Southern Boone School Board asking voters to increase property tax levy

The Southern Boone Board of Education is asking voters to increase the property tax levy to pay for a two-story expansion at the Primary School and hiring staff to keep teacher-student ratios low.

The board is asking to increase the property tax levy by 40 cents per $100 accessed value. School Board President Barret Glascock said, if approved, 30 cents of the increase would go toward construction at the Primary School and 10 cents would go toward teacher salaries.

The $6 million Primary School expansion would add 17 new classrooms and six support offices.

“We are already overcrowded and it would be less expensive to build a two-story addition than it would to start another building,” Glascock said.

Southern Boone Schools Superintendent Chris Felmlee said the kindergarten, first and second grade classroom sizes are growing quickly. He said too many students in one classroom can hamper the quality of education.

“Maintaining smaller classrooms, that’s a huge priority for us as well as the community itself values that,” Felmlee said.

Voters will see the proposed tax levy increase on the ballot April 2.

Felmlee said this tax levy increase will impact the district’s future plans.

“Assuming this is approved, it will set in motion two other bond issues that will help us address growth at the middle school and elementary, as well as the high school over the next six years,” he said.

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