Perry schools tax-levy hike receives 61.6 percent of vote

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perryville Elementary School students jumped up and down, waved their arms and shouted for joy when they learned a 50-cent tax-levy increase passed Tuesday, allowing them to preserve extracurricular activities in the school district from financial elimination.

An unprecedented 55 percent of Perry County School District's registered voters went to the polls. The final vote was 3,409 to 2,121 in favor of the levy. The issue got 61.6 percent of all votes cast. A simple majority was needed for passage.

"This is the biggest turnout for a single-issue school election I have seen in my 15 years as county clerk," said Randy Taylor.

Perry County voters hadn't passed a tax-levy increase since 1974. This time the school board took a more stern approach to try to get it passed. It released a list of programs and positions that would be eliminated if the increase failed, including several staff positions and all extracurricular activities.

Besides the list, the school board also tried to communicate with the public by holding rallies, writing letters in the local newspaper and mailing brochures.

Tuesday was a night full of anticipation for students and faculty in Perry County School District.

Dustin Kueker, a sophomore at Perryville High School, clinched his fists and quietly whispered, "Come on, come on, be good news," each time superintendent Beverly Schonhoff's cellular phone rang. On the other end of the line was Schonhoff's assistant, Rick Francis, who was relaying poll results from the county clerk's office to the middle-school cafeteria where about 80 people gathered for the results.

Schonhoff read the votes for Precinct 4: "Two-hundred and ninety -- yes."

Kueker held his breath.

Then the no votes: "One-hundred and thirty-nine -- no."

Kueker threw his arms in the air and yelled, "All right."

So it went for 16 of the other 18 precincts. Only the Yount precinct had more no votes than yes, but it was only one vote difference: 96 to 95.

The win came on the heels of the announcement that Schonhoff, who had been serving as the district's interim superintendent, was chosen by the board to serve as superintendent.

Schonhoff said the win was proof the district was doing things right.

"I think we've earned the community's trust," she said, "and we want to show them we will apply their gift to the revitalization of our schools."

Schonhoff said she couldn't find words to describe the way she felt when she learned the levy had passed.

"My husband has his job still," said Cindy Bell, whose husband is the high school football coach. " I'm very, very happy. We expected victory but not by this big of a margin."

Bell said the district has a few things to work out, but now the school board knows the community is behind it.

Carol and Lester Wingerter voted for a tax increase and said they think the students need whatever they can get.

"I was a board member for nine years," Carol Wingerter said. "I know they need the money. When it comes to education it's always a 'yes' vote."

Sick from a recent flu shot, 78-year-old Tillie Sommer said she almost forgot to vote. When she saw on the six-o'clock news that Tuesday was the day, she jumped out of bed and hurried to the polls.

"I voted 'yes' just like I always do," she said. "I have never voted no when it is concerning education. I don't care how much they raise the taxes."

Cristy and Larry Welker have no children and said they don't want to pay for other people's to go to school. They both voted against higher taxes.

"I don't feel we should pay an extra tax to pay for other people's children to go there," Cristy Welker said. "Maybe if we had a child there it would be different.

"The parents should be the ones paying," she said. "A lot of people in Perryville have no kids, and we're the ones getting taxed. There's got to be another way."

Brian Behrle, 22, who is a graduate of St. Vincent's High School in Perryville, agreed.

"I don't see why they need to raise the tax that much," he said. "They should have to pay tuition. That's how we made it."

Nicole Jordan, whose oldest child is a second-grader at Perryville Elementary, said she voted against the measure, not because of the increase but because she felt threatened by the school board.

"I was upset they kept threatening us," she said. "I'm sick of the threats. They even sent notes home with my second-grader."

Schonhoff said the win is just the first step in revitalizing the district.

"I feel invigorated, refreshed and rejuvenated," she said. "We're so grateful to all of our patrons who voted 'yes.'"

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128