JACKSON SUPER SAYS DISTRICT WON'T GIVE UP ON MORE FUNDS

JACKSON, Mo. -- Superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson said during a Jackson Board of Education meeting Thursday that requests for more district funding won't go away following the defeat of two funding proposals during elections Tuesday.

The school board did not discuss the failed proposals, although Board of Education President Dr. T. Wayne Lewis did remind members of the Aug. 29 deadline for placing funding proposals on the Nov. 7 general election ballot. The next school board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22.

"If we are going to do something, we've got to do it soon," said Lewis.

During his informational report to the board, Anderson said he has been thinking about how the district will fare following voters' rejection of a $6 million bond issue and operating tax levy increase, which would have resulted in a combined 50-cent increase per $100 assessed valuation to property taxes to pay for a new building addition at the junior high, additional technology throughout the district and increased revenue to cover operating costs.

It was the second time Jackson voters had rejected funding measures this year. Earlier this week, voters overwhelmingly voted down operating tax increases, and a similar bond proposal also was soundly defeated in April. The bond proposal considered Tuesday received a majority of yes votes, but fell short of the 57 percent majority needed for passage of the measure.

"If we miss many more opportunities, we'll be four to five years down the road before we can put any of this funding to use," Anderson said. "These are the kinds of things going through my mind as we search for ideas and wisdom from others."

In other business, the school board approved bus routes for the coming school year and approved the purchase of a computer file server that will manage computers at six school buildings. The equipment will replace obsolete technology that is inoperative at Orchard Elementary School.

The school board also approved a one-time transfer of $288,012.56 from the general fund to the capital projects fund, which is used for all maintenance and equipment purchases. The transfer, which was retroactively applied to the fiscal year which ended June 30, was approved by the state because the district didn't transfer the maximum amount allowable during the 1998-99 fiscal year.

"Basically, DESE will allow us to make transfers right now as long as we do them before we submit our 1999-2000 report, which is due next week," said Assistant Superintendent Jim Welker. "The adjustments give the current budget and all future budgets more flexibility.".