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Board members warn of state funding shortfalls and proposed education bills at Lindbergh Schools meeting
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Summary
Board members reported concerns about state budget shortfalls, held-back Prop C distributions, proposed A–F report cards and several tax and literacy bills that they said could reduce school funding or change policy, urging awareness and potential advocacy.
At the Lindbergh Schools board meeting, members summarized recent legislative activity in Jefferson City and urged the community to follow several bills they said could affect district funding and policy.
Julia Voss and other board members relayed highlights from a Saint Louis School Board legislative advocacy meeting and committee reports. One board report said officials described significant state budget pressures tied to lower-than-expected gaming and lottery revenues and that officials estimated multi-year losses to education funding in the hundreds of millions. Board members said the district has not received some held-back distributions of Prop C sales tax proceeds and raised concern about that funding.
Board members discussed an executive order and proposed legislation to require A–F-style report cards for schools; one board member described how a proposed law could limit the number of schools that could receive an 'A' grade, effectively creating a forced curve. The board raised concerns that a separate literacy bill in the House would require retention of some third-grade students based on test scores, with limited parental or teacher discretion. A board member warned such a policy could remove teachers and parents from decisions about retention and asked the community to monitor and contact legislators.
The discussion also covered property tax and revenue proposals (including a referenced House bill to lower minimum tax rates), and a proposal that could allow some public funds to be used for private early childhood programs. Board members said they testified or attended hearings and sought to make district positions known to senators and staff. One board member said they estimated potential district revenue impacts in the first years if certain tax changes pass.
Board members framed these reports as items for community awareness and local advocacy; they encouraged residents to contact state legislators with concerns.
