JACKSON SCHOOL FUNDING PLAN TO BE DISCUSSED

JACKSON, Mo. -- Jackson school officials hope community members can envision the problems that come from educating 800 students in a building built for 600 when they go to the polls next month.

To help that vision along, a public meeting will be held at R.O. Hawkins Junior High at 7 p.m. Monday. School officials will be on hand to answer questions about two funding proposals to be considered in elections Aug. 8, and tours of the building will be offered.

Administrators are projecting a 3 percent enrollment increase for the coming year, extending the school district's phenomenal growth pattern an 11th year. If the projection holds, the district's enrollment will increase from about 4,460 students to approximately 4,600 by the last week in September, when an official head count is taken.

Of the increased enrollment, some 800 eighth- and ninth-graders will be educated at the junior high.

"We just want to familiarize people with some of the issues we have at the junior high," said schools Superintendent Ron Anderson. "I think most people do recognize we have a number of concerns in that building."

Anderson said he doubts there will be enough people on hand Monday night to simulate the hallway crush that occurs when students empty out of classrooms between class periods. However, he hopes to have a good enough showing to demonstrate the need for the $6 million bond proposal that would provide funding to build an additional 18 classrooms and provide other improvements to the school.

The debt service levy would increase by 10 cents per $100 assessed valuation if the measure is approved.

"I think they can get a pretty good idea" of what conditions are like during the school year, Anderson said. "We want to provide the opportunity for people to revisit any questions they may have and answer any concerns that may be on their minds."

A committee of district patrons has been active in the past month distributing information about the bond issue and a proposed operating tax increase of 40 cents per $100 assessed valuation that would help cover the district's operational costs. A core group of about 40 people from the community has managed fund raising to finance the campaign, telephone calls to educate voters on the issues, and distribution of printed materials and yard signs to promote the issues. Anderson said he is optimistic about the district's chances of getting the issues passed.

The operating tax increase requires a simple majority for passage. A four-sevenths majority, about 57 percent, is needed to pass the bond issue.

"It's a community issue and it's good to see that community involvement from people that's not necessarily connected to the school district," Anderson said. "I think people realize this is a growing community, and they want to maintain that quality of education that this community is accustomed to.".