Teacher salaries and school repairs in Jasper levy vote
JASPER, Mo. — There will be a spring election in Jasper. Part of the focus: teacher pay.
'The elementary was built in 1961—hasn't had any major upgrades since that time,' said Dr. Cindy Hansen, Jasper R-5 Superintendent.
Something that the Jasper R-5 School District wants to change.
It's one of the reasons there's a funding question on an upcoming ballot.
'The levy for learning, and it is for two major reasons. So first is teacher salaries. We're increasing teacher salaries in line with Senate Bill 727, that goes into effect next year. And the other one is deferred maintenance on aging facilities.'
It's for an 88-cent increase to the operating levy. Revenue would go primarily toward meeting state-required salary increases that go into effect next year.
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'The new teacher baseline salary requirement is $40,000 for a beginning teacher in Missouri, and $46,000 for a teacher with a master's degree and 10 years of experience. Right now, Jasper's starting salary is $32,400, so that's a pretty big jump,' said Dr. Hansen.
It would also pay for upgrades to electrical and plumbing in aging school buildings.
'It's been a long time since Jasper has been able to pass a bond or a levy. 1982 is the most recent we can find. So that means many things around here have not been able to be addressed, and we are looking forward to being able to address those.'
A yes vote would mean an extra $335 per year for a house worth $200,000, or for a million dollars of farmland, $1,000 a year.
The levy question will go before voters on April 8.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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