CECM does not have a position on these particular bills, however, we will continue to track this legislation and will watch for important amendments.

Projected FY 12 Hold Harmless Districts: Adair Co. R-1, Adair Co. R-2, Appleton City R-II, Ballard R-II, Bell City R-II, Belton 124, Belton Federal Lands, Boncl R-X, Bosworth R-V, Breckenridge R-I, Brentwood, Brookfield R-III, Brunswick R-II, Buchanan Co. R-IV, Bucklin R-II, Bunker R-III, Cainsville R-I, Calhoun R-VIII, Camdenton R-III, Center 58, Centerville R-I, Clayton, Climax Springs R-IV, Clinton Co. R-III, Community R-VI, Cooper Co. R-IV, Couch R-I, Cowgill R-VI, Craig, R-III, Dadeville R-II, Davis R-XII, Delta C-7, Drexel R-IV, East Buchanan Co. C-1, Everton R-III, Excelsior Springs 40, Fayette R-III, Fort Osage R-I, Gilliam C-4, Gilman City R-IV, Gorin R-III, Grandview C-4, Green City R-I, Grundy Co. R-V, Hancock Place, Hardeman R-X, Hardin-Central C-2, Hayti R-II, Hermitage R-IV, Hickman Mills C-1, Higbee R-VIII, Howell Valley R-I, Hume R-VIII, Hurley R-I, Jamestown C-1, Jasper Co. R-V, Jefferson C-123, Jennings, Junction Hill C-12, Kansas City 33, Keytesville R-III, King City R-I, Kingston 42, Kirkwood R-VII, Knob Noster Federal Lands, La Plata R-II, Ladue, Laredo R-VII, Lathrop R-II, Leesville R-IX, Leeton R-X, Lindbergh R-VIII, Livingston Co., R-III, Lonedell R-XIV, Luray 33, Macon Co. R-IV, Malta Bend R-V, Manes R-V, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Marion Co. R-II, Marquand-Zion R-VI, Meadville R-IV, Miami R-I, Middle Grove C-1, Midway R-I, Miller Co. R-III, Mirabile C-1, Missouri City 56, Monroe City R-1, Montrose R-XIV, Mound City R-II, New Madrid Co., R-I, New York R-IV, Newtown-Harris R-III, Nodaway-Holt R-VII, Norborne R-VIII, Normandy, North Andrew Co. R-VI, North Daviess R-III, North Harrison R-III, North Mercer Co. R-III, North Nodaway Co. R-VI, North Pemiscot Co. R-I, North Shelby, Northeast Nodaway Co. R-V, Northwest R-I, Northwestern R-I, Oak Ridge R-VI, Orearville R-IV, Orrick R-XI, Osage Co. R-I, Osborn R-O, Otterville R-VI, Paris R-II, Parkway C-2, Pattonsburg R-II, Pattonville R-III, Pemiscot Co. R-III, Pettis Co. R-XII, Pleasant View R-VI, Prairie Home R-V, Renick R-V, Revere C-3, Richland R-I, Ridgeway R-V, Risco R-II, Riverview Gardens, School of the Osage R-II, Shawnee R-III, Shell Knob 78, Slater, South Callaway Co. R-II, South Holt Co. R-I, South Iron Co. R-I, South Nodaway Co R-IV, Southwest Livingston Co. R-I, Special School District of St. Louis County, St. Charles R-VI, St. Elizabeth R-IV, St. Louis City, Stanberry R-II, Stet R-XV, Stewartsville C-2, Sturgeon R-V, Swedeborg R-III, Tarkio R-I, Tina-Avalon R-II, Tri-County R-VII, Union Star R-II, University City, Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation, Waynesville Federal Lands, Wellington-Napoleon R-IX, West Nodaway Co. R-I, West Platte Co. R-II, Westran R-I, Winston R-VI.

One of the suggestions that is drawing much attention is a proposal to merge the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Testimony in the committee hearing said that the merger could save $1 million. Senator Pearce reported that the committee supports the merger idea. The proposal is likely to save Missouri money, but will also align the government structure with the P-20 council, created in 2006, to focus on student learning from childhood through graduate school.

Other cost saving suggestions that the committee heard was an increase in virtual schools, implementing merit pay systems statewide, cutting money from the Regional Professional Development Centers and only allowing schools to accept 100% of the funding formula calculation. That proposal, according to Senate staff, would save the state $16.5 million.

The “reboot” meetings come on the same day that the Missouri House of Representatives voted to freeze spending on K-12 education. While education spending would remain the same from last year, the vote removes a $105 million increase that was scheduled to go into the phase in of the state’s funding formula. The measure came in the form of an amendment to the state’s budget bill, currently being debated by the full House. Amendment sponsor, Representative Maynard Wallace, told his colleagues that he didn’t want the state to promise schools money, then not give it to them. The state’s deteriorating budget situation has already caused a $43 million reduction in school funding for the remainder of the year.