Voters approve quartet of school funding issues in region

It was a clean sweep for school funding issues on regional ballots yesterday, with voters approving measures for the Clever, Logan-Rogersville, Strafford and Everton districts.

In Logan-Rogersville R-VIII, spanning Greene, Christian and Webster counties, a $24 million bond issue passed by 65%-35%, with combined unofficial vote totals of 702-373.

Described as a no-tax-increase ballot measure, approval will allow the district to take on debt for an agricultural center, updated classrooms and a middle school addition, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

In the Strafford R-VI School District, in Greene and Webster counties, a $16 million bond issue titled Proposition KIDS passed by 63%-37%, with combined unofficial vote totals of 313-180.

The funds are slated to be used to overhaul athletic areas, retool an auditorium entrance and add an elementary playground. Money will also be used to improve classrooms, the agriculture program, traffic flow and parking, accessibility and campus safety, according to past SBJ reporting, which notes the tax levy rate will not change.

The Clever R-V School District, which spans Christian and Stone counties, was seeking voter permission to reallocate a transfer of a portion of its debt-service fund to operating expenses. Combined unofficial results show the tax measure passed 454-353.

According to past SBJ reporting, the overall tax rate of $4.62 per $100 of assessed valuation will remain the same following passage of the ballot issue, but its split will be different, with 93 cents going to debt service and $3.69 to operating expenses. Some of the funds are slated to go toward a property purchase for an early childhood center.

In Dade County, County Clerk Melinda Wright provided unofficial results by phone showing a no-tax-increase Everton R-III bond issue passed 76%-24%, with vote totals of 124-40.

The purpose of Everton’s $950,000 bond is to expand its agricultural program, add parking and remodel classrooms. Though the district has only 166 students, it recently added 8 acres to its formerly landlocked 3-acre campus, according to past SBJ reporting.