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A resounding yes on school levy
For the St. Joseph School District, the second time is the charm. The school district's 63-cent operating levy with a five-year sunset clause passed with 56 percent voter approval Tuesday, with 44 percent voting no. The levy won by a total of 8,952 yes votes and 7,047 against - a 1,905 vote margin of victory.
School plan group looking for input
With the task of passing the operating levy behind them, school officials and community members met Wednesday evening to begin the process of developing a long-range plan for the St. Joseph School District. It was the first public meeting of the Study Group on Community Engagement and School Planning. The group is seeking suggestions on hiring a consultant, or methods to develop a long-range plan. "We want to do what's best for our community and our kids," Kevin Kirby, a Study Group member, told the group of about 25 people gathering at the Enright Center. "Basically, we want someone who has done this successfully."
Ziesel gets one more honor
Matt Ziesel received a standing ovation Monday night and he didn't even have to score a touchdown this time.
MAP test among country's hardest
St. Joseph School District officials have long said that Missouri may have one of the toughest state student assessment tests in the nation - the Missouri Assessment Program. Now there's a study to back up that assertion. The National Center for Education Statistics released a report last week that showed MAP standards in reading and math are among the most rigorous in the nation. Missouri rated second highest of all states in three out of four measured areas in the study.
Campaign groups make final push for school levy
The wish list shrank in seven months. In April, voters were asked to continue a 63-cent operating levy without a sunset clause and pass a bond to build two new schools. Both issues failed. Now St. Joseph School District and levy campaign officials are asking voters to grant one simple request: on Tuesday, vote yes to pass a 63-cent levy with a five-year sunset clause. "I think a yes vote is justified to keep giving us funding for the children of our community," said Jason Park, campaign co-chairman for "Our Children. Our Future. Our Decision." The levy measure, which needs a simple majority to pass, failed by 172 votes last April. Many felt the lack of a sunset clause and being tethered to a bond issue helped bring about its failure. Other factors were a weakened economy and opposition from a group known as "Citizens Against Forever Tax."
School district may review past cuts
The St. Joseph School District made a few cuts after the 63-cent levy tax failed last April. One question on some voters minds is what cuts would be restored if the levy gets passed on Nov. 3. Janet Pullen, St. Joseph School District chief financial officer, said it's ultimately a board decision on what services would be restored from the cuts. The school administration would make recommendations. "Some of the recommendations we would make for their consideration would be things like looking at the salary schedules which we didn't have any raises at all this year, and looking at restoring some of the teaching and learning resources that we had to cut," Ms. Pullen said.
Reeder still listed with group
Monday came and Kenneth Reeder is still listed as treasurer of Citizens Against Forever Tax on the Missouri Ethics Commission Web site. This comes after Mr. Reeder said last week that he would be removed as treasurer of the group opposing the school levy. Mr. Reeder said last Friday that the eight day contribution report to the commission would reflect that change.
What if the school district was a household?
Every household works to balance its budget. The St. Joseph School District is no different. Having more money coming in than going out, plus something in the bank are the standard rules among many financial planners. If the St. Joseph School District was a household, it might be in financial trouble, according to Jana Castanon of Consumer Credit Counseling Service.
Opposition group sending anti-levy mailers to residents
Some St. Joseph residents have received mailers opposing the 63-cent school levy, according to officials of the pro-levy group "Our Children. Our Future. Our Decision." The mailers are marked "Paid for by Citizens Against Forever Tax." That's the same group that opposed the school levy/bond vote last April and was led by Ken Reeder. Among other things, the mailers say "Our Tax Dollars are Going to Waste" and "Vote No on November 3rd!"
Group attempts to assuage senior citizens' concerns
The citizen's group "Our Children. Our Future. Our Decision" said Tuesday that senior citizens and disabled residents who support renewing the St. Joseph School District operating levy will not see an increase in their taxes.
School levy group hits the pavement
Supporters of the 63-cent school levy for the St. Joseph School District took their cause to the streets Saturday. More than 600 volunteers for "Our Children. Our Future. Our Decision," such as the Veales, made their rounds Saturday afternoon, knocking on the doors of more than 4,000 registered voters' doors to explain their cause
Levy group reports campaign finances
The committee campaigning for an increase in the St. Joseph School District tax levy has raised about $50,000, a spokesman for the group said Friday. More than 120 individuals, businesses and school groups have given money, said Seth Wright of the campaign, called "Our Children. Our Future. Our Decision." "Between what we have in the door and the commitments we've been able to obtain, we're confident we'll be able to run a successful campaign," he said.
District taking a 'wait-and-see' approach
There's no promise of new schools or a threat of job cuts dangling before voters like it was in April. This time around, the campaign to restore 63 cents to the St. Joseph School District operating levy on Nov. 3 is more of a wait-and-see approach. "If it doesn't pass, it will be adressed again in the board review that the board does for next year," said Janet Pullen, St. Joseph School District chief financial officer. "We would anticipate we would make further cuts but it's way too early to make actual decisions about what those things would be." In April, voters rejected renewing and making permanent a 63-cent operating levy first approved in 2004. Voters also rejected $45 million in construction bonds for two new elementary schools.
Tax support plummets for St. Joseph district
The St. Joseph School District saw its level of tax support drop to the lower-third of all Missouri public schools this year. Statewide, the St. Joseph district's tax rate of $3.09 per $100 of assessed valuation ranks 163rd out of 523 school districts, with No. 1 being the lowest and 523 being the highest. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education lists the comparison of district tax rates for 2009-2010 on its Web site. In 2008-2009, St. Joseph ranked 359th with a tax rate of $3.67 per $100 assessed valuation. The district dropped nearly 200 places after voters in April rejected a permanent renewal of a 63-cent operating levy.
Independent auditor: School district's reserves an asset
Having more than $30 million in reserves was the elephant in the room when the St. Joseph School District tried to get an operating levy passed last April. But an independent auditor's report Friday said the amount is more an asset than a liability. It's a healthy amount to weather against what Rick Westbrook foresees as lean funding times down the road. "I think your reserves, while it's not as high as a lot of our districts, it's not alarmingly low," Mr. Westbrook, of Westbrook & Co., said during the joint school board personnel and finance committee meeting Friday. "I'm glad to see you maintained it this year."
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