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Webster schools to cut back on staff after Props S, