation impacts our local community, and how these decisions affect how local schools are funded, which directly affects what schools can provide for our future leaders, our students,” she said.