Missouri Legislators, Mehlville School District Meet to Discuss 'Foundation Formula'

Representatives Gary Fuhr, Cloria Brown and Marsha Haefner joined Mehlville School District Superintendent Terry Noble at a dinner and workshop about the Missouri public school foundation formula held recently in Jefferson City. The meeting was sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA).

School districts receive state funds to operate their schools, and that is where the Missouri public school foundation formula comes in. It is the largest single appropriation from general revenue in the state budget. The 2011-12 school year is slated to be the sixth year of a seven-year phase of the current formula.

Chris Straub, Ph.D., former superintendent and adjunct professor who currently is teaching school finance for the education doctorate program at Saint Louis University, presented the formula workshop. Straub also teaches for the education specialist program at the University of Central Missouri.

Straub explained the formula theory, factors that are included in the formula and the mechanics of the formula. He shared examples of how funds are distributed to three school districts: one district that is currently on the formula, one district that is “hold harmless” and one district that receives small school funding.

Bruce Johnson, MASA president and superintendent of the Stanberry R-II School District, said that the purpose of the meeting was purely educational. 

“We truly appreciate the time the legislators took to join us for this dinner and workshop," Johnson said in a statement. "We believe it is extremely important that our legislators fully understand the school foundation formula as they begin their deliberations in the coming months.”