ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2Now.com)—
The Lindbergh School District in South St. Louis County is turning to staff layoffs to balance next year's budget. Declining tax revenues have forced the school board to make some tough choices. On Tuesday 19 teachers received notices their jobs won't exist next fall. Eleven support staff will be laid off as well. A combination of layoffs, retirements and transfers will achieve the total reduction of sixty positions by July 1.On Wednesday Lindbergh Supt. Jim Simpson described the district's mood as "somber." He said the district has lost millions in revenue it once could count on because of a drop in retail sales tax revenue and a decline in the assessed value of property. The school board voted to cut expenses for next year by $4.7 million. Members made that decision after a community committee studied the district's budget and programs and found 161 cuts including a five percent reduction in pay for coaches. It is expected students who participate in school athletics will have to begin paying a small fee if they are not entitled to free or reduced fee lunches.
Lindbergh's operating tax levy is $2.75 per $100 dollars of assessed property value. That's the minimum levy Missouri allows. The only other district to charge just the minimum rate in St. Louis County is Ladue. "If we had the tax levy that our neighboring school districts have, we wouldnt be talking today," Simpson said. "The fact we've been able to go so much longer than many with the minimum and produce outstanding education is a tribute to how this district operates," he added.
The district plans to poll its residents to find out how they would feel about more cuts in the school programs or a higher property tax. Lindbergh gets only six percent of its revenue from the state of Missouri. Wednesday, Governor Jay Nixon announced plans to cut public school funding due to declining state tax revenue.
