Will SB 727 hurt WS Schools?

The Willow Springs R-IV Board of Education met for their monthly meeting on Nov. 11. During the meeting, the district approved a raise in prices for school lunches, discussed the impact of Senate Bill 727 on the district, and announced the first filing date for school board positions for the April 2025 election.

 

The district discussed the impact of Senate Bill 727 on the school. One of the things noted by Superintendent Marty Spence is how many items in the bill are now subject to legislative appropriations in Jefferson City. This includes tying the elementary literacy fund, that funds Imagination Library spending. The bill also ties charter school funding to the state foundation formula, like traditional public schools do, and this could create a lower cash reserve for public schools.

 

The tax-credit voucher expansion tied the amount set aside for the vouchers to public school state aid increases. Spence said it will affect transportation funding first. The voucher program was also increased from $50 million to $75 million.

 

One of the positive changes mentioned was the WADA calculations should increase funding to the school, but, again, it is dependent on appropriations. Teacher baseline pay is also increased to a mandatory $40,000 for the '25-'26 school year and the bill creates the Teacher Baseline Salary Grant Fund to help district but the fund is subject to legislative appropriations, as well, meaning if the grant isn't there to help the school fund teacher pay, district funding could be in a crunch. Spence also spoke on how the State Income Tax cuts in '22 will cost the state $1.8 billion in lower revenue for the budget. All of these changes could make a very tight budget for the district in the coming years. 

 

The food services update from Regina Roberts discussed raising the school lunch costs a dime, from $2.40 to $2.50. She said this comes from the state paid lunch equality tool. The board had voted over the summer to raise the price, Roberts came before the board to implement the approval. The increase was supposed to go into effect in August and did not. She requested the board to implement the increase in January.

 

It was also heavily discussed how important it is for the schools that parents fill out the free and reduced lunch applications. Roberts said that no one, not teachers or cafeteria staff, will know if your student is on free and reduced lunch, and the applications allow the school to be better funded.

 

The board also discussed replacing the walk-in freezer for the elementary and high school. The current freezer was shown to have a gap around the door and the fan consistently ices up. There is a bid from Johnstone Supply for a new freezer at $13,969 for the box and $6,986 for the items like shelves to go into the unit. The board unanimously approved the bid.

 

The school also announced that board filings for the April 8, 2025, election will begin at 8:00 am on December 10 and will close at 5:00 pm on December 31. There are two, three-year terms that will be up for election. These positions are currently held by Jeff Lovan and Debbie Bryan.