Attached is a joint letter from members of the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) regarding recent state funding decisions and the potential impact on public school districts across Missouri.
Locally, Ste. Genevieve County R-II could face an estimated $838,000 reduction in state funding if funding for Missouri public schools is not restored.
The attached letter provides additional context on the issue, its potential impact on Missouri schools and ways community members can stay informed and engaged.
Estimated Funding Losses by District Due to Lack of Full Funding
Estimated losses are rounded to the nearest thousand.
Arcadia Valley- $428,000 Bismarck-$192,000 Central-$903,000
Farmington- $1,622,000 Fredericktown-$793,000 Kingston-$388,000
North County-$1,044,000 Potosi-$998,000 Ste. Genevieve-$838,000
Valley-$125,000 West County-$475,000
Families, Staff, and Community Members of the MAAA,
As Superintendents and leaders of your local school districts, we want to share an important concern with you regarding the funding for public education within the state of Missouri.
We are asking our families, staff, community members, businesses, and local organizations to stand with our schools and advocate for full funding for public education. Our students deserve the resources they need to learn, grow, and prepare for their futures.
The Missouri Legislature has the ability to provide additional funding and fully support public education. We encourage you to contact your state legislators and ask them to support full funding for our schools. We also encourage you to contact your local Superintendent if you would like more information about how these funding decisions may affect your school district. Our Governor and/or the Legislature can restore funding for schools in the coming months, but they will only do so if everyone advocates for this together.
At the September State Board meeting, the State Board of Education chose not to request full funding for public education. If this funding is not restored, our local school districts could face significant financial losses. These cuts could affect the services and opportunities we provide to students and families in our communities. Estimated losses by District are listed at the very top of this letter.
We strive to manage our budgets responsibly and will continue to do so. Our Districts maintain fund balances to meet payroll and other obligations throughout the year, respond to unexpected costs, and plan responsibility for future needs. These funds are not a permanent solution for replacing recurring state revenue. Continued reductions in state funding will eventually require districts to make difficult long-term decisions about programs, staffing, services, and other priorities.
At times like this, it is important to remember that our schools and our communities depend on each other. Our schools are stronger because of the support of our communities, and our communities are stronger because of our schools.
For generations, we have worked together to help one another. When floods and tornadoes have affected our communities, our schools have opened their doors to provide safe places for people. When families have faced the unimaginable loss of a loved one, our communities have come together to provide care and support. Local businesses, families, and organizations have donated time and resources to support our students, including helping provide food for children on weekends.
These are more than acts of kindness. They show what makes our communities strong: we take care of one another.
Now, our public schools need that same support.
Our schools are part of the foundation of our communities. When we support our schools, we support our students, our families, and the future of our communities.
Thank you for standing with our schools and for continuing to show what is possible when our communities work together.