Carthage residents will vote on two separate school district issues on April 8. Both ballot measures improve and expand the Carthage R-9 School District.
Operating Tax Levy Increase
The first ballot issue is an operating tax levy increase. The levy is a property tax of 1-6 years. If passed, it will increase the current tax rate from $3.05 to 3.60
Carthage homes assessed at $100,000 will collect an increase of $8.70 monthly.
The proposed ballot measure also renews the district's Prop C waiver to restructure the city's tax rate.
The levy increase would improve the school's operating costs, maintain salaries and resources, ensure continued academic excellence, and provide stability for future growth. According to a flyer listed on the district's website, bus costs, janitorial supplies, energy costs, and the state minimum wage have been in a budget deficit since the 2019-2020 school year.
Operating costs also include higher salaries and wages for staff.
Right now, Carthage's starting teaching salary is $40,000, which is only $1,000 more than Missouri's minimum. The district also has the lowest competing salary in the Ozark conference, which includes Webb City, Joplin, Neosho, and Carthage.
Carthage has 5,000 students across thirteen campuses and according to its staff, it is running out of space.
The operating tax levy increase will also improve teacher retention. Some teachers, like Melissa Stremke, work multiple jobs outside of teaching to make ends meet.
Stremke is the pre-school teacher at Pleasant Valley, one of the elementary campuses in Carthage. She's been teaching there for 16 years and loves making connections with her students.
Right now, she works three different jobs in addition to being a full-time teacher. She drives the bus after school, is a substitute teacher for adult education classes, and is a grocery driver for Walmart.
"I feel like I could probably focus more time on the extra things that I love at school like I'm very involved in the Carthage Community Teachers Association," she explains. "I'm very involved in anything that has to do with the English language learners. And I feel like I probably can't do as much of that because I do need that extra income to help make ends meet with my family."
Stremke still feels supported at Pleasant Valley and says it feels like family despite having to earn extra income.
"If I have a problem with a student, I can just holler down the hall, get on the walkie, and somebody will help me," she adds.
Carthage's School District Superintendent, Dr. Luke Boyer, recognizes the need for a salary increase.
"We've lost our hiring advantage, and so you know, for us to be able to retain, attract, and retain teachers here at Carthage, we're probably going to have to address our starting salary," adds Boyer.
The levy needs a 50% + 1 simple majority to pass.
Bond Issue for Auditorium
The second ballot measure is a bond issue of up to $25 million to be used only for a new auditorium. If passed, it will not increase taxes but will increase debt payments by exactly five years. It's a long-term investment, allowing the district to purchase and construct new schools and repair old ones. This bond is sold to investors and will be paid over time, between 10 and 12 years.
According to Jasper County's sample ballot, if passed, the debt service levy will remain at its current $.83 per one hundred dollars assessed valuation of real and personal property.
Bonds require a 60% super majority to pass.
The proposed new auditorium will allow more space for show choir practices and the Junior Reserves Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). 's capabilities. It will also include a designated tornado safety shelter.
Dr. Boyer said the school hasn't previously had the capacity for the program but will if the bond once it's passed.
"We've had to turn that program down twice in the last two or three years simply because we don't have adequate space for it," he said.
The current auditorium is small and not an effective practice space for the show choir. Students also have to commute to practice after school, which limits their success in some of the school's programs.
Dr. Boyer said the reaction to both measures has been relatively positive. According to a flyer on the school district's site, a public survey revealed 56% of the community would support more than a 55-cent increase.
According to data from the Education Data Initiative – Missouri ranks 34th in K-12 school spending. The state spends less than the national average on education relative to taxpayer income.
Both ballot measures are voted on by checking yes or no questions. Sample ballots are available at JasperCountyMo.gov.
