Neosho School District

Request for Proposal - Compensation Study August 19, 2025

Sealed proposals must be received by October 3, 2025 at 1:00pm.

Attn: Collyn Carey, CFO Compensation Study Neosho School District 418 Fairground Rd

Neosho, MO 64850

417-451-8600 ext. 1103

careycollyn@neoshosd.org

Questions may also be directed to Dr. Paul Schlag at the same address and phone number.

Introduction

Neosho School District, a public K-12 district in Southwest Missouri, serves approximately 5,000 students and employs 700 staff across 13 campuses, from the Historic Downtown Square to Goodman, Missouri. The district seeks a qualified consultant to conduct a comprehensive compensation study to address outdated salary schedules, ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and develop fair, competitive, and sustainable salary structures for all 97 unique positions (Appendix A). The study aims to mitigate legal risks, align compensation with comparable Missouri school districts (4,000-7,000 students), and ensure long-term financial sustainability within the district's budgetary constraints.

To maintain impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest, firms based in or with significant business, personal, or familial ties to Southwest Missouri (within a 100-mile radius of Neosho) are ineligible to apply.

Scope of Services

The selected consultant will conduct a comprehensive compensation study for all 97 staff positions (certified and non-certified - see Appendix A) to achieve the following objectives:

• Ensure compliance with FLSA regulations, including proper classification of exempt and non-exempt positions and addressing potential violations.
• Develop fair and competitive salary schedules benchmarked against comparable Missouri school districts (4,000-7,000 students) and, if applicable, national data.
• Create sustainable salary structures that can be maintained over a 5-10 year period within the district's budgetary constraints.
• Engage district stakeholders (e.g., staff, administrators, Board of Education) to gather input and ensure buy-in for proposed salary schedules.

Specific deliverables include:

• A comprehensive report comparing current compensation to market benchmarks, identifying FLSA compliance issues, and recommending solutions.
• Proposed salary schedules for all 97 positions, including clear job classifications.
• Proposed adjustments to Supplemental Pay including stipends, extra duty, and extended contracts.
• A detailed implementation plan to transition to new salary schedules with minimal disruption.
• A maintenance strategy for updating salary schedules every 3-5 years.
• A final presentation to the Board of Education and administration on March 9, 2026.

Data Responsibilities:

• The district will provide current salary schedules, job descriptions for all 97 positions, and employee demographic data.
• The consultant is responsible for collecting external benchmarking data from comparable Missouri districts and other relevant sources, ensuring the confidentiality and security of all sensitive information.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• The consultant will engage with district employees, administrators, and the Board of Education through methods such as surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather input and build support for the proposed salary schedules.
• The consultant will provide clear, accessible presentations during the study and a final in-person presentation on March 9, 2026.

RFP Selection Timeline:

• August 19, 2025 - RFP Posted
• September 10, 2025: Optional Pre-Proposal Conference (Virtual, details to be provided to interested firms)
• September 19, 2025 - Responses to RFP deadline
• September 25 - October 3, 2025 - Firm Virtual Presentations to District representatives
• October 6, 2025 - Firm Selection Approved by Board of Education
• October 20, 2025 - Project Launch
• December 15, 2025: Completion of data collection
• January 2026: Meetings with key stakeholders
• February 1, 2026: Submission of draft report
• March 9, 2026 - Formal presentation to Administration and Board of Education

Proposal Format and Requirements

Proposals must be submitted in PDF format, not exceeding 20 pages (excluding appendices), and address the following in order:

Firm Capabilities:

• Services provided by your firm relating to compensation studies
• List available resources (e.g., staff expertise, affiliations with other groups).
• Detail experience conducting compensation studies for public school districts, with emphasis on Missouri districts of 4,000-7,000 students.
• Provide a detailed methodology for the study, including:
  • Data collection and analysis processes.
  • Approach to benchmarking against comparable Missouri districts.
  • Methods for auditing FLSA compliance (e.g., review of job descriptions, classification audits).
  • Strategies for engaging district stakeholders (e.g., surveys, focus groups).
• Include a project timeline with key milestones aligned with the district's schedule (November 10, 2025-March 9, 2026).
• Outline expectations of the district, its employees, and the Board of Education.
• Please provide a fee schedule for the compensation study.
• Include a sample (redacted) compensation study report or deliverables from a prior project.
•  

References:

• Provide at least three references from public school districts (4,000-7,000 students) for compensation studies completed within the last 5 years, including contact information and a brief description of the scope of work.
• List any current or recent work with Missouri public school districts, including district names and contact information.
• Please provide a short statement regarding why your firm is the "right" choice for the Neosho School District and what sets your firm apart from competitors.

