The Neelyville School District voted to approve a four-day school week and remove the tax levy increase from the April ballot. The district held its monthly school board meeting Tuesday.
The board voted on several key issues including the 2024-2025 school calendar and whether to put a tax levy increase on the April ballot with six of its seven members. John French was not in attendance.
For consideration were three potential calendars. The third and most contentious option was to shift to a four-day week model with Monday taken off.
According to Superintendent Heather Black, the school district polled its faculty and found 51 of 63 responded in favor of the shorter week. The board debated issues such as impacts on test score performance and extracurriculars.
A study conducted by the Missouri State Board of Education presented to the board showed no significant change in either direction for standardized testing but a small decrease in reading ability.
Some board members expressed concern the study’s dataset contained the years of the COVID-19 pandemic which had large repercussions for student achievement.
Teacher morale and retention showed improvement and became a key factor in the board’s decision.
The board approved the motion with 5-1. Paul Petty dissented. He stated that the American education system, lagging behind other countries, cannot afford to compromise on the educational benefit to the student.
The board passed the measure on a one-year provisional basis. After the 2024-2025 school year, the matter will again be up for debate.
Petty countered that it would be, “hard to back out of it,” should the board reverse their decision.
Extracurriculars and sports remain on a five-day schedule to facilitate coordination with other schools still on the traditional model. Practices and events are prohibited from taking place before 3 p.m. on Mondays.
“There will probably be a lot of procedural adjustments along the way,” Black said.
Neelyville will be the 163rd district in the state to make the change, according to the University of Missouri.
Tax levy
The next major item was a tax levy increase to increase teacher salaries and improve school security. The board previously passed a motion to put a tax increase of 85 cents per $100 of assessed valuation on the April ballot.
Members reintroduced the matter for debate in light of the new school calendar. The board discussed a levy’s likely unpopularity. According to one member, the last time voters approved a similar tax was in 1958.
Given inflation’s impact on residents, the board agreed it was not the right time economically. Additionally, the district would need to fund the measure’s placement on the ballot.
Board members relayed that some residents would find it inappropriate to raise teacher salaries in return for only four days of work. Teachers will still receive a 3% cost of living salary increase. The board voted unanimously to remove the levy from the April ballot.
Other business
The board discussed four additional issues.
Members approved an extra month to finish the security request for proposal.
The board debated over increasing the retirement incentive from $2,500 to $5,000. This incentive would only be available to specific qualifying faculty. Black noted that only two employees currently qualified. Some board members expressed concern that increasing the incentive would decrease the retention of experienced faculty.
The board decided to table the motion until next month’s meeting.
Members approved a measure to apply damages to all employee contracts should the employee prematurely leave their position.
The board made no changes to its Safe to Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity or Services Plan.
The next school board meeting will take place on Feb. 13, with the open session starting at 7 p.m.
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