Fort Zumwalt School Board Sets Tax Rate, Buys Bus Routing Software

Following a public hearing, the  voted on the district tax levy at Monday's regular meeting.

The newly approved rate will be $4.76 per $100 of business and residential property tax, an increase of about 16 cents over last year. Specifically, said Superintendent Bernard DuBray, $1.76 will go to the incidental fund, $2.30 to the special fund, 62 cents for debt service and 8 cents for capital projects.

DuBray also announced a change to the school’s classification under state law. Census data from 2010 showed the population of O’Fallon grew beyond 70,000 residents. UnderDepartment of Elementary and Secondary Education standards, Fort Zumwalt will now be designated as an “urban” district.

DuBray said this could result in a doubling of school board term lengths from three years to six, and term-limiting seats after two. He worried, however, that a six-year commitment might deter qualified candidates from the position.

"I believe it would be very detrimental for us to get board candidates who want to obligate themselves for six years," he said.

DuBray is seeking special legislation from Missouri lawmakers in order to exempt the district from the six-year rule. He said the Springfield and Columbia school districts have had similar legislation passed in the same situation.

Later, Jackie Floyd, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, laid out the district’s local assessment plan, an annual requirement of the Missouri School Improvement Program. Floyd said the plan makes plain for administrators, faculty, staff, parents and students “when we’re assessing, the purpose for assessment, and how that information is disseminated to parents.”

“This year, I tried to take another comprehensive look at all the assessments we’re doing,” Floyd said, adding that the plan also includes information on special education assessment, professional development and what is done with the data that’s collected.

The board went on to approve the purchase of new Transfinder bus routing and scheduling software for more than $20,000 throughout two years, plus annual licensing fees. Currently, district officials plot every bus route, charter route and field trip request by hand.

“Every district that we know of that’s our size has some sort of a routing and field trip software system,” said Patty Corum, deputy superintendent of personnel services. She said the district’s handwritten system was antiquated.

The new software uses GPS tracking technology to improve the efficiency of bus routes, as well as to help streamline the planning of field trips and alternate routes. District Transportation Manager Tom Berry estimated the software would pay for iteslf in saved fuel, maintenance expenses and administrative hours, though he admitted it would take time—he estimated two to three years. The technology also allows district officials to identify and avoid routes or stops near the homes of registered sex offenders.

Berry and DuBray also recognized seven district mechanics early in the meeting for passing state safety inspections with flying colors. Berry said the average Missouri school district fleet scored around 87.6 percent, while Fort Zumwalt received a 99.4 percent grade on a single failed light bulb in this year’s tests. The district’s 165 bus fleet transports 12,000 students each day, covering 125 square miles and running more than 2,000 charter routes for sports, activities and field trips each year.