Impartiality Disclosure:

• Disclose any business, personal, or familial ties to Southwest Missouri or Neosho School District employees to confirm impartiality.

Evaluation Criteria

Neosho School District will select a firm based on the following criteria:

• Ability to Perform Services (25%): Demonstrated ability to deliver the requested services within the specified timeframe and with high quality.

• Experience and Expertise (30%): Experience with public education compensation studies, with preference for Missouri districts of similar size and expertise in FLSA compliance.
• extra consideration given to those who have experience within the State of Missouri - 30%
• References (25%): Quality and relevance of references from comparable projects.
• Cost-effectiveness (20%): Total cost and value provided within the district's budgetary constraints.

Proposals are due no later than 1:00pm on Friday, October 3, 2025.

Proposals may be submitted to Collyn Carey, Chief Financial Officer or Dr. Paul Schlag, Executive Director of Student Services at 418 Fairground Rd., Neosho, MO 64850 or electronically at careycollyn@neoshosd.org.

• Electronically (PDF format) to careycollyn@neoshosd.org.
• Physically (sealed) to:

Attn: Collyn Carey, Chief Financial Officer Neosho School District

418 Fairground Rd

Neosho, MO 64850

Only the proposal itself will be submitted to the Board of Education for selection. Additional materials (e.g., firm brochures) will be provided only upon the Board's request.

Appendix A

Positions within the Neosho School District

• 504 Coordinator
• A+ Coordinator
• Accompanist
• Accountant
• Accounts Payable Clerk
• Activity Sponsor
• Administrative Assistant
• AFJROTC
• Ag Facility Coordinator
• Assistant Activities Director
• Assistant Transportation Director
• Assistant Principal - High School
• Assistant Principal - Jr High
• Assistant Principal - Middle School
• Assistant Principal - Elementary
• Audio Visual Technician
• Band Assistant
• Band Director
• Behavior Specialist
• Bright Futures Coordinator
• Buildings and Grounds - Custodian
• Buildings and Grounds - HVAC Technician
• Buildings and Grounds - Maintenance
• Bus Aide
• Bus Driver
• Bus Mechanic
• Bus Safety Coordinator
• Classroom Aide
• Coach - High School
• Coach - Jr High
• Core Data/MOSIS Coordinator
• Database Administrator
• Department Chair
• Director - Special Education
• Director - Technology

• Director of Transportation
• Director of Activities
• Director of Early Childhood Education
• Director of NEWCaps
• Director of Safety and Security
• District Printer
• Educational Technology Director
• ESL Coordinator
• ESL Paraprofessional
• Executive Administrative Assistant
• Executive Director of Elementary Education
• Executive Director of Operations
• Executive Director of Secondary Education
• Executive Director of Student Services
• Food Service Manager
• Food Service Cook
• Guidance Counselor
• Health Services - LPN
• Health Services - RN
• Human Resources Director
• Instructional Paraprofessional
• Librarian
• Literacy Coach
• Mail Courier
• Maintenance - Electrician
• Maintenance - Journeyman Plumber
• Media Services - Library Assistant
• Paraprofessional
• Parent Educator
• Payroll and Benefits Clerk
• Police Officer
• Principal - High School
• Principal - Jr High
• Principal - Middle School
• Principal - Elementary School
• Public Relations Director
• Registrar
• RootEd Advisor
• School Farm Consultant
• School Social Worker
• Secretary
• Social Media Community Coordinator
• Special Education Paraprofessional
• Special Education - Physical Therapist