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Joplin Schools Finance Department

A person's hands hold a smartphone above a laptop keyboard.

Joplin Schools is committed to financial transparency.
Please view our library of financial documents.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance
Dr. Jordan Dickey
417-625-5200

Director of Accounting
Sarah Lopez
417-625-5200

 

Memorial Education Center
825 S. Pearl Ave.
Joplin, MO 64801

Joplin Schools Financial Documents

Dollars & Sense: Monthly Finance Updates

At the December Board of Education meeting, the Finance Office shared several routine reports that reflect how district funds are being managed and monitored as we move through the school year. Here are the key takeaways:

  • District finances remain stable. As of November 30, 2025, the district has received about 24% of its annual revenues and spent about 30% of its annual budget, which is typical for this point in the fiscal year. Funds are spread across categories like classroom operations, capital projects, and debt service, each with specific legal uses.

  • Strong cash and investment position. District cash balances and investments total just under $99 million, with funds invested safely in Missouri-approved programs that earn interest while remaining available for district needs. In December & January we receive most of our tax revenue from Jasper & Newton Counties. This money makes up over 50% of our annual TOTAL revenue so we see our balances climb through the winter. Try to visualize that the money needed to fund the school district for an entire school year (around $120 million), we see over half of it come to us over the course of two to three months. This results in high bank balances which we will spend down until next tax season. We deposit and invest funds to ensure they mature and are available throughout the school year for cash flow needs and we reap the benefit of interest earnings from the investment plans.

  • Health & dental plans are tracking as expected. About 49% of the annual health and dental budget has been spent after five months. The health plan has an ending balance equal to just under one month of average claims, while the dental plan continues to draw down reserves. We continue to closely monitor our health fund and have been pleased that the balance has slightly increased the last two months. I monitor the health fund weekly and one of my priorities is having a complete understanding of the intricacies affecting balances & the overall health of the fund. We encourage staff to stay engaged and follow updates provided monthly regarding the health plan.

  • Accounts payable reflects normal district operations. The Board approved payment of $9.86 million in bills, with roughly 74% related to salaries and benefits, and the remainder supporting instructional materials, utilities, maintenance, transportation, and capital needs across the district.

  • The 2024-2025 Audit report was approved. The district received a clean audit and the audit documents are evidence of the strong financial position Joplin Schools was in upon the retirement of our former CFO, Shelly Toft.

These reports are part of our regular commitment to transparency, clarity, and fiscal responsibility. If you’re ever curious about how district dollars are tracked or spent, the Finance Office is always happy to help explain the details.

Financial statements for the period ending October 31, 2025 at the November board meeting. Nothing out of the ordinary showed up this month, but we want to note that the additional $10 million commitment for Phase 2 of our district facilities projects on our balance sheets.

Capital Projects Fund (Fund 4) Reminder
Money in Fund 4 can only be used for capital improvements—buildings, facilities, and long-term upgrades. Only specific types of revenue may go into this fund, and all dollars are restricted for district improvements. A quick snapshot:

  • We began this school year with $31.2 million in Fund 4

  • $11 million is earmarked for Phase 1 Elementary Upgrades

  • $10 million is earmarked for Phase 2 District Upgrades 

  • We also budget several million annually for recurring maintenance and facility upkeep.

These dollars reflect intentional planning during the years we received extra federal COVID relief revenue.

Health & Dental Update
As many of you know, our Health Fund has been running low. October brought a bit of good news: we received our third-quarter prescription rebate, and for the first time in a while, the Health Fund ended the month net positive. That said, we are not out of the woods. We continue to monitor the fund daily and are prepared to provide a cash infusion if needed to protect benefits.

A few reminders:

  • Since we are self-funded, every claim affects the shared Health Fund balance.

  • Please keep an eye out for updates from the Health & Wellness Committee about ways to access high-quality care while helping stretch our collective dollars.

Audit Update
We complete an annual audit every year, but this cycle has brought an unusual twist:

  • The federal government shutdown has delayed a required part of our Federal Audit.

