The Purple Pages

Dear Laker Family,

It has been a positive and successful start to the school year across the Camdenton R-III School District! The enthusiasm in our classrooms, the commitment of our faculty and staff, and the support from our families have all contributed to a strong beginning. We look forward to working alongside you and carrying this momentum into the second quarter.

This year, we welcomed 41 new certified staff members (38 teachers, 3 administrators) to the Laker family, and we are excited for them to join our team and make a positive impact in the lives of our students and our school community. In addition to these positions, we are also pleased to welcome Mr. Todd Shockley and Dr. Keith White as assistant superintendents in the district. Mr. Shockley is serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Personnel and Compliance. He has rejoined the district after retiring for a couple of years and having previously served as the principal at Hawthorn Elementary. Dr. White is the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, previously serving as the Superintendent of Diamond R-IV and Principal at Buffalo High School. As a central office administrative team, we look forward to the numerous opportunities to serve our students, staff, and school community.

Our theme for this year, “Lakers Leave a Legacy,” serves as both a celebration of who we are and a challenge for what we want to accomplish. Every interaction, every lesson, and every act of service contributes to the legacy we leave, which impacts our students, our community, and future generations to come. As Lakers, we have the incredible opportunity and significant responsibility to ensure that our actions leave a positive and lasting impact.

In addition to the strong start in our classrooms across the district, we are also excited to share progress on several key district initiatives. We have begun planning for the construction of a FEMA shelter on our main campus, which will provide both safety and valuable instructional space for our students and staff. This facility will not only provide a safe place for students in the event of severe weather, but also serve as an early childhood center at Dogwood Elementary, providing our students with the opportunity for a solid educational foundation as they begin their educational journey.

Additionally, our Board of Education recently began the process of developing a long-range, comprehensive facilities plan to guide the future of our district’s buildings. This plan will allow us to assess our current needs, prioritize future improvements, and ensure that our facilities continue to support high quality teaching and learning experiences for all of our Lakers.

As we continue this school year, I am incredibly grateful and honored to serve as your superintendent, and I am thankful for the teamwork and collaboration shown by our students, our staff, our families, and the entire Laker community to ensure a successful school year. I am excited and optimistic about the future of our school district, and I look forward to working alongside our school community to ensure a positive and successful educational experience for each of our students. By working together, we can be sure to make a significant impact in the lives of our students and “Leave a Legacy” that will last for generations to come.

With Laker Pride,

Brett Thompson

#LakersLeaveALegacy

Seniors Soren Schmidt and Patience Mason were crowned Homecoming Royalty on Friday, September 26th, at Bob Shore Stadium during halftime of the varsity football game against Columbia Battle. The Lakers earned a win that night with a score of 53-24.

Pictured from left to right: Brian Butts, Troy Risner - President, Callie Henze - Vice President, Eric Walters, Jacob Neusche - Treasurer, Shelley Creed - Secretary, Michael Gulledge

Dogwood - 621

Hawthorn - 357

Oak Ridge - 575

Hurricane Deck - 133

Osage Beach - 199

Middle School - 576

High School - 1242

District Total - 3703

2025-2026

Morgan R-2 $2.75

Waynesville R-VI $2.8747

Richland R-IV $2.9972

Camdenton R-III $3.06 *

Laclede County C-5 $3.1830

School of the Osage $3.449

Stoutland R-II $3.53

Eldon R-I $3.5431

Macks Creek R-V $3.8132

Lebanon R-III $4.465

* Maximum Levy Authorized for Operations $2.75 + $.31 Tax Required for Debt Retirement

* State average tax rate for Missouri public schools for the 2025 tax year is $4.1008 per $100

assessed valuation (of those reporting to DESE as of 10/3/25).

2025-2026 Budget as originally adopted:

$64,888,059

2025 Assessed Valuation: $1,450,115,418

2025 Adjusted Tax Rate:

Incidental $1.28

Teachers $1.25

Debt Service $0.31

Capital Projects $0.22

Total $3.06

2025-2026 Revenue Sources:

Local 78.9085%

County 1.9264%

State 12.6723%

Federal 6.2154%

Other 0.2774%

The district employs 370 certified administrators and teachers and 272 classified critical support

personnel for a total of 642 employees. This year, the Camdenton R-III School District welcomed 38 new teachers!

