MACON R-1 STAFF RECEIVES INFORMATION REGARDING POSSIBLE REDISTRICTING

In the past hour, Macon Superintendent Scott Jarvis sent a FAQ Sheet to staff throughout the district regarding possible redistricting and how the district could be impacted. Staff throughout the district were “frequently asking questions (FAQ)” which prompted Jarvis to compile this letter. Recently, Mr. Jarvis and Board President Donny Wyatt met with DESE and the State Auditor’s Office - allowing them to answer some of the questions. Some figures within this letter are estimated (to the best they possibly could). Some figures may slightly change after citizens vote on whether or not to redistrict in August. Through text messaging and email, Mr. Jarvis told me that he could go into great detail on some of these questions, but summarized to the best of his ability. Any detailed questions and answers, please reach out to Scott Jarvis and Donny Wyatt. The following is the letter sent out to staff earlier this afternoon in its entirety:

“Macon County R-I School District

Boundary Change Matter - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happens if one school district votes for the boundary change, and one school district votes against it?

If either Macon County R-I voters or Shelby County R-IV voters vote against the change, but the other district votes for the change, the matter may be appealed to the State Board of Education by either one of the districts affected or by a majority of the signers of the petition requesting a vote on the proposal. (This information can be found in Section 162.431, RSMo.)

2. What happens if neither school district votes to pass the proposed boundary change?

If neither school district votes to pass the proposed boundary change, then the ballot measure fails and no change in boundaries will occur for either district.

3. How would the property and debt for each district be divided if the boundary change is approved by voters?

Under Missouri law, the districts are required to make a “just and proper” adjustment and apportionment of all school property, including money and debt, between the two districts. If the districts cannot agree on the adjustment and apportionment, the board of either district may appeal to the State Board of Education, who will then appoint a three-person board of arbitration to make an adjustment and apportionment of property and indebtedness.

4. What percentage of Shelby County R-IV School District’s current debt would Macon County R-I School District be obligated to pay?

Under state law, the ratio of debt that is apportioned is related to the value of the property the new district receives from the original district. If a board of arbitration were appointed, it would take many factors into account to make the “just and proper” apportionment and adjustment of property and debt. At this time, the actual amount of the apportionment that Macon County R-I School District would be required to pay to Shelby County R-IV School District as a result of the boundary change is unknown.

5. Since money is required to be apportioned, how much of Shelby County R-IV School District’s fund balances would be apportioned to the Macon County R-I School District?

The process is the same as the debt apportionment explained in the answer to question 4 above. The amount of money that Macon County R-I School District would receive from Shelby County R-IV School District would be based on a ratio related to the value of the property Macon County R-I School District would receive from Shelby County R-IV School District. If a board of arbitration were appointed, the board could take many factors into account to determine what the “just and proper” amount of Shelby County R-IV School District’s fund balances should be apportioned to Macon County R-I School District. Therefore, the District cannot say with certainty what that amount would be at this time.

6. Would the current residents of the Macon County R-I School District be required to pay any portion of the $0.73 levy recently passed by Shelby County R-IV School District residents?

The State Auditor’s office has informed both school districts in writing that, if the boundary change occurs before the Shelby County R-IV School District sets its new tax rate based on the $0.73 levy, the Clarence residents who become part of the Macon County R-I School District will pay taxes to Macon County R-I School District at the Macon County R-I School District’s tax rate. The State Auditor’s office has also explained that if the boundary change occurs after the Shelby County R-IV School District sets its new tax rate, then the Clarence residents will pay taxes to Shelby County R-IV School District for one year only. Current Macon County R-I School District residents will not be required to pay a portion of Shelby County R-IV School District’s levy.


7. Will the Macon County R-I School District be required to pay a portion of Shelby County R-IV School District’s levy associated with constructing its new elementary school?

As discussed in #3, Macon County R-I will be required to pay a “just and proper” apportionment of Shelby County R-IV’s debt as of the date the boundary change issue passes. If Shelby County R-IV School District incurs debt to build its proposed elementary building, Macon County could be required to pay a portion of that debt. Right now, Shelby County voters have approved a debt levy increase to construct its new elementary building, among other purposes of the levy. Macon County R-I School District is not aware that Shelby County has incurred debt related to the construction of the new elementary building and believes that it would be legally ill-advised for it to do so until the boundary change issue is decided.

