The district is currently partnering with ExcellenceK12 to conduct a community survey for a potential ballot initiative.
Mary LaPak, district chief communications officer, said the survey is to assess support for a potential tax levy to be placed on the ballot. This levy could direct funds to teacher salaries, benefits for those who don’t already qualify or increased safety officers.
Participants will be called at random, and parents, staff and other community members who are not called can fill out an online survey that closes Monday, May 5.
Areas in Rockwood have some of the lowest tax rates in St. Louis County, and voters have not approved an increased tax rate since 1994, LaPak said. Last year, Rockwood’s residential tax rate was $3.9087 while Affton’s residential tax rate was $4.4096, according to St. Louis County 2023 rate book.
The Board of Education (BOE) asked the district to look into a levy after this year’s teacher contract negotiations.
“Before we put something on the ballot, the Board recognizes that it’s really important to reach out to our community and understand what the feasibility is,” LaPak said.
LaPak said the district must work within budget constraints, but raising the tax rate would put the district in a position to offer more to staff.
“We really need to understand the pulse of what everyone’s thinking and where they feel we should be going in order to drive our decisions,” LaPak said.
Results will be made public and shared with the BOE to help drive future decisions, LaPak said.
If the district decides to place the levy on the ballot, they could do so during the August, November or April election, Tom Cook, Rockwood National Education Association (RNEA) president, said.
The RNEA Representative Assembly, made up of building representatives and the executive board, will then determine if the union will endorse the levy, Cook said.
Earlier in March, the RNEA and district reached a teacher contract agreement with a 10% salary increase over two years and a plan to renegotiate in 2026-27. Cook said a tax levy could influence how much the district could offer during new negotiations.
“It’s important that our tax rate is at an amount that is able to sustain the quality of services that we enjoy and rely on,” Cook said. “If the tax levy isn’t high enough to sustain the services people are used to, then there’s the potential that you’d have to make cuts,”
Cuts could look like eliminating some classroom positions and increasing class sizes, Cook said. While this may less directly affect some community members, Cook said public education is imperative to a thriving community.
“It’s the public education system that is helping educate the future of the community,” Cook said.
Noah Southerland, junior, agrees.
“Schools are kind of the heart of most communities because they’re the place where the next generation gets ready to take the torch from whoever’s currently running the show,” Southerland said.
Southerland said he thinks that the district should explore a tax increase.
“I think it’s honestly the best solution we have right now, considering the current state of receiving funding from the state government,” Southerland said.
Jennifer Gillian, school store volunteer, filled out the survey online. She said she appreciates the district asking for feedback.
“I think it’s smart to break it down and just take the temperature of where people are feeling,” Gillian said. “I think in general, it’s a tough time right now to be asking stakeholders for more money.”
Gillian said voter turnout would be difficult since many people living in the district have children who attend private schools or are older. She encourages parents to fill out the survey
“As a former PTO president, I wish parents would read the survey, but as a parent in this district, I understand how many things they’re getting in email,” Gillian said.
