Jackson School Board keeps tax rate the same

Jackson School Board members voted unanimously Tuesday night to keep the district's tax rate stable at $3.80 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Superintendent Ron Anderson said the tax rate has remained the same since 2005.

Associate superintendent of finance Wade Bartels said the budget for the 2013-2014 school year is roughly $59 million. It was about $51 million for 2012-2013. Both include funds for construction.

In his report to the board, Anderson said a meeting was held last week with architect Warner Nease Bost Architects Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., contractor Brockmiller Construction of Farmington, Mo., and subcontractors for the district's new elementary school to be located on North Lacey Street.

He said the construction phase on the building has started. Financed with a bond of a little more than $16 million, Anderson said the school will be for kindergarten through fifth-grade students and feature an early childhood wing.

He said the building probably won't be done for fall 2014, but officials will have a better idea of a completion date in the spring.

The new 105,000-square-foot building, which will sit on 15 acres, will be the largest elementary school in the district, Anderson said.

Anderson said the new campus will allow the district to relieve overcrowding at some other buildings. The district currently has nine school buildings -- one high school for 10th- through 12th-graders, a junior high with eighth- and ninth-graders, a middle school with sixth- and seventh-graders and six elementary campuses.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, assistant superintendent Beth Emmendorfer said preliminary figures show the number of students in the district is up a little more than 100 from last year. Including students in the early childhood program, Anderson said he believes the district will have more than 5,000 students this year.

Anderson said the district's growth is balanced right now, adding enrollment is up at all three of its secondary buildings.

Emmendorfer also noted for board members that the district achieved accreditation with distinction under Missouri School Improvement Standards.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

Pertinent address:

615 E. Adams St., Jackson, Mo.