JACKSON SCHOOL ISSUE AGAIN ON BALLOT

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Jackson Board of Education will ask voters Nov. 7 to approve a $6 million bond issue to cover costs of an addition and to make other improvements to R.O. Hawkins Junior High School.

The school board Tuesday night deliberated for more than two hours on the bond issue and two other funding proposals before voting to put the bond issue on the ballot. Separate resolutions that also would have put operating tax-levy increases of 27 and 40 cents per $100 assessed valuation on the Nov. 7 general election ballot died on the floor when no motions were made.

Passage of the bond issue would require a 10-cent increase in the debt service levy.

The ballot issue was approved by a vote of 5 to 1, with Mark Baker casting the lone dissenting vote. Baker told the board he voted against the bond issue because he hoped for a smaller request that covered fewer improvements at the school.

Despite his dissent, Baker pledged his support in helping the school board raise the four-sevenths majority vote that will be needed to pass the measure.

It's not that I don't think these improvements are not needed," Baker said. "I am not against this, and, as a matter of fact, I'll do what I can to support it."

It will be the third time this year Jackson voters will consider a bond proposal and the second time for the $6 million issue that would be used to add 18 classrooms, expand the kitchen and library, and construct a new gymnasium at the junior high school, and to purchase some new technological equipment districtwide.

In April, voters rejected a $5.3 million proposal to make improvements at the junior high, build a new elementary school and purchase technological equipment throughout the district. In August, the district fell about 300 votes short of the supermajority needed to pass the $6 million proposal.

"I don't see any other alternative at this point but to put it back on in November," said school board member Vicky McDowell prior to voting on the proposal. "It seems soon to me, but the dilemma is that the issue would be compounded by the issue of school board member elections mixed in with funding measures if we wait until April."

The decision not to pursue the tax increases was made after the board heard opinions of more than 50 patrons who attended the meeting. Some supported the bond issue only; others were against tax increases of any kind.

"I am vehemently opposed to this," said district resident Richard Bruce. "I think taxes in this city should address not only the school but also the growth in the city. It's too early to put that on the ballot, and I personally would work against that."

Many of those attending the meeting called for a compromise of some sort. They said they supported the bond issue and recognized the eventual need for a tax increase but felt the two measures should be proposed to voters separately.

"I don't think we can get the bond and the levy at the same time," said Jack Litzelfelner Jr., who led the failed attempt to get the bond issue and a 40-cent operating tax hike passed earlier this month. "I'll do anything I can to support the board whatever you decide, but I just have to believe a lot of people went into that poll and got a ballot that voted 'no' just because that levy was an issue for them.".