  • Our auditors cannot finalize the audit or issue the official report until we receive that missing federal supplement.

  • They presented a draft to the board last night, and once the federal piece arrives, we will wrap up FY2025 and present the final audit for approval.

This delay is affecting districts nationwide, not just Joplin. We’re staying proactive to keep things moving as quickly as possible.

Here are the finance highlights from the October Board of Education meeting.

  1. We are currently experiencing the benefits of the State Adequacy Target being increased to $7,145 this school year. DESE is paying out the formula at a higher rate than they were at this point last year so we will watch closely to see if the payments remain this optimistic. We are in a pivotal time in Missouri School Finance as the current Funding Formula is being re-written. If this work interests you, head over to DESE's Formula Taskforce website and watch some of the recorded meetings.
  2. As discussed last month, the Health fund is critically low. We are constantly monitoring the situation and preparing to take action, should the need arise. The balance for the health fund is currently a little over $400K, which is not enough to cover even one month of premiums, however we are injecting employee and district contributions each pay period. The Health Plan Action Committee meets quarterly, and will hold their next meeting on Oct. 29.
  3. An initial budget adjustment was presented at the Oct. 28 Board meeting. When the original budget was created, things were still in limbo with the Federal grants we receive each year and we have since been awarded those amounts, so we were able to budget for those. We are also budgeting for increased state formula payments this year as well as a small increase in tax revenue since it is a re-assessment year.
For more information, check out the finance presentations to the board in Simbli.
Here are the finance highlights from the September Board of Education meeting.
 
Financial Overview:
As we move through the Fall, we enter the part of the year where our revenues are some of the lowest. This is typical and normal for school districts to see negative net positions until property taxes begin rolling in in December.
 

You may look at our current financial standing and think, “Wow, the district has a lot of money.” Right now, our balances do look strong. During the pandemic, the district received over $30 million in federal COVID relief funds. Under the leadership of Dr. Ron Lankford and Shelly Toft, we were careful not to use these dollars for ongoing expenses—things we would have to pay for every year once the relief funding ended. Instead, we invested wisely, strengthened our financial position, and built up our reserves. In FY2025 (last school year), we received our final $6 million payment. This year marks our first budget with no additional COVID relief funds. While we do plan to spend down some of our balances, we must avoid taking on new, recurring costs that cannot be sustained without that one-time federal support.

It's important to know that we maintain dollars within four different Funds. Each of these funds have certain allowances for how we can spend them: General, Teacher, Debt Service, and Capital. We also call them Funds 1, 2, 3, & 4 respectively.
  • Fund 1 can only be used for Non-Certified staff salaries and tangibles that are less than $5,000 per item
  • Fund 2 can only be used for Certified teacher and administrator salaries and benefits
  • Fund 3 can only be used for Debt Service
  • Fund 4 can only be used for Capital Projects and Equipment
As we need money in Fund 2 to pay teacher salaries, we transfer those funds from Fund 1. Of the $29.5M we have in reserves for Capital Projects (Fund 4), almost half of it is committed to our Elementary Phase 1 updates as well as annual Capital Outlay expenses for the school year. We are so excited to watch these updates take place and for our buildings to transform.
 
Health & Dental Update:
You may know that we are self-funded for health insurance, which means the district directly pays employee medical claims instead of an outside insurance company. The Health Plan Advisory Council (HPAC) meets regularly to monitor the plan and make decisions about it.

We are concerned about the declining balance in our Health Fund. At the end of August 2024, the fund held about $2.4 million. Since then, several very high-cost claims have significantly reduced that amount. To address this, HPAC voted to increase premiums so more money flows into the fund. The district also raised its contribution from $440 per month to $520 per month. As we begin the new plan year on October 1, 2025, we are optimistic that these adjustments will help rebuild our reserves.
 
Accounts Payable Update:
Our expenditures for the month of Aug. 20-Sept 16 include:
  • $5,803,911 in Salaries/Benefits
  • $2,727,381 in Capital Outlay
  • $1,435,030 in Other Instruction/Support
  • For a total of $9,976,322 in expenses

Compared to the same period in 2024 (which showed total expenses of $3,949,022), that year's billing cycle did not include a monthly payroll. 2025 also incurred much higher Health/Dental costs, with many Capital projects coming to completion and bills coming due.

