The Neelyville School Board covered tax levies, air conditioning and after-school programs ahead of the upcoming academic year.
The board began with a public hearing on a tax increase for the 2025-26 school year Thursday evening. The current property tax rate is 2.9306%. The maximum allowed increase by the state is .0074%.
“This is very small,” board member Jim Hover noted.
He added a number of people’s tax increases would amount to less than a dollar. Board Member Paul Petty said, given the teacher salary increase to $40,000 by SB 727, the district needs to be proactive before it gets behind.
“We’re already concerned long-term for that,” member Jill McGruder remarked, “Nobody likes an increase in taxes...for the sustainability of the school, we need to keep up.”
Petty said the move makes sense against the backdrop of everything getting more expensive with inflation. The board approved the increase to 2.9380%.
In other business, members reapproved the Missouri School Board Association policy for conflict of interest and financial disclosures. The board also reapproved the district contact personnel roster and position descriptions with no changes.
Superintendent Heather Black presented a new bid received for the installation of air conditioning for three of the school’s buses. The district originally selected a bid from Trans Air for the amount of $36,458.
The company, however, did not know the buses were missing the dash AC components and increased the quote to $53,128. Black said the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds provided $40,000 for the upgrade, but the increased price was over budget.
Through Midwest Transit, the district received a new bid from Trans Arctic for the amount of $41,147. While still over the ESSER amount, the school would only need to foot the remaining $1,147 from its regular budget. The board accepted the bid.
Members also voted to renew the district’s contract with the Family Counseling Center and accept the new after-school program. Black noted the FCC would provide its own transportation. Regarding the school’s baseball field restrooms, McGruder relayed the concerns of a local resident over the inadequacy of the existing facilities. Currently, the fields only have portable toilets.
While there is a structure already built, it is being used for storage and does not have the necessary plumbing. Board member Jack Stull suggested fundraisers such as a gun raffle to help pay for upgrading the building to a concession stand and bathroom.
Black said she would try to gather more information and present the possibilities to the board at a later date.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24.