Laclede County R-1
School Board
Board President
Robbie Letterman
710 Julieland Lane
Niangua, MO 65713
Vice President
Mathew Corle
1417 Orchid Rd.
Conway, MO 65632
Brett Thompson
1041 State Road M
Conway, MO 65632
Scott Anderson
15500 Hwy J
Conway, MO 65632
Sara Richardson
15290 Miller Drive
Phillipsburg, MO 65722
Scott Owens
711 Forkners Hill Rd.
Conway, MO 65632
Courtney Ann Gunter
343 Jones Creek Rd.
Conway, MO 65632
LACLEDE COUNTY R-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board of Education Meeting #1
May 11, 2026 6:00 p.m.
High School Library
Scheduled 2025-26 board meetings:
May 11, 2026
June 8, 2025
LACLEDE COUNTY R-1 SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
April 13, 2026 – 5:55 pm
High School Library
Call to Order/Roll Call: Board President Robbie Letterman called the meeting to order with the following members present: Scott Anderson, Scott Owens, Sara Richardson, Brett Thompson, Courtney Gunter, and Mathew Corle.
Certify Election Results: Robbie Letterman made a motion to accept the election results of April 7, 2026. Results of the vote were as follows:
| Courtney Gunter | Kevin Dampier | Jarid Jensen | John Boyles | Scott Owens | Ricky Savage | Write-In | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laclede County | 93 | 71 | 100 | 21 | 86 | 101 | 5 | 477 |
| Webster County | 29 | 27 | 34 | 10 | 23 | 20 | 0 | 143 |
| Dallas County | 19 | 18 | 28 | 7 | 23 | 17 | 0 | 112 |
| Wright County | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 141 | 116 | 163 | 38 | 132 | 138 | 5 | 733 |
Sara Richardson seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0.
Mathew Corle made a motion to dissolve the current Board. Robbie Letterman seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0.
New Members: An Oath of Office was repeated by Jarid Jensen, Courtney Gunter and Ricky Savage.
Election of Officers: Superintendent Matt Searson presided over the meeting during the Election of Officers. The floor was opened for nominations as follows:
President: Courtney Gunter nominated Robbie Letterman to serve as Board President for the coming year.
The Board voted as follows: Robbie Letterman received seven votes given by Jarid Jensen, Brett Thompson, Ricky Savage, Courtney Gunter, Sara Richardson, Mathew Corle, and Robbie Letterman.
Robbie Letterman will serve as Board President for the coming year.
Vice President: Robbie Letterman nominated Courtney Gunter to serve as Board Vice President for the coming year.
The Board voted as follows: Courtney Gunter received seven votes given by Brett Thompson, Jarid Jensen, Ricky Savage, Sara Richardson, Mathew Corle, Courtney Gunter and Robbie Letterman.
Courtney Gunter will serve as the Board Vice President for the coming year.
Secretary/Treasurer: Courtney Gunter nominated Kim Shelton to serve as the Secretary/Treasurer for the coming year.
The Board voted as follows: Jarid Jensen, Brett Thompson, Mathew Corle, Robbie Letterman, Courtney Gunter, Sara Richardson, and Ricky Savage voted in favor.
Kim Shelton will serve as Secretary/Treasurer for the coming year.
Delegate:
Sara Richardson nominated Courtney Gunter to serve as the MSBA delegate.
The Board voted as follows: Sara Richardson, Courtney Gunter, Ricky Savage, Brett Thompson, Robbie Letterman, Mathew Corle, and Jarid Jensen voted in favor.
Adjourn to Executive Session (RSMo 610.21 (3) (13)): Courtney Gunter made a motion to adjourn to executive session; Sara Richardson seconded the motion. A roll call vote followed with the motion carrying 7-0. The time of adjournment was 6:07 p.m.
Kimberly Shelton
Board Secretary
LACLEDE COUNTY R-1 SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING #2
April 13, 2026 – 6:32 pm
High School Library
Call to Order/Roll Call: Board President Robbie Letterman called the meeting to order with the following members present: Jarid Jensen, Brett Thompson, Mathew Corle, Courtney Gunter, Sara Richardson, and Ricky Savage.
Pledge of Allegiance: All present united in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approve Agenda: Courtney Gunter made a motion to approve the agenda. Ricky Savage seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0.
Rebecca Strubbe, HS Counselor, presented students Abigail Beiermann, Josie Colvard and Alison Conrad with the Missouri Association of Student Council’s Distinguished Student Leader Award, recognizing their hard work and dedication to the district.
Consent Agenda: Sara Richardson made a motion to approve the consent agenda; Courtney Gunter seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0-1 with Brett Thompson abstaining. Items approved include payment of 2025-2026 bills, the March 2026 Board meeting minutes, the 2025-2026 finance reports, and the extra duty and coaching assignments for the 2026-2027 school year.
Old Business:
B. MSBA 2025E Update (Third and Final Reading): The final reading was held on MSBA 2025E. Courtney Gunter made a motion to approve the MSBA 2025E policy update as presented. Robbie Letterman seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0.
C. Budget Update: Superintendent Matt Searson updated the Board on the state and district budgets.
D. Fall Softball: Superintendent Matt Searson shared the administration’s recommendation regarding the potential addition of fall softball and the decision to delay that implementation.
New Business:
B. Tuition-JEB: Superintendent Matt Searson made a recommendation to the Board regarding tuition paid to JEB for their students to be set at the Local Tax Effort plus the Student Adequacy Target.
Brett Thompson made a motion to use Laclede County R-1’s Per Pupil Expenditure rate for the JEB tuition rate.
Robbie Letterman made a motion to set the tuition at Laclede County R-1’s Local Tax Effort plusthe Student Adequacy Target.
No second was received.
Ricky Savage seconded the motion to set the tuition at LCR1’s Per Pupil Expenditure rate for the JEB tuition rate. Motion carried 5-2.
C. Insurance Discussion: Superintendent Matt Searson shared our current health insurance options and made the recommendation to go with MET and to raise the defined contribution to $600 per month, per employee. Robbie Letterman made the motion to go with the recommendation. Jarid Jensen seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-1.
Administrative Reports: Superintendent Dr. Matt Searson, HS Principal Tracy Cottengim, Elementary Principal Shelly Dill, and Student Services Director, Amy Peterson, updated the Board on current information regarding the district.
Adjourn to closed Session: With no further business before the board, Courtney Gunter made a motion to adjourn the monthly meeting; Sara Richardson seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0. The time of adjournment was 8:59 p.m.
Kimberly Shelton
Board Secretary
LACLEDE COUNTY R-1 SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING #3
April 13, 2026 9:36 pm
High School Library
Call to Order/Roll Call: Board President Robbie Letterman called the meeting to order with the following members present: Jarid Jensen, Brett Thompson, Mathew Corle, Courtney Gunter, Sara Richardson, and Ricky Savage.
Adjourn the monthly meeting: With no further business before the board, Courtney Gunter made a motion to adjourn the monthly meeting; Ricky Savage seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0. The time of adjournment was 9:37 p.m.
Kimberly Shelton
Board Secretary