Legislative Advocacy

The LSR7 School District’s tradition of excellence is the result of a collaborative effort among its supportive stakeholders.  A persistent focus on meeting the needs of each student will result in a legacy unparalleled by our peers in public education.  This legacy of excellence cannot be left to chance and requires ongoing advocacy on behalf of the close to 18,000 students served by the LSR7 School District.  It is our responsibility.

In the interest of public education, we ask the Missouri General Assembly to: Key Legislative Priorities

• Support funding early childhood education through an increased appropriation in the Foundation Formula and no decrease to the State Adequacy Target (SAT) paid on the formula.
• Support legislation that requires all charter schools and MOCAP approved virtual programs to be held to the same standards as all public schools with accreditation status and funding falling under the jurisdiction of the local school district.
• Support legislation that requires equal representation and the unanimous support of all taxing jurisdictions for any tax abatement project or otherwise provide an opt-out provision.

• Support local school district authority to make the decisions about matters including but not limited to, employee compensation and working conditions; class sizes; curriculum and instruction materials; professional development; program and employee evaluations; and school calendar.  We strongly support local control.
• Support maintaining the integrity of the current Foundation Formula and providing appropriations for fully funding the foundation formula, transportation formula, summer school and early childhood education.
• Support fully funding the transportation formula, including modifying the provision that penalizes school districts when they transport highly mobile students back to their original school of attendance.
• Support the creation and development of a system of interventions and support that leads to improvements in achievement for provisionally accredited and unaccredited school districts.
• Support legislation that annually reviews the effectiveness of tax credits and appropriates the funding based on the review.
• Support the full funding of education mandates in accordance with the Missouri constitution.
• Support the continuation of existing property tax relief for senior citizens within reasonable income limitations.
• Support legislation stipulating the enactment of accurate and timely property tax assessment practices and the clarification of assessment terms and timelines to promote uniformity and fairness of property tax assessments.
• Support funding for professional development that provides both a comprehensive and sustainable approach to improving district personnel effectiveness toward raising student achievement.
  
• Support the provision of a simple majority vote for the passage of local school district bond issues.
• Support increasing the bonding capacity for school districts.  
• Support the ability to make an internal transfer of levy from debt service levy to operating property tax levy with ballot language that states that the adjusted property tax levy stays the same.
• Support legislation that advances innovative instructional approaches in PK-12 public education such as proficiency-based education, alternative assessment practices, experiential learning opportunities, and workforce credentialing.

• Oppose any legislation or proposals that would divert public monies or resources from the public schools to non-public educational entities.
• Oppose legislation which reduces the benefits provided by the current state public school retirement systems (PSRS and PEERS).
• Oppose legislation or proposals that authorizes any mandate regarding open enrollment.  
• Oppose legislation that sets percentages for school district fund balances.
• Oppose legislation that would alter the basic governance structure of the Missouri State High School Activities Association.  
• Oppose any amendment to the Missouri Constitution to allow the distribution of state monies directly or indirectly to non-public educational entities or organizations.