The Gasconade R-2 School District is hopeful that SB 681 regarding the dollar value modifier amendment will pass by Friday, May 13 —  the end of the Missouri legislature’s spring session.

During a phone interview on May 9, Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy said the outcome looks good.

“It looks promising, but nothing is done until the session is over. We won’t know anything until the session is completed,” Hardy said.

Rep. Bruce Sassman, (R) Bland, of the 62nd District, has had to work the amendment into multiple bills.

“The dollar value modifier is part of the school (foundation) formula that defines the index that determines how much funding the school will get from the funding formula,” Sassmann said. “Every county has a different index. Never less than one but sometimes more than one. For example, Franklin County has an index of 1.09 and Gasconade County has 1.00. The amount of funding you receive is based on the index and the county where your administration building is located. So in Gasconade County R-2, the administration building is in Gasconade County. If the administration was in Franklin County, were Gasconade R-2 has a school, they would receive .09 percent more.”

Sassmann is hoping the legislature will vote to make an exception for the Gasconade R-2 School District and allow them the .09 percent funding increase — about $1 million dollars more annually. 

“I think we are going to get it back from the Senate today or tomorrow and I think it is all going to be wrapped up in a nice, neat bow. I don’t see why it wouldn’t pass,” he said.

SB 681 is still in conference but is expected to be heard in the Senate before spring session ends.