June 20, 2025

Online Re-Enrollment of Returning Students

Parents of returning students: If you haven't already done so, please complete online re-enrollment forms as soon as possible, via your PowerSchool Parent Portal Account and clicking on the "Returning Student Registration 2025-26" link. Approximately 1,400 student forms have yet to be completed, and class schedules and teacher assignments will not occur until these are complete. If you need assistance, please contact Brianna Lamaster at lamaster.brianna@pcr3schools.org. Please note: This must be done via a browser, not on the Parent Portal app. If using your phone, please turn your phone horizontally.

Save the Date: PCHS Phase 2 Groundbreaking/ PCHS Track Ribbon Cutting - August 6

You're invited! Join us on Tuesday, August 6 at 6pm for a special evening as we celebrate progress at Platte County High School with a Phase 2 Groundbreaking Ceremony at the project site, followed by a Ribbon Cutting for the new PCHS Track at Pirate Stadium. Help us mark these exciting milestones for our students and community!

Y Club Enrollment for 2025-26

The Before and After School Program available to families in the Platte County R-3 School District is Y Club. Children in kindergarten through 5th grade benefit from homework enrichment, physical activity, and small and large group activities with a focus on building community and youth voice and leadership. Full-time and part-time Y Club is available at each of our elementary buildings, along with Y Club on days when school is out of session for inclement weather, seasonal breaks, and other days off (enrollment permitting). Operating hours are each weekday from 6:30 a.m. until school begins, and again after school until 6:00 p.m. Registration is now open.

If you have any questions about the Y Club program, please contact YMCA at (816) 360-3390.

Join our Team at PCR-3!

Join our team at PCR-3 and be part of a community dedicated to nurturing young minds! We are currently seeking extraordinary educators for the following roles: Teaching Positions at the middle and high school level, School Psychologist, Paraprofessional, Permanent Substitute, Bus Driver, Bus Aide, Lunch Monitor, and more!

Be a part of our community, our family, our team, and our tradition! Visit the Careers section of our website to explore current openings and submit your application today.

Pirate Pride: PCHS Theatre's Award-winning Season

For the Pirate Pride portion of the June meeting, the Board recognized the PCHS Theatre Department, for an extraordinary, record-setting season! Platte County High School earned the top honor at the prestigious Blue Star Awards, Overall Outstanding Musical, Tier 1, for Mamma Mia, marking the first time in Platte County history that our theatre program has brought home this top recognition, the Blue Star equivalent of a state championship. The Blue Star Awards, hosted by Starlight Theatre, honor excellence in high school musical theatre and included 66 schools from across the Kansas City region this year. PCHS Theatre also shined in the Cappies of Greater Kansas City, a student critics program recognizing high school theatre. The department brought home 12 Cappies Awards, including the top honor of Best Overall Play for Our Town.

SCHIVIR Me Timbers Staff Recognition

Each month, PCR-3 recognizes staff members who are living our vision, mission, and values, by presenting the "SCHIVIR Me Timbers" award. SCHIVIR is an acronym for our values: Student Focus, Collaboration, High Expectations, Integrity, Visionary Leadership, Innovation, and Results Orientation.

At the June board meeting, we recognized Kimberly Schwichtenberg, Assistant Director of Transportation, for her high expectations and results orientation. Kimberly has led several initiatives to enhance safety in the transportation department, including partnering with the TSA for training to help staff identify and safely remove potential explosive threats on buses. She also coordinated this year’s Missouri State Highway Patrol safety inspection, earning PCR-3’s highest score in 15 years.

2025 Bond Issue Project Update

Each month, we will provide an update on our 2025 bond issue projects. At the June meeting, Newkirk Novak project managers, reviewed construction progress of our 2025 Bond Issue projects.

Pathfinder Playground: New concrete sidewalks and a patio with a seating wall has been installed. Grading for the hard surface play area is also complete. The project is scheduled to open for students in the fall of 2025.

Platte Purchase Site Amenities: Structural masonry walls are being installed, and mechanical and electrical rough-in is ongoing for the concessions and restroom areas. Roof framing will begin next month.

PCHS Phase 2 and PCHS Track: Crews have begun deconstruction of the southern end of PCHS and will continue throughout July. Soil stabilization and fine grading has been completed for the new PCHS track in preparation for the concrete curbs and asphalt, followed by paving in late June.

