Investing in education is vital to growing the economy, Gov. Jay Nixon said today during a visit to Ozark High School in Christian County. Gov. Nixon discussed his “Good Schools, Good Jobs” plan which will fully fund the state’s K-12 foundation formula by Fiscal Year 2016, and provide the resources to help the Ozark School District strengthen its vocational education courses and upgrade technology throughout its buildings.
“Making sure every community has good jobs, starts with making sure every student can go to a good school,” Gov. Nixonsaid. “With a significant funding increase for our K-12 classrooms, my ‘Good Schools, Good Jobs’ plan will ensure that students here in Ozark will have more hands-on learning opportunities and more teachers will the resources they need to provide every student a great education.”
Gov. Nixon’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposal includes an increase of $278 million for K-12 classrooms, putting the state on a path to fully funding the foundation formula in two years. The K-12 foundation formula, passed into law in 2005, establishes the state’s funding level for K-12 schools.
“Even though Missouri already has the sixth-lowest taxes in the nation, and a better tax climate than any of its neighboring states, some folks want to cut taxes to the point where it would be impossible to provide schools like the ones here in Ozark with the resources they need,” Gov. Nixon said. “Just yesterday, the General Assembly passed a bill that that would take $620 million annually out of our budget – the same amount of funding that’s needed to fully fund our formula and keep college affordable. This legislation would send Missouri schools headed in the wrong direction, and drag our economy down with them.”
Gov. Nixon’s Fiscal Year 2015 “Good Schools, Good Jobs” budget proposal would also increase funding for Ozark Schools by $2,081,547. The district would use the increased funding to enhance vocational programs to help students learn more about careers and industries of interests.
These additional resources will also help the district to recruit and retain quality educators by strengthening salaries and offering more professional development opportunities to staff. The Ozark School District will also be able to update its wireless infrastructure at its buildings and expand its One-to-One technology program to more students.
“Here in Ozark Schools, we believe every student should be prepared for success in the path they choose to pursue,” saidDr. Kevin Patterson, Ozark Schools Superintendent. “Gov. Nixon’s proposal to fully fund schools will help Ozark Schools continue to prepare students for college and careers by strengthening our vocational courses and ensuring that our teachers have the resources they need to provide every student with a great education.”
According to a new report from the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, Missouri was one of only five states to receive an ‘A’ grade for its tax climate and economic diversity. No states bordering Missouri received an ‘A’ grade for tax climate. Oklahoma received a ‘B’; Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska and Tennessee each received a ‘C’; Iowa received a ‘D’; and Illinois received an ‘F’.
Gov. Nixon has made public education in Missouri a top priority of his administration. Math and reading scores have increased on his watch and Missouri’s high school graduation rate is now the eighth highest in the nation. Over the past five years, Missouri has also led the nation in minimizing tuition increases at its public universities.
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