SJSD Board of Education talks concerns about impact of proposed State legislation on schools

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)— As Missouri state lawmakers discuss multiple bills that would impact public school funding and oversight, the St. Joseph School District's Board of Education is having its own conversations about what this legislation might mean.

During Monday night's special work session, Board President LaTonya Williams presented a drafted resolution that would have the school district's board throw support behind "protecting local control and strengthen Missouri public education".

The board did not vote on the resolution because it is still in draft form, and was discussing the idea.

This resolution comes with the proposal of bills in the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate that some believe will hurt public education in the state.

In the potential resolution presented by Williams, House Bill 2668, HB 1998, HB 2697, HB 2710, Executive Order 26-01, and HJR 173 are discussed as legislation that will harm local control and funding for public education.

HB 2668 is about potential changes to Missouri's property tax calculation.

HB 1998 would have statutory changes to the governance and administrative oversight within Missouri's education system.

As for HB 2697, that legislation would impact elements of education policy, program oversight and funding structures.

The proposed HB 2710 and Executive Order 26-01 would create a statewide accountability system assigning letter grades A through F to public schools and districts. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has told the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to create a similar system, which is Executive Order 26-01.

There are also proposals in the legislature that would eliminate Missouri's individual income tax, including HJR 173. This resolution and other legislation would phase out the income tax.

You can read the Williams' full proposed legislation below.