2025-26 Tentative Budget Approved

The Board of Education approved the 2025-26 preliminary budget at the June meeting. The budget is a fluid document published by the District to provide the Board and the community with insight into the budget process from the early stages of development to eventual approval. The 2025-26 budget includes the following highlights:

• Estimated revenue across all funds is projected at $83.5 million, a 4.9% increase over the FY25 budgeted amount.
• Estimated expenditures across all funds total $108.7 million. Note: The significant increase in expenditures is primarily due to the launch of construction projects related to the April 2025 bond issue. Bond funds collected in FY25 will be expended across FY25, FY26, and FY27 to support these major improvements.
• Funds 1 and 2 (operating and personnel funds) are projected to be nearly balanced, with estimated revenue of $68.4 million and expenditures of $67.8 million, maintaining fund balances within the Board-approved range.
• Includes over $3 million in additional compensation and personnel costs, and continuation of 100% Board-paid medical benefits for eligible employees.
• FY26 marks the first year of implementation for the District’s new Strategic Plan.
• The budget supports new technology devices for all K–5 students and staff, over $3 million in capital improvements, and expanded Early Childhood and Preschool programming.

The budget will be completed when the tax rate is set in September and additional financial details are finalized.

Business Services Key Process Update

Brian Noller, Executive Director of Business Services, presented a Key Process Update of the District's Business Services Department.

As part of the District's efforts to proactively and responsibly manage District finances to support student success, the team highlighted the following focus areas for the 2025-26 school year:

• Enhancing operational efficiency of data and practices within the PCR-3 District
• Maximizing revenue by seeking additional grant funding and improving current practices
• Maintaining the fund balance in the desired range of 18-22% while building our fund 4 balance
• Improving stakeholder perceptions of the District’s fiscal responsibility

Human Resources Key Process Update 

The Platte County School District's Human Resources department plays a crucial role in supporting the District's mission by focusing on retaining, recruiting, and developing high-quality staff. Ashley Jones, Executive Director of Human Resources shared with the Board a Key Process Update outlining Human Resources priorities for the upcoming school year. Key takeaways include:

• Enhancing personnel processes and improving data management efficiency
• Developing a comprehensive staffing model across all levels and departments
• Diversifying the workforce by expanding applicant pools and fostering partnerships with a wide range of teacher preparation programs
• Prioritizing stakeholder needs and strengthening staff retention and development through competitive compensation and benefits, as well as a total rewards program

The Human Resources department continues to adapt and improve its processes to ensure the District is well-equipped with extraordinary educators to provide a high-quality educational experience for all students.

Northland Career Center Strategic Plan Update

The leadership team from Northland Career Center provided the Board with a career center strategic plan update at the June meeting. Click here to view the presentation.

Platte City Summer Concert Series

Enjoy some music on the Platte County Courthouse lawn in Platte City from 7-9 p.m. on the second Saturday of June, July, and August, sponsored by the Platte City Friends of the Arts. See flier for details.

PCYFL Registration Open

Platte County Youth Football League registration is now open for the 2025 season for incoming Kindergarten through 6th graders! See flier for details and click here to register. Camp will be held July 21-22 at Platte Ridge Park. Register for camp here.

Community Education Classes for Kids

NCC Community Education is offering several STEM youth program opportunities in June at Compass and Barry Elementaries! Click here to register.

Summer Reading Program - Jun 1-Aug 24

MCPL Summer Reading Challenge "A Blank Canvas" invites artists of all ages to showcase their creations, encouraging them to explore their imaginations. By participating in the Summer Reading Challenge, kids, teens and adults can earn prizes for daily reading.

Register for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge here.

PCR-3 Summer Athletic Camps

Several athletic camps are still available this summer for our students. Please see the fliers/registration forms linked below. Note that the grade will be the grade your child is entering in the 2025-26 school year.

• Swimming (2025-26 Grades 4-8 & 9-12): July 14-17
• Golf (2025-26 Grades 9-12): June 9-13 and July 28-August 1, 2025
• Soccer (2025-26 Grades K-8, 9-12): June 23-27, 2025 (9-12th grades) & June 23-25, 2025 (K-8th grades) (Register by June 6)
• Volleyball (2025-26 Grades 7-8): June 23-24, 2025 (Register by May 28)

June 2-30: Summer School

July 17: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30pm, (reconvene from closed session which begins at 5:30pm)

August 19: First Day of School, 2025-26 School Year

August 21: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30pm, (reconvene from closed session which begins at 5:30pm)

Thank you to our Pirates ROCK Stars!

Thank you to all our Pirates ROCK Star business partners who support character education in our schools including our District-wide Pirates ROCK Star business partner for 2024-25: Farmers Insurance - Weaver Hamman Agency.