With the start of a new school year, the Education Foundation is pleased to announce

that Debbie Wright has joined the Board.

Debbie is a retired educator, having taught 1st grade in the Camdenton district for 20

years and serving as a reading specialist for eight. She is married to Mike, a 1973

Camdenton graduate and longtime lake resident, proud mom of two Lakers and

grandmother of three Laker granddaughters. Debbie is an adjunct instructor for

Columbia College and supervises student teachers in and around the lake area. She

currently serves as the education liaison for the Daughters of the American Revolution

(DAR) and works with the Lake of the Ozarks Elks Lodge to help provide resources for

Camdenton students through grants and donations. Debbie is looking forward to serving

on the Foundation and helping with the important work that they do. The Foundation is

excited to have her!

Planning for the annual Elegant Evening is underway and this year, the Education

Foundation Board has decided to change things up with a Not So Elegant Evening! This

is an informal, business attire event with a laid-back come-and-go atmosphere,

showcasing student talents at an off-campus location. The 2026 Not So Elegant

Evening will be held Friday, March 27, at The Exchange in Camdenton. With Elegant

Evening as the sole fundraiser of the Education Foundation, plan to attend and raise a

glass in support of community partnerships to benefit local education through senior

scholarships, classroom impact grants, and educator scholarships.

The Camdenton R-III District Education Foundation’s mission is to generate and

manage resources to enhance learning opportunities for students and staff in our

school. If you would like to contribute, please consider donating online or by check to

the Camdenton Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1409, Camdenton, MO 65020. The

Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. For further details about the

Foundation, please visit camdentonschools.org and click the community tab.

The Pride of the Lake Marching Band is built on more than performance—it is built on culture, leadership, and community. Each member of the ensemble embodies the program’s philosophy: Embrace the Struggle, Find the Joy! The long rehearsals, the relentless pursuit of excellence, and the discipline of preparation are all part of the journey toward creating something greater than any one individual could achieve alone. This year’s show reflects that ethos, asking performers to reach beyond what they thought possible, and in doing so, inspire every person who watches.

The 2025 season also marks an important chapter in the Pride of the Lake’s legacy. With a tradition of excellence that spans years of unforgettable performances, this year's ensemble continues to raise the bar for what a high school marching band can be. Our show this year is titled Fantasy. Fantasy is a show designed not only to challenge its members musically and visually, but to leave a lasting impression on audiences at home football games, regional festivals, and competitive circuits across the state. Expect vibrant colors, exciting music, and high energy as The Pride of Lake Marching Band brings the music of Chick Corea, Michael Daugherty, Arturo Marquez, and Manuel De Falla to life in this year's Latin-influenced production, Fantasy.

Behind every performance is the unwavering support of families, staff, alumni, and the community. Together, they help create the environment where young musicians can grow, leaders can emerge, and memories can be made that will last a lifetime. We cannot thank our supporters enough and look forward to representing the community at several marching competitions throughout the Midwest this fall.

CHS students enjoy trivia every Tuesday during their lunch time, and it has been a hit! Question topics vary from Camdenton history to pop culture. Can you answer some of these questions correctly?

Lions

Kelly Clarkson

5

Many families in our district face financial challenges, and sometimes that means a student can accrue school lunch debt. This debt can be a burden on families. Our goal is to ensure that all Camdenton Lakers have access to a nutritious meal every day, regardless of their ability to pay at that moment.

You can make a direct impact on the lives of our students by helping us reduce this debt. Every donation, no matter the size, helps lift this weight off our families and keeps our lunch program focused on feeding kids.

To contribute to this important cause, please visit our dedicated fundraising page: www.AllforLunch.org/CamdentonLakers

For more information about school lunch debt and how your donation can help, please contact Nicki Roam or Taylor Girard at (573) 346-9234. Thank you for supporting our students!