The meets in a work session on Monday evening to discuss, among other things, the master plan presentation board members received in December. Monday's discussion is expected to review how the district might finance the plan, according to a memo in the board agenda circulated on Friday.
"The administration will present a draft of relevant financial background information, as well as a possible model for moving forward with financial implementation of the Master Plan," wrote Jason L. Buckner, the district's assistant superintendent for business and finance. "The administration will be seeking input from the Board of Education in an effort to finalize the financial section of the Master Plan in the upcoming months."
The initial master plan presentation in December showed the attached examples of classrooms, libraries, common areas and other parts of the existing district. Those were contrasted with images of upgraded and modernized facilities.
Buckner wrote: "The final product will be presented at a Board of Education Business meeting in upcoming months."
The board's work session will be at 6 p.m. at 9703 Conway Road in Ladue.
See the "before/after" photos and tell us what you think of the contrasting vision.
Here are some of the priorities outlined in the district's master plan presentation in December (this is not a complete list):
COST SCHOOL(S) PROJECTS $51.98 million Ladue Horton Watkins High Science wing addition; replacement windows; new music practice room; stadium improvements; "seismic" upgrades. Fire suppression systems throughout. $20.39 million Spoede Elementary; other schools New elementary school; maintain recent additions; replacement windows at a number of other schools, including Conway, Old Bonhomme, Reed, Ladue Middle, West Campus and the administrative center. $13.37 million Conway, Old Bonhomme, Reed, Ladue Middle, facilities building. Conway: Library and cafeteria additions; renovations to existing library and cafeteria into classrooms. and renovations. Old Bonhomme and Reed: gym and art room addition; renovation of existing gym into cafeteria; renovate existing cafeteria into multipurpose space. Ladue Middle: reconfiguration of parking and traffic flow. $21.25 million Ladue Middle, administrative building Relocate media lab and reconfigure library; addition for student commons; new entry plaza and gym plaza; renovate former science classrooms; renovation of the administrative building.
Education officials are creating "Glorified Country Clubs". This is fine, if you use the facilities. Is "Education" taking a back seat to bigger things? Our Educators (officials) must emphasize the "education" part of public education. Having these extra-curricular activities and buildings should be paid by "users". Do our public school administrators understand that many Families (residents) are already paying for "accredited" education using non-public schools.? It is time to debate a new public school support structure. This is a Missouri Public school system problem. Our schools TAX whatever they can get, then Pay whatever they get. Nobody should be paid by the Value of our homes. (A quasi-WEALTH TAX) Residents using Non-public education should not be paying annual "public-education" costs of other residents who are financially capable to pay their own education. Why should the value of Homes,automobiles, be the basis to pay Teachers and major extra curricular buildings having very little to do with "EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN". Pay your own football fields! All residents should contribute to build the schools and classrooms, But the users of those schools should pay full support of the "Teachers' & Admin" union dues/benefits etc. Public educators have been "freeloaders" to a Pay structure that collects taxes from residents who do not even use their services. It is time to get paid like all other Professions in USA
That is almost a more outrageous comment than those used to pass the last tax increase.
You are another disgruntled Public school taxed resident. Making my case a little more stronger for Big changes to how public schools are financed. Their cost per student is way out of hand. These stadiums and auditoriums should not be on the backs of "EDUCATION" Our School boards are not representing the People.
I have started by gathering an interest through "patch". I am in contact with a "grass roots" group called -MOCATHOLIC.ORG. Goal being to get Missouri laws changed in recognition of "violation of Parental rights" You will not be succesfull in trying to change "mismanagement". We must change our School "funding system". No Profession in America gets paid by "Valuing their clients or customer's HOMES". That is why the guaranteed pay increases will never stop. Once the people see how much their Property and auto taxes are, they will realize that --Public schools are not free. That public schools charge thousands of dollars even to the poor who own autos and homes. This must stop and I will try my best to navigate to the best route.
You started with "I wish there were a better method". That is what I also believe Educator pay should not be based on Home values. The cost of Education should not be different for 2 people earning the same pay. A Teacher is a Teacher Is a Teacher. If they want to have their union, then ALL of them should get similar pay,. Not by district. An education of ALL residents is crucial to get a whole new funding of Education. Here is what's wrong with current system: If one A)owns a $60,000 car with a $500,000 house, and one B)owns a $20,000 car with a $300,000 house----Both would pay substantially different public education taxes. Eventually, with proper resident education of this unfairness, it is possible for voters to force a new structure. California recognized this and residents have just passed a 1% limit real estate tax. So , other states are changing their Public education funding. POSSIBLY? Our funding system could be changed to an "index based" pay, tied to Average wages. State-wide. A simple line on the Missouri state tax form 1040 would calculate a "Public Ed tax" and sent in to the state. An exemption would be allowed for any family earning under $40,000. An exemption would be allowed for any family with NO children. No dependents. It's simple. It eliminates assessment hassles (cost), it forces union wage limits to stay in line with the taxpayers "ability to pay". No more arbitration of values. and finally all pay fair share.
Thanks for your interest. I agree with you, that many residents just take their RE taxes as necessary. That will change with a distributed flyer that simply explains how to force the school boards to get back to "Education" R-R-R and nothing more. The Catholics and other parents with No children have tremendous voting power to "STOP" this Country club Public education train. That is probably the easiest thing to accomplish on any next tax increase request. We are just now getting started on that side now. Every Business paying real estate taxes should also have a say. Let them strike, and the voters will throw out any Board member who does not represent the people. I estimate there could be a 30 to 40% decrease in all taxes for public education , once teachers are paid no more than twice the average wage earner in Missouri. Our Mo constitution is quite clear that Missouri shall provide "FREE Public education". It has a state tax of 3cents. Teachers made very litlle back when. But we have hundreds of retired and many yet on retirement row earning over $200,000 annual pensions. All because no-one stopped the enormous influx of "housing inflation Taxes". Taxes that flooded the coffers of School budgets. What they did was expanded the definition of "public education". If that is not stopped , no district will survive. Look at Chicago strikes.! They would lose every time , if we get Catholics & other non- pub school residents to vote NO!
The cars we drive also have a Personal Property tax allocation for "Public school support". At least 50% of our car PP tax goes to support public schools. WHY? I don't even know if that is Legal. Yet , we continue to pay it. Every Business owned car is also PersProp taxed--WHY? Our public schools are taxing everything that moves. There is not one Profession in this USA that would be allowed to "bill" his clients on the basis of "Home or Car value". Yet, our Educators try to justify their value based on "Professional" status. I don't think that is what the MO constitution intended. Let's see if there is some support out there.