The Park Hill School District’s Board of Education has placed two propositions on the April election ballot, both of which come with a price tag of higher taxes.
At a recent meeting of the Board of Education, the board voted to place Propositions G and O on the ballot, labeling the upcoming campaign as “GO Park Hill.”
In Proposition G, it states, “Shall the Park Hill School District of Platte County, Missouri, be authorized to increase its adjusted operating tax levy 10 cents per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation for the purpose of paying teachers and sta competitive salaries and benefits? If this question is approved, the adjusted operating property tax levy of the District is estimated to increase from $4.8354 to $4.9354 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.”
District officials say approval of this levy adjustment would cost the owners of a $300,000 home about $5 per month.
In Proposition O, ballot language states, “Shall the Park Hill School District of Platte County, Missouri, issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $128,000,000 to acquire, construct, renovate, improve, furnish and equip its school facilities, including but not limited to (a) construction, improvements and renovations to various school buildings, including the Phase 1 replacement of Park Hill High School, stadium and field improvements at Park Hill South High School, and additions to various elementary schools and (b) the purchase of land? If this question is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the District is estimated to increase from $0.5601 currently to $0.8601 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.”
This proposal is expected to cost owners of a $300,000 home $14.25 per month in additional taxes.
Proposition G requires a simple majority to pass, while Proposition O requires 57.1 percent to pass.
According to the district, If approved, the district would maintain its quality with great teachers, up-to-date classrooms and facilities, and safe and accessible schools.
Proposition G, the district says, ensures competitive pay and benefits, helping it recruit and retain excellent teachers and staff to support high-quality school operations. If passed, Park Hill would be in the Top 5 Beginning Salary strand for first-year teachers and would be in the Top 3 Average Salary strand for all teachers.
Proposition G asks for approval of a 10-cent increase in the operating tax rate to support teacher and staff salaries and benefits and other operating costs. For 22 years, the operating tax levy has stayed at the level voters approved in 2002, or even lower, the district says.
Proposition O allows the district to maintain the community’s investment in its facilities and bring them up-to-date, according to district officials
Proposition O asks for approval to increase the debt service levy 30 cents to issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $128 million for the Phase 1 replacement of Park Hill High School, stadium and field improvements at Park Hill South High School, additions to various elementary schools, safety upgrades and the purchase of land.
The district has also recently announced several key personnel changes, pending the approval of the Board of Education at its meeting this week..
Dr. Marcus Fryatt has accepted the position of Chief Operations Officer for the 2025-2026 school year.
Fryatt is the Director of Assessment for the district, a role he has had since 2021. He began his career with the district in 2015 as a math teacher at Park Hill High School before becoming an assistant principal in 2018. In his current position, Fryatt played a key role in developing the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP), submitting the district’s Quality Texas Foundation application and creating academic dashboards to drive instructional practices and facilitate data analysis over time. With over a decade of experience in education, he has consistently contributed to advancing the district’s academic initiatives.
Fryatt received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, his master’s from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and his doctorate from the University of Kansas.
Amber Kahler has accepted the position of Principal at Line Creek Elementary for the 2025-2026 school year.
Kahler currently serves as an assistant principal at Congress Middle School. She started her career in Park Hill in 2009 as an elementary teacher at Southeast Elementary. In 2015, she began her role in administration at Lakeview Middle School before joining the administration team at Congress.
Kahler earned her bachelor’s degree from Park University, master’s from Rockhurst University, and specialist’s from Northwest Missouri State University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership degree from William Woods University.
Jonathan Sorens has accepted the position of Assistant Principal at Prairie Point Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year.
Sorens currently serves as a math teacher, intramural coordinator and administrative intern at Heritage Middle School in the Liberty (Mo.) School District, where he previously taught science. With over two decades of experience in education, he also taught in the Kearney (Mo.) School District and served as a summer school principal.
Sarah Shandy has accepted the position of Assistant Principal at Chinn Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year.
Shandy is currently a language arts teacher and assistant to the principal at Walden Middle School. She began working in Park Hill in 2017 as a teacher at Southeast Elementary. With more than a decade of education experience, she previously taught in the Gardner-Edgerton and Lawrence (Kan.) School Districts before joining Park Hill.