Board places tax rate transfer on April ballot

Raymore-Peculiar School District News

Jan. 13, 2023

At left, Spanish Teacher Jason Rose works with students at Ray-Pec East Middle School. At right, Elaina Smith teaches Third Grade at Raymore Elementary School.

Board places tax rate transfer on April ballot to increase staff salaries and benefits

The Ray-Pec School Board on Thursday night approved placing a tax rate transfer on the April 4, 2023, ballot.

The ballot issue, called Proposition RP-1, asks voters to authorize the district to transfer 50 cents from the Debt Service Fund to the Operating Fund.

The proposed tax rate transfer will be phased in over a three-year period, and the overall tax rate is expected to remain at its current rate. This means that the tax rate is not projected to increase, resulting in a zero net impact to property owners.

If approved, 100 percent of the amount produced by the tax rate transfer will be used for staff salaries and benefits to help Ray-Pec be competitive with other school districts.

Proposition RP-1 will require a simple majority to pass.

Placing the tax rate transfer on the ballot comes after much research and discussion about how to improve staff compensation, which was identified by the School Board, staff, and the public as a top priority in the Strategic Plan.

More information about Proposition RP-1 will be shared in the next few weeks.

Seeking nominations for Teacher and Support Staff awards

The Ray-Pec School District is seeking nominations for the 2023 Teacher of the Year and Support Staff Employee of the Year. The award finalists will be honored in late spring.

Anyone may nominate a teacher by submitting a letter of nomination by Feb. 10. A candidate must:

Be a full-time teacher, librarian, or counselor.
Be returning to teach in 2023-24 in the District.
Have completed 3 or more years teaching at Ray-Pec.
Be effective and innovative in the classroom.

For the Support Staff award, you may nominate a full-time or part-time employee who has worked at least one year for the District. The deadline is also Feb. 10.

Examples of eligible employees include: accompanist, buildings and grounds, child care, child nutrition, crossing guards, finance specialists, student monitors, media assistants, nurses, paraprofessionals, Panther Pride, payroll, safety and security, secretaries, teacher aides, and technology employees.

Send nomination letters to: Teacher of the Year/Support Staff Employee of the Year program, Administrative Services Center, P.O. Box 789, Peculiar, MO 64078, or via email to: michele.stidham@raypec.org or rp.update@raypec.org. Read more: Annual employee awards

Reminders:

No school on Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
No school on Monday, Jan. 30, to allow for staff collaboration and planning.
The nomination period continues through Jan. 27 for students in grades 1-7 to be considered for the LEAP program for gifted learners. Nomination form Learn more: LEAP flyer

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