Republic R-3 gets clean audit, opinion from KPM CPA’s

District’s reserve funds in ‘sweet spot’; board of education accepts retirement from current Superintendent Pearce
 
At the Republic Board of Education meeting on Dec. 18, the board accepted the retirement of district superintendent, Dr. Matt Pearce.
The retirement confirmation took place in closed session and was later revealed the next day. The board also approved the 2025 fiscal year audit.
After approving the retirement of Pearce in private, the board continued on with usual business, including approving the FY25 audit, presented by Rebecca Baker from KPM CPA’s. The district received an unmodified report, said Baker, which is the best grade one can achieve. Baker said that the district and its employees were incredibly helpful and cooperative throughout the whole process.
Baker also said that the district’s reserve funds were in a sweet spot for the school district. Baker said that KPM often recommends keeping around 30 percent of a year’s operating budget in reserve; any less is potentially not satisfactory, but any funds above that mark should ideally be in use to help the district.
RepMo Hero
The board also named their monthly RepMo hero, which was, this month, awarded to two people from the Price building. School social workers Malorie Dugan and Christina Ghan took home the award because of their dedication to the district and its students.
Republic Middle School remodel
Assistant Superintendent of Operations Jason Perkins delivered a report to the board regarding the middle school remodel as well as a construction update.
Perkins surveyed staff at the middle school to see whether the employees would prefer to remodel the middle school in sections or upgrade one system at a time. The staff decided, and Perkins agreed, that going in phases would be more convenient for teachers so they would not have to relocate more than one time.
The high school expansion construction project is also coming along nicely, said Perkins, who said that much of the structural steel has already been put up.
In other business
- The board also approved their new schedule for the next school year with minimal changes from last year, according to Pearce.
- Board members also took a moment during the meeting to acknowledge Will Payne, a student who had received a QuestBridge Match scholarship, earning him a full ride to Rice University. In total, this will amount to nearly $95,000 a year.
-The board will meet again on Jan. 15, 2026.