NV R-IV raises property tax rates slightly

The Neelyville R-IV school board set a slightly higher tax rate Monday night under the recommendation of the state auditor’s office.

The new tax rate for 2020 will be set at $2.9860. Last year’s rate was at $2.9668, up slightly from a rate of $2.9657 in 2018.

Superintendent Debra Parish said the district receives information from the county clerks in Butler and Ripley counties in setting the rates.

The information is then put into a system on the state auditor’s website, which provides the recommended tax rate along with calculations explaining it.

Parish said the tax revenue from last year was $1,196,221, and the estimated revenue from this year is $1,292,640.

The board hosted a public hearing Monday night for members of the community to comment or ask questions about the tax rate. Nobody did.

Board members approved the tax rate unanimously during the regular meeting later that night.

Later in the board meeting, they also approved a virtual education policy for Missouri Course Access Program (MOCAP).

The statewide program requires school districts to offer virtual education and cover the class cost for a student who takes that option.

Sabrina Morehead, supervisor of special education and early childhood education, said last year no student was interested. It was the first year of a new system for MOCAP.

So far, 21 students are interested in virtual education for at least the first semester of the 2020-21 school year.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a list of programs districts can use that meet Missouri standards.

Parish said the administration is considering which one to license and currently is reviewing six.

Morehead said the largest sticking point is price difference, as the programs can range from $3,000-$4,500 per student.

Most of those interested, Morehead said, are upper-level students, who want that option due to concerns over COVID-19.

All of them, she said, expressed interest for a semester or year based on how the pandemic is trending.

The district can deny a student the request to do virtual, but both Parish and Morehead agreed they don’t want to do that for COVID concerns.

The reasons listed on the MOCAP policy include a lack of self-motivation, computer literacy and communication skills.

For example, Parish said, if a student goes virtual for a semester and doesn’t pass their classes, the district will probably deny a request for the following semester under those concerns.

If they deny a request, the family can appeal it to the school board and eventually up to DESE.

With 21 students requesting, Morehead said, the district plans to have a virtual school coordinator, who will work with the students going through the MOCAP program to ensure they’re on track and getting assignments completed by checking in with them at least once a week.

The district will receive attendance funds from the state for these students only if they pass the courses.

Morehead said on average the district receives about $6,400 per student for average daily attendance.

For a year with fewer students, Morehead said, the district likely wouldn’t need somebody as a full-time coordinator, but with the number of students requesting, she felt it would be the right move to have somebody dedicated for it.