VIENNA — The Maries R-1 Board of Education adopted the district’s 2024 tax levy during its Aug. 20 meeting.

The board approved the new tax levy at $3.3502 per $100 of assessed valuation compared to $3.3112 last year. The debt service levy remains the same at $0.4400.

During the district’s tax levy hearing and subsequent board meeting, superintendent Teresa Messersmith said the decision not to stick with the rolled-back rate like last year was made in consideration of Senate Bill 727, which the General Assembly passed earlier this year. The bill mandates an incremental increase in pay for Missouri teachers over the next five years that will culminate in a minimum $40,000 per year base pay.

The change in levy creates a budgeted $34,054 increase for the district’s operating funds, assuming 100 percent tax collection. Of that total, $25,817 comes from new construction and improvements while $8,237 comes from the reassessment. The district estimates that 0.36 percent of its projected $2,337,498 will come from the reassessment.

Later in the meeting, Messersmith shared an overview of the annual board secretary report. The district’s general incidental fund had an ending balance of $2,219,984.62 at the end of the previous school year. The special revenue fund, which the district uses to pay teacher salaries, ended with $150.14 because the fund is meant to be reduced to zero.

The ending balance for the debt service fund was $333,147.94. The district uses those funds to make bond payments and bond interest payments. The capital projects fund ended with a $2,231,571.90 balance. The amount is much more than last year because of the $2 million from the bond. The district planned to purchase two used buses with some of the other money.

All four funds had a total balance of $4,784,853.60, which was about $2 million more than usual because of the bond money. The reserve increased by about 2 percent from last year to 38.73 percent. Messersmith said the reserve is healthy and should help the district cover the costs of the upcoming salary increases.

The meeting also included a few new hires.

First, the board approved Tamara Lockard as the parents as teachers educator. The state reimburses the district for the position, which is paid per visit. Messersmith said Lockard has the same role at another district and came with a good recommendation.

Next, the board approved Debbie Heimbaugh as a middle school English teacher. Vienna High School Principal Tim Metcalf said she comes to the district with 30 years of teaching experience.

Vienna Elementary School Principal Shanda Snodgrass recommended hiring Tammy Allen as a first-grade teacher. Snodgrass said Allen is a retired administrator with 11 years of experience in a first-grade classroom.

Metcalf also recommended hiring T.C. James as the assistant middle school boys basketball coach, which the board approved.

In other business, the board renewed its conflict of interest and financial disclosure policy with no changes. The board also renewed the district’s contract with Discovery School in Rolla. The district covers the $62,000 total cost for two students to attend the specialty school. This year’s agreement saw a $1,000 per student increase in tuition.

The district received one bid for a plasma cutter, which it accepted. Larry Weidinger received the equipment for $176.