JACKSON SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAY NUMBERS SUPPORT BOND ISSUE PROPOSAL

JACKSON, Mo. -- Optimism among school officials varies regarding the chances of passage of two school funding proposals to be considered by voters during elections on Tuesday.

Campaign chairman Jack Litzelfelner feels certain voters will approve the proposals, which include a $6 million bond issue and operating tax levy increase that would together increase the district's tax levy a total of 50 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

"It's hard to say whether we're going to have a bigger turnout or a smaller turnout, but I think it'll be approved overwhelmingly this time," said Litzelfelner.

If approved, funding from the bond issue would be used to build an addition and make other improvements at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School and add some technology throughout the district. The operating tax levy increase would provide additional revenue to cover operating costs, including salaries.

Litzelfelner said the district has demonstrated its need for passage of both proposals. For example, the junior high school will have an anticipated 800 students this year, some 200 more students than the building was designed to hold. Closets have been converted into classroom space, and there is little room to meet academic needs of students and government programming mandates.

The building's enrollment has been higher in the past. There were 872 students enrolled at the school in 1993, when voters approved a $5.4 million, no-tax increase proposal to build a new middle school. The building, which houses sixth- and seventh-graders, alleviated crowding at the three-grade-level junior high school and at the elementary level.

Junior high enrollment peaked in 1994-95 at 933 students and dropped to 641 when the middle school opened the following year.

"Since that time, it's gotten bigger again nearly every year," said assistant superintendent Rita Fisher. "Not only do you need to reduce the size of classes in the courses that are already offered, but you also have to make additions to your course offerings." Fisher said the election campaign committee has done a good job of helping school officials communicate the need with the community. People have asked questions and seem to understand the needs at the junior high school, but there may be less comprehension about the need for the operating tax levy increase.

"I think that buildings are easier because you can see that need, the bricks and mortar, whereas when you talk about a tax levy increase you don't have the same feeling there," she said. "It's easier to understand the needs of the bond issue, but when you try to staff those additional classrooms, that's where you would need the levy to do that." Board of Education member Mark Baker questions whether the issues will be successful. Although he originally supported the bond issue and opposed the tax measure, Baker said he now has reservations about both proposals because he believes a consultant should be hired to help the district devise long-range planning options prior to any new projects.

"To get some good, solid professional help that may improve what you do in your district over the next 10 to 20 years is money well-spent," he said.

"I'm not a doom and gloom type of guy. I think we'll be alright either way." Baker said he is happy to see the increased communication between the school board and community. People are asking questions and taking an interest in the district at a level that did not exist in recent years, and that will be a benefit as school officials continue to work to improve the quality of education for students, he said.

"Even if nothing else, there was a public meeting with 120 there that wouldn't have been there before this issue came up," said Baker. "I'm very optimistic about the future of this district." Litzelfelner said he also sees the improved communication about school concerns as a positive development in the community. There has been a grassroots effort to talk about the needs of the school district, and that will result in two yes votes on Tuesday, he said.

But in the event one or both issues fail, Litzelfelner said there is only one course of action that can take place.

"Then we do it again," he said. "It's an inevitable. We don't have the luxury of sitting and waiting a couple of more years."

Junior high enrollment

Annual enrollment at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School over past 10 years. The junior high housed seventh, eighth and ninth grades until the opening of Jackson Middle School in fall 1995. The junior high became a two-grade center at that time, housing only eighth- and ninth-graders.

Junior high enrollment

1990-91 798

1991-92 855

1992-93 872

1993-94 910

1994-95 933

1995-96 641

1996-97 657

1997-98 713

1998-99 700

1999-00 748