School financing

Missouri educators are caught between a rock and a hard place as they decide how to best reconcile their budgets with their revenue projections. They're reviewing what programs can be eliminated while parents expect the best for their children.

State coffers simply aren't adequate to fund every wish. Although Missouri schools have seen an 85 percent funding increase ($2 billion) since 1993, area districts are making cuts in light of inflationary and other factors that have pushed expenses beyond expected revenue.

The current financial climate in Missouri has created political controversy. Gov. Bob Holden has proposed a tax increase to fund education. But Republican legislators say the state has to learn to live within its means. GOP legislators also oppose making budgets based on revenue that would come from tax increases not yet approved by voters.

The Cape Girardeau School District has also seen changes in its assessed valuation in recent years, thanks to appeals by some large industries that have successfully appealed the assessments on equipment. This has hurt district finances as well.

Instead of asking residents to support a tax increase, the school board decided to make some cost-cutting measures itself.

Originally the district intended to cut $2 million. And, knowing that the district needed the wisdom of Solomon when considering the cuts, the board turned to district patrons to study its budget. A task force listed 160 recommendations for cost-saving measures. That list was whittled to 52 suggestions which were then submitted to the school board by the district superintendent.

The board listened to what those residents and parents had to say. In the end, only $1.2 million was cut from the budget, leaving all but five teaching and administration positions intact and creating a participation fee for student activities.

The board was unanimous on all but a few of the superintendent's recommendations, but it voted against eliminating a band instructor and administrative assistants at the junior high and middle schools and will retain an assistant principal at the high school and the district's director of personnel.

Though the approved cuts still leave the district $1 million in the red, school officials hope the economy will rebound so they can right the budget situation in the coming years.

A recent poll by Research 2000 shows that 76 percent of Missourians surveyed would support higher taxes to fund education. Just how much people are willing to pay has yet to be determined.

Until the state's financial situation clears up, it is important for school districts, legislators and educators to continue working together for our children's and our community's best interests.