LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT LOSS OF CONTROL

Dear Editor:

I read with interest Tuesday's editorial on Senator Caskey's SB 380 clean-up amendment. It's my opinion there is a greater concern than just the one which revolves around the lease purchase issue. That concern is loss of local control by school districts.

When estimates were made last spring regarding SB 380, all school districts were assumed to have a $2.75 minimum levy. For Senator Caskey to imply millions of additional dollars will be driven by lease purchase agreements, which fall within that $2.75 levy is misleading. If districts move debt service levies into their school purposes funds, creating a new levy higher than the $2.75, this could cause additional revenues to go to those districts.

All school districts, not just those with lease purchase agreements, should be concerned about the potential loss of local control. With SB 380 the legislature mandated a minimum $2.75 levy. Southeast Missouri schools and hundreds of others around the state will have these in place before school starts this fall. Senator Caskey and others now want to restrict and limit how a district uses these local revenues.

The editorial's assessment, that superintendents calling for flexibility regarding the use these local funds are being looked on with little favor by authors of SB 380, is on target. We're being criticized for doing what is appropriate for our school districts. I applaud the editorial's position on the need for flexibility in regard to the use of these funds.

Whether a school district pays for facility improvements within its $2.75 levy or not, the district will not receive more in state funds than if it spent these revenues on something else. As long as a district stays within its $2.75 levy, the local boards and the district patrons should have the flexibility to use local funds as they deem appropriate. This is the basic and underlying critical concern.

The work of Senator Howard and others which support the use of a school district's minimum levy up to the $2.75 for lease purchase agreements or for other items deemed appropriate by the local boards and citizens is commendable. I encourage their continued support in this area. Without this flexibility districts will see a further erosion of local control. I shudder to think of other actions that may be forthcoming.

WAYNE C. PRESSLEY

Superintendent

Chaffee Schools