R-VII Schools to pay $750k in unplanned insurance costs

A failing statewide health insurance group is presenting a major financial blow to the West Plains R-VII School District, the board heard last week. According to the superintendent’s report to the board, the district’s longtime health insurance provider, Missouri Educators Unified Health Plan (MEUHP), is in severe financial distress. Dr. Wesley Davis received this information at a statewide meeting of more than fifty school districts the week prior to the board meeting. Membership in the group has dwindled to nearly half of its previous members and may be dissolving. 

 

Claims to the group need to be paid after the dissolution and to cover these claims, participating districts are being billed very large assessments. For West Plains, that number is three times higher than the highest assessments in the past -- $750,000. 

 

The group is requiring three months of premium payments – again roughly $750,000, due around June 30. Dr. Davis told Howell County News it is unclear whether this payment will be made during FY26 or FY27. 

 

Dr. Davis commented that this is a very large unplanned and unbudgeted expense, but he is thankful the district has adequate reserves to pay what is required. The unrestricted fund ratio prior to $750,000 expenditure is 22.27%.

 

The next superintendent to helm the district, Mr. Matthew Orchard, has been requesting proposals from other insurance providers to plan for the next budget cycle. 

 

This budget, the board heard, will be based on current enrollment numbers and a staff that has been eliminated or combined by 13 members. Davis told the board he expects financial realities of state funding to continue to force a reduction in staff. 

 

In closed session, the board approved administrators for the 2026-2027 school year -Josh Cotter - SMTI Director; Michael Davis - ZPA Director; Colton Hensley - WPHS AP; Seth Huddleston - SFES – Principal; Katie Jones - WPES AP; Sarah Land - WPES Principal; Lynn Maguffee - Director of Literacy; Amy Marshall - WPMS Principal; Donnie Miller - Director of Transportation/A+; Matthew Orchard - Deputy Superintendent; Amy Ross - Assistant Superintendent; Melissa Rutledge - WPES AP; Ryan Smith - WPHS Principal; Brandon Somoza - WPHS AP; Virginia Uphaus - Director of Operations; Erica Walker - WPMS AP; Tiffany Young - Director of Teaching and Learning; and Ashley Cooley was approved as  Activities Director, with Cindy Tyree abstaining.

 

The board approved the following resignations:  Amy Marshall - WPHS Head Girls Softball Coach; Steven Crask - WPMS Assistant Principal; and Hannah Collins - WPHS/WPMS English Teacher.