The Ozark Board of Education is required to approve ballot language for questions regarding tax rates which the voters decide at the voting booth. This year, the District made a special effort to adjust the salary schedules to increase one of the badly sagging sections which were causing experienced, educated teachers to leave for higher pay in other districts (and by “higher”, we mean significantly higher, around $4,000-$5,000 or more higher.) We were able to adjust just one section on only the teacher schedule (which did not affect other areas such as classified or administration or even beginning teachers), but only the one section which had been somehow been fallen behind through the years and now needed adjustment.
We were able to do it without having to change the total tax bill for citizens by reducing the debt-service levy, and we raised the operating fund amount enough to compensate for what would have been a negative balance in the Special Teacher Fund at the end of the year. There is great explanation on this and why it will definitely have to go to the teachers in answer to my questions on that around the 7:15 mark of the video for that meeting (note that, like many Zoom meetings, technical details were being worked out until the actual meeting starts around the 5:00 minute mark.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T2RHE-aeso&list=PLmr69vd6v4J4lqZDatLAttxOsiNoT_9Qr&index=28
As always, anything I say or write represents solely my personal views,
and I do not intend to represent the Board to you in any post or comment.
I do, however, fully intend to represent YOU to the Board!