The Poplar Bluff R-I School Board approved a $3.6187 tax rate for fiscal year 2022 at their monthly meeting on Tuesday.
The rate is applied to each $100 of assessed value on property and real estate. These taxes are estimated to generate more than $18 million for the district.
The funds are budgeted for general fund expenses, debt service, and capital projects.
Although the projected revenue is higher than last year, the actual tax rate has actually decreased by a little more than three cents from the previous year.
R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill informed the board that the district has ten fewer bus drivers this year compared to last, which will result in some difficult decisions to start the school year next week.
For middle school and junior high students, the radius from the schools deemed too close for bus pick-up will increase from one mile to one-and-a-half miles.
In addition, one group of students at the middle school, junior high and senior high will have to wait for a bus to leave the school, drop off students, then return to pick up their group.
Dill said the goal for this group of late-departing students is to get them home within a half-hour of the school’s dismissal.
“We’re not happy about this,” Dill said, “but hopefully it’s temporary.”
The district is starting a radio campaign soon to help recruit new drivers to meet the shortfall in drivers.
“We have no choice at this point but to take these actions,” Dill said.
“Prioritizing predictable and safe transportation for all our students is our goal,” he added.
Dill also reported that no immediate changes in the district’s “Return to Learn” COVID-19 policy will be made.
This means no mask mandates for students, teachers and staff, and no vaccine requirements in Poplar Bluff schools, at least for now.
“There is no reason to take any action because nothing has happened yet,” Dill said, adding that changes are always possible should they become necessary.
Dill informed the board that the district would be submitting their application for the third round of federal ESSER funds, which are provided to help schools deal with the impact of the ongoing COVID pandemic.
He reported that the school district is budgeting 40 percent of the funds to deal with loss of learning situations due to the pandemic.
This money will help provide in-school and after-school tutoring, fund Americorps tutors and work in concert with Boys and Girls Club for after-school programs.
In addition, some of the other ESSER funds will be earmarked for teaching training and professional development.
“I’m really excited that we’re going to be spending this money for our students,” Dill said.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to future-proof our schools for the next five to 10 years,” he said.
In other business, the board approved the Summer School Program Evaluation presented by summer school director Jennifer Taylor.
Taylor reported that summer school attendance during the June session had increased by one-third, and that both sessions showed successful student outcomes.
The board also approved a proposal to hire two new security guard positions within the district.
Poplar Bluff R-I schools begin the new school year on Monday, August 23.