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Ferguson‑Florissant board urges vote on Prop S, frames levy as staff and safety funding
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Fields outlined Proposition S — a requested 48‑cent per $100 assessed valuation operating levy on the April 7 ballot — saying proceeds would fund safety and security upgrades, essential staffing and increased pay for non‑administrative staff; outreach and senior protections were emphasized.
The Ferguson‑Florissant R‑II Board of Education heard an extended presentation from Superintendent Dr. Fields on Proposition S, an operating levy increase placed on the April 7 ballot that would raise local revenue by 48 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Dr. Fields said the measure is intended to fund safety and security upgrades, address essential staffing shortages and support competitive pay for non‑administrative employees who work directly with students.
"Prop S is our community's promise that every student can learn in a safe school with the support they need from staff who are supported as well," Dr. Fields said during the board meeting. She repeated outreach dates for informational sessions and emphasized the district will aim for transparency on past spending questions raised by the public.
Dr. Fields noted that roughly 60% of the district's funding comes from local sources, making an operating levy a primary mechanism to maintain current programs and staffing levels. She said seniors already approved for the St. Louis County property‑tax freeze would not see a tax increase as a result of Prop S, and outlined plans for multiple community meetings and canvassing ahead of the election.
A member of the public, Doug Jackson, told the board the district has "a spending problem" and urged the board to explain where previous dollars went before seeking new revenue. Dr. Fields responded that the district is committed to transparency and cited recent budget reductions and auditing steps the district has taken since her hiring 10 months earlier.
Dr. Fields listed some budget actions already implemented — $5.1 million in operating cuts, administrative reductions, and hiring freezes managed through attrition — and said Prop S proceeds would avert additional cuts to classroom resources. The district also flagged that seniors who have been approved for the St. Louis County senior tax freeze by June 30, 2026, would not see an increase in their taxes if Prop S passes.
The district is conducting an informational campaign with meetings scheduled across the community leading up to the April 7 election. The next stated public outreach events include a session at the Ferguson Empowerment Center and a community leadership breakfast; more details and registration were listed on the district website.
The board did not take a binding vote on Prop S during the meeting; the next procedural step is the April 7 vote by registered voters in the district.