  • At the December Board of Education meeting, the Finance Office shared several routine reports that reflect how district funds are being managed and monitored as we move through the school year. Here are the key takeaways:

    • District finances remain stable. As of November 30, 2025, the district has received about 24% of its annual revenues and spent about 30% of its annual budget, which is typical for this point in the fiscal year. Funds are spread across categories like classroom operations, capital projects, and debt service, each with specific legal uses.

    • Strong cash and investment position. District cash balances and investments total just under $99 million, with funds invested safely in Missouri-approved programs that earn interest while remaining available for district needs. In December & January we receive most of our tax revenue from Jasper & Newton Counties. This money makes up over 50% of our annual TOTAL revenue so we see our balances climb through the winter. Try to visualize that the money needed to fund the school district for an entire school year (around $120 million), we see over half of it come to us over the course of two to three months. This results in high bank balances which we will spend down until next tax season. We deposit and invest funds to ensure they mature and are available throughout the school year for cash flow needs and we reap the benefit of interest earnings from the investment plans.

    • Health & dental plans are tracking as expected. About 49% of the annual health and dental budget has been spent after five months. The health plan has an ending balance equal to just under one month of average claims, while the dental plan continues to draw down reserves. We continue to closely monitor our health fund and have been pleased that the balance has slightly increased the last two months. I monitor the health fund weekly and one of my priorities is having a complete understanding of the intricacies affecting balances & the overall health of the fund. We encourage staff to stay engaged and follow updates provided monthly regarding the health plan.

    • Accounts payable reflects normal district operations. The Board approved payment of $9.86 million in bills, with roughly 74% related to salaries and benefits, and the remainder supporting instructional materials, utilities, maintenance, transportation, and capital needs across the district.

    • The 2024-2025 Audit report was approved. The district received a clean audit and the audit documents are evidence of the strong financial position Joplin Schools was in upon the retirement of our former CFO, Shelly Toft.

    These reports are part of our regular commitment to transparency, clarity, and fiscal responsibility. If you’re ever curious about how district dollars are tracked or spent, the Finance Office is always happy to help explain the details.

  • Financial statements for the period ending October 31, 2025 at the November board meeting. Nothing out of the ordinary showed up this month, but we want to note that the additional $10 million commitment for Phase 2 of our district facilities projects on our balance sheets.

    Capital Projects Fund (Fund 4) Reminder
    Money in Fund 4 can only be used for capital improvements—buildings, facilities, and long-term upgrades. Only specific types of revenue may go into this fund, and all dollars are restricted for district improvements. A quick snapshot:

    • We began this school year with $31.2 million in Fund 4

    • $11 million is earmarked for Phase 1 Elementary Upgrades

    • $10 million is earmarked for Phase 2 District Upgrades 

    • We also budget several million annually for recurring maintenance and facility upkeep.

    These dollars reflect intentional planning during the years we received extra federal COVID relief revenue.

    Health & Dental Update
    As many of you know, our Health Fund has been running low. October brought a bit of good news: we received our third-quarter prescription rebate, and for the first time in a while, the Health Fund ended the month net positive. That said, we are not out of the woods. We continue to monitor the fund daily and are prepared to provide a cash infusion if needed to protect benefits.

    A few reminders:

    • Since we are self-funded, every claim affects the shared Health Fund balance.

    • Please keep an eye out for updates from the Health & Wellness Committee about ways to access high-quality care while helping stretch our collective dollars.

    Audit Update
    We complete an annual audit every year, but this cycle has brought an unusual twist:

    • The federal government shutdown has delayed a required part of our Federal Audit.

    • Our auditors cannot finalize the audit or issue the official report until we receive that missing federal supplement.

    • They presented a draft to the board last night, and once the federal piece arrives, we will wrap up FY2025 and present the final audit for approval.

    This delay is affecting districts nationwide, not just Joplin. We’re staying proactive to keep things moving as quickly as possible.

