EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – State data shows teacher turnover is up slightly in the Excelsior Springs School District. Deputy Superintendent Jaret Tomlinson submitted turnover data to district leaders in late April. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provided the data “via a records request.” The line graph from 2016 to 2020 showed the turnover rate at about 20% in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, it was roughly between 10 and 15%, followed by gradual increases in 2019 and 2020. Another graph comparing district turnover with 10 other metro area districts, including Richmond and Orrick, showed the turnover at about 18% for 2020. Average turnover for the 11 districts stood between 10 and 15%. Tomlinson discussed turnover with district leaders as an annual report when the Board of Education met May 10, in keeping with the district’s goal of examining and addressing teacher retention each year. He cautioned against reading too much into the data. “A lot of these numbers, you can…