JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTS $2.84 TAX LEVY

JACKSON - The Jackson R-2 Board of Education Tuesday established its 1991 tax rate, adopted goals for the 1991-92 school year, voted to increase school cafeteria lunch prices, and approved a Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Policy for board members and district employees to comply with a new state ethics law.

Tuesday's meeting was the final session of the board before school begins next week. Workshops for teachers will begin on Monday, with classes starting Aug. 22.

A required public hearing on the new tax rate drew no comments, so the board unanimously approved a property tax levy of $2.84. It is estimated to generate $3,439,475 of the district's nearly $11 million annual budget.

Business Manager Howard Alexander explained that the levy is 2 cents higher than what had been stated in public hearing advertisements because of a drop in sales tax receipts and a change in the rollback of Proposition B.

Alexander said the board could have raised its debt service levy from 22 cents to 25 cents, but after reviewing account balances did not feel it was necessary.

The overall levy includes $1.04 in the general fund; $1.11 in the special revenue fund; 22 cents for debt service; and 47 cents for the capital project fund.

In presenting goals for the coming school year, Superintendent Wayne Maupin said that four of the five goals deal with the Missouri School Improvement program. Once classes begin, Maupin said he would begin forming committees to work toward attaining the goals.

Adopted goals include: appoint a school improvement committee to assist with implementation of the state school improvement program; review the instructional program for the district as stated in the District Response Plan for the state school improvement program; review the need, financial feasibility and priority status for additional elementary administrative, librarian, and guidance counselor personnel positions; and develop a plan for addressing the concerns found in the Missouri School Improvement program review of the district.

A fifth goal is to develop a reduction in force board policy for the district, which Maupin said would be done in cooperation with the Community Teachers Association executive committee.

"Those goals really focus on instruction and staff needs," said Maupin.

School lunch prices will be increased this year from $1 to $1.20 after the board approved a recommendation of the superintendent. He explained that on June 30, 1990, the food service fund had a deficit of $58,000 and that had been reduced to $48,000 this year, but the district needs to get it closer to a break-even point.

"What we would like to do is get it to a break-even situation in food service and this is a step in the right direction," said Maupin. "This increase is not out of line when compared to other schools around the state."

He pointed out that a survey of 350 other schools in Missouri showed their range for meals went from $1.21 to $1.25.

Milk prices will remain at 20 cents a carton this year.

The conflict-of-interest policy approved by the board followed a format recommended by the Missouri School Boards Association to comply with a new state law. By approving the policy, school board members will not have to disclose anything unless they had a financial transaction involving the school district of over $500.

Maupin presented a drop-out study for the 1990-91 school year prepared by the guidance department that showed there were 48 students who quit school from Aug. 28, 1990, to May 31, 1991. The main reasons were dislike of school, low or failing grades, and the need or desire to have a full-time job.

The drop-out figure represents about 5.8 percent of the high school's total enrollment of 822.

Maupin explained that the percentage is higher than the just over 4 percent of the previous year, but during the last six years the rate has hovered around the 4-5 percent range.

The board also awarded bids for oil and lubricant to Eagle Oil Co., for tires to Crader Tire Co. and Purcell Tire Co., and for milk to Prairie Farms Dairy.