  • Here are the finance highlights from the October Board of Education meeting.

    1. We are currently experiencing the benefits of the State Adequacy Target being increased to $7,145 this school year. DESE is paying out the formula at a higher rate than they were at this point last year so we will watch closely to see if the payments remain this optimistic. We are in a pivotal time in Missouri School Finance as the current Funding Formula is being re-written. If this work interests you, head over to DESE's Formula Taskforce website and watch some of the recorded meetings.
    2. As discussed last month, the Health fund is critically low. We are constantly monitoring the situation and preparing to take action, should the need arise. The balance for the health fund is currently a little over $400K, which is not enough to cover even one month of premiums, however we are injecting employee and district contributions each pay period. The Health Plan Action Committee meets quarterly, and will hold their next meeting on Oct. 29.
    3. An initial budget adjustment was presented at the Oct. 28 Board meeting. When the original budget was created, things were still in limbo with the Federal grants we receive each year and we have since been awarded those amounts, so we were able to budget for those. We are also budgeting for increased state formula payments this year as well as a small increase in tax revenue since it is a re-assessment year.
    For more information, check out the finance presentations to the board in Simbli.

  • Here are the finance highlights from the September Board of Education meeting.
     
    Financial Overview:
    As we move through the Fall, we enter the part of the year where our revenues are some of the lowest. This is typical and normal for school districts to see negative net positions until property taxes begin rolling in in December.
     

    You may look at our current financial standing and think, “Wow, the district has a lot of money.” Right now, our balances do look strong. During the pandemic, the district received over $30 million in federal COVID relief funds. Under the leadership of Dr. Ron Lankford and Shelly Toft, we were careful not to use these dollars for ongoing expenses—things we would have to pay for every year once the relief funding ended. Instead, we invested wisely, strengthened our financial position, and built up our reserves. In FY2025 (last school year), we received our final $6 million payment. This year marks our first budget with no additional COVID relief funds. While we do plan to spend down some of our balances, we must avoid taking on new, recurring costs that cannot be sustained without that one-time federal support.

    It's important to know that we maintain dollars within four different Funds. Each of these funds have certain allowances for how we can spend them: General, Teacher, Debt Service, and Capital. We also call them Funds 1, 2, 3, & 4 respectively.
    • Fund 1 can only be used for Non-Certified staff salaries and tangibles that are less than $5,000 per item
    • Fund 2 can only be used for Certified teacher and administrator salaries and benefits
    • Fund 3 can only be used for Debt Service
    • Fund 4 can only be used for Capital Projects and Equipment
    As we need money in Fund 2 to pay teacher salaries, we transfer those funds from Fund 1. Of the $29.5M we have in reserves for Capital Projects (Fund 4), almost half of it is committed to our Elementary Phase 1 updates as well as annual Capital Outlay expenses for the school year. We are so excited to watch these updates take place and for our buildings to transform.
     
    Health & Dental Update:
    You may know that we are self-funded for health insurance, which means the district directly pays employee medical claims instead of an outside insurance company. The Health Plan Advisory Council (HPAC) meets regularly to monitor the plan and make decisions about it.

    We are concerned about the declining balance in our Health Fund. At the end of August 2024, the fund held about $2.4 million. Since then, several very high-cost claims have significantly reduced that amount. To address this, HPAC voted to increase premiums so more money flows into the fund. The district also raised its contribution from $440 per month to $520 per month. As we begin the new plan year on October 1, 2025, we are optimistic that these adjustments will help rebuild our reserves.
     
    Accounts Payable Update:
    Our expenditures for the month of Aug. 20-Sept 16 include:
    • $5,803,911 in Salaries/Benefits
    • $2,727,381 in Capital Outlay
    • $1,435,030 in Other Instruction/Support
    • For a total of $9,976,322 in expenses

    Compared to the same period in 2024 (which showed total expenses of $3,949,022), that year's billing cycle did not include a monthly payroll. 2025 also incurred much higher Health/Dental costs, with many Capital projects coming to completion and bills coming due.