8. How much additional revenue would the Macon County R-I School District receive should the boundary change occur?

At this time, the District cannot provide exact numbers with regard to the additional revenue that could result from the proposed boundary change. The District has met with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and received DESE’s estimates of the District’s revenue should the boundary change occur. Based on DESE’s information, the District could receive approximately $700,000.00 annually from the addition based on the District’s resulting assessed valuation. Additionally, the District could receive approximately $250,000.00 annually in Railroad and Utilities money, and approximately $450,000.00 annually based on the approximate additional enrollment if the boundary change should occur, for a total of approximately $1,400,000.00 in additional revenue annually.

9. What annual costs would the Macon County R-I School District incur as a result of the boundary change?

The District cannot provide exact numbers with regard to the additional costs associated with the boundary change at this time; however, the District has come up with a reasonable estimate of those costs.

Based on the resulting additional enrollment, Macon County R-I would need to hire approximately two additional bus drivers for a total cost of approximately $52,000.00 annually.

The District would need to purchase approximately two new buses at a cost of approximately $170,000.00. These buses would need to be replaced every five to six years, making this cost approximately $340,000.00 over ten years.

Based on the potential increased enrollment, if Macon County R-I needed to hire four additional teachers, the approximate total cost would be $200,000.00 a year. The District may not need four additional teachers, but this number was projected as a conservative estimate.

Based on the above calculations spread over ten years, the cost of the boundary change to Macon School District would be approximately $2,860,000.00.

When you compare the potential revenue over a 10 year period versus the potential expenditure over the same period of time, there is a net gain of approximately $11,140,000.00.

This estimate does not take into account the unknown costs of maintaining the Clarence Elementary building.

10. Will all students be required to move to Macon County R-I School District immediately if the boundary change occurs?

Macon County R-I would propose that all elementary and middle schoolers be enrolled in Macon County R-I at a mutually-agreeable time. Macon County R-I would propose allowing high school students to make a one-time election as to whether they would like to remain students of Shelby County R-IV through graduation, or become students of Macon County R-I at the time elementary and middle school students are enrolled in our District.

11. What will happen to the Clarence Elementary building if the Clarence area becomes part of the Macon County R-I School District?

At this point, the Macon County R-I School District does not have a definite plan for the Clarence Elementary building due to many factors that are simply cannot be determined at this point; however, the Macon County R-I School District would most likely utilize the Clarence Elementary building at least until the Macon County R-I School District’s new building is finished. Any further use of the building would depend on the condition of the building, among other things.

Assuming the building is in good condition, the District has considered many options for using the Clarence Elementary building if the boundary change occurred, such as using the facility for credit recovery, Missouri Option Program (the HiSET test, which replaced the GED), as part of the Career Technical Center, or for adult education classes. However, until the District actually acquires the building and can determine its condition, the costs associated with maintaining the building, and other factors, the District cannot determine how the building will be used if the boundary change occurs.

12. Would the Shelby County R-IV School District still need to construct a new elementary building if the boundaries are changed and the Clarence area becomes part of the Macon County R-I School District?

The decision to build a new elementary building is entirely up to the Shelby County R-IV School District. However, it is reasonable to believe that the size and cost of the new structure would be scaled back if the boundary change occurred due to the loss of enrollment Shelby County R-IV School District would experience.

13. What real estate would be used to determine the fair market value of the Clarence Elementary building?

At this time, the District cannot determine the fair market value of the Clarence Elementary building.

The only comparative sales the District is aware of would be the Macon County’s sale of the MoDOT buildings located on Highway 63 was sold to OnShore a few years ago. Those buildings are much larger than the Clarence Elementary building and most likely in better shape. Those buildings sold for approximately $1700,000.00. Due to the prime location of the MoDOT buildings and their size and condition, the District does not believe the value of the Clarence Elementary building would be nearly as high as the MoDOT buildings.

Should a board of arbitration be appointed, the districts would most likely be able to submit their own determinations of the appraised value of the Clarence Elementary building, but the board of arbitration would be able to obtain its own appraisal, which could include comparing sales prices of buildings in a large geographic area. The board could also take into account other factors in its valuation of the building, such as Macon County R-I School District’s proposed use of the building.

14. Has the Macon County R-I School District attempted to reach out to the Shelby County R-IV School District to discuss the boundary change petition?

Macon County R-I School District sent a certified letter to Shelby County R-IV School District’s Superintendent on April 27, 2018 requesting a meeting between both district’s Superintendents and Board Presidents. The Shelby County R-IV School District Superintendent signed for the certified letter on April 30, 2018. To date, the Macon County R-I School District has not received a response to the meeting request.



Paid for by the Macon County R-I School District.”