School Board receives call to action to protect local funding for public schools

Superintendent Brenten Byrd rallied Webb City R-7 School Board members Tuesday to become involved in the tax reform discussion going on currently during the state’s special legislative session.

He said he undersands the need to deal with rising property taxes, especially in some areas of the state, but some proposals being considered would cut school districts’ source of local revenue.

There are three constitutional amendment proposals to eliminate the personal property tax.

School districts across the state are sending in spreadsheets showing the impact that losing property tax revenue would have on their total revenue.

“The legislature is thinking they’re going to fix it – and what they’re going to do is cut the legs from under the whole system,” Byrd said.

On top of that, he noted the district faces a $500,000 loss of funding from the Department of Education and state funding that’s not keeping up with inflation.

“We continue to fall behind in funding – and they’re trying to cut more,” Byrd said. He urged board members to contact area legislators.

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In other action:

• Byrd noted that as requested by the board, financial literacy training is being implemented. Presenters from Arvest Bank will go to schools throughout the year to stress financial literacy to students and staff.
• The annual assessment plan was approved, and “data night,” a time when each school presents test data to the board, was set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4.
• Lydia Regier, an orientation and mobility specialist, was contracted to help students as determined necessary by Kayla Cullers, director of special education.
• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office to deputize Tyler Christensen, director of safety and security, and April Foulks, attendance enforcement specialist. As deputies, they will have law enforcement authority on district property and buses.