August 24, 2026 Tax Rate Hearing and Board of Education Meeting

The Saint Joseph School District’s August 24, 2026 meeting included an annual tax-rate hearing and a Board of Education meeting. At the hearing, administration recommended keeping the total tax rate unchanged at 4.9163 per $100 of assessed valuation, with 4.3558 for operations and 0.5605 for debt service; the district’s assessed valuation was reported at just over $1.37 billion. The chair said the tax-rate vote would occur during the regular meeting, but the supplied transcript does not show that vote. The board approved the July bills and financials and approved a $26,500 proposal from Demographic Analytics Advisors, by a 7–0 vote, to support long-range enrollment and facilities planning. Nearly $60,000 in business-community donations was reported as supporting work with DLR. The district also reported completed summer facility and consolidation work; additional parking at Benton remained subject to city approvals, after which district bidding and board approval would be required.

Other business included approval of agreements with Missouri Western for nursing and social-work student placements, each passing with six votes in favor and one abstention, and discussion of the district’s reorganization, student safety and accessibility, staffing, and student achievement. The board adopted a change allowing verbal or written parental consent to withdraw a student for homeschooling. The facilities-planning process is underway, with community and staff engagement sessions scheduled; no additional construction contract awards or bid approvals were identified in the transcript.