Jackson School Board passes resolution against Amendment 3

With the Nov. 4 general election weeks away, the Jackson School Board on Tuesday night passed a resolution opposing Amendment 3.

The proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution would, among other things, tie teacher evaluations to student performance.

The Cape Girardeau School Board also passed a resolution against it last month.

Superintendent Ron Anderson said having Amendment 3 as part of the constitution would make it almost impossible to change.

Reading from the resolution, board president Terri Tomlin said the amendment would shift local control for educational decisions away from parents, teachers, administrators and school boards, jeopardizing the work the school district has done regarding teacher performance evaluations.

It also would force taxpayers to pay for additional standardized tests at a time when school districts remain underfunded by the state, Tomlin said.

Community member Brad Noel also spoke in opposition to Amendment 3.

In other business, the board:

* Heard the district received a clean 2013-2014 audit from CliftonLarsonAllen, certified public accountants, consultants and advisers with offices in St. Louis and St. Joseph, Missouri.

* Tabled a motion by board member Alaina Hinze to include on the agenda the names of those who have gone through the process to make public comments at board meetings.

* Renewed its lease with the Building Corp. Wade Bartels, associate superintendent of finance/business operations, said the Building Corp. is a vehicle the district uses to finance construction projects. Most recently, the district financed a renovation and an addition at Jackson High School through the corporation.

* Heard from West Lane Elementary School parent Joshua Douglass, who wanted clarification on Common Core standards that dictate what students should know in English language arts and math at the end of every year.

* Viewed a presentation by R.O. Hawkins Junior High School teacher Christine Miller on her use of technology to help teach math.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address: 614 E. Adams St., Jackson, MO