School district tax levy earns approval from voters
By Jazmine Knight
The St. Joseph School District’s Proposition S passed Tuesday, with 63.47% of voters approving the measure.
The initiative passed in all local precincts except for two.
Proposition S aims to boost wages for teachers and school district employees at a flat rate increasing salaries by $2,750. The goal is to make St. Joseph schools more competitive in terms of compensation to combat recruitment and retention issues among teachers.
Whitney Lanning, SJSD school board member, said she was elated that the proposition passed.
“It’s not just heartening that they’re going to be getting more money,” Lanning said. “It’s heartening to me that they can see that our community values them and the work that they do for our kids.
Lanning said the district understands the challenges public education has faced in recent years, so providing incentives like higher wages and different programs such as free before- and after-school care for staff will help the St. Joseph School District appeal to new teachers and influence current teachers to stay. However, the work doesn’t just stop there.
“It doesn’t put us ahead of the pack, by any means. I think it kind of keeps us right around in the middle,” Lanning said.
She said that how with Prop S and Senate Bill 727, wages for teachers are taking a step in the right direction, but teachers still deserve so much more.
“Our nurses, counselors, I.T. maintenance staff, you know, the list just goes on. They all play a really important role in supporting the education of our kids,” said Lanning. “It’s not just important that we retain teachers. It’s important that we retain all those other positions as well.”
With the approval of Proposition S, taxpayers will pay an additional $9 a month for a $100,000 home and $18 a month for a $200,000 home.
Many residents had concerns about the tax increase Proposition S would impose. Lanning said while they are valid concerns, the money will be going to a great cause.
“Any time that you invest in public education, you’re investing in the children in your community,” she said.
Lanning wants the public to recognize that this will be a positive change for teachers and staff.
“It didn’t just, you know, squeak by. It really passed with resounding, resounding support from our community,” she said.
Lanning wants to thank the community for their support and hopes these teachers feel a sense of love with their new raise.
“They do off-contract hours and they make their classrooms beautiful with their own money. So I would just say thank you to our community and thank you to everyone that voted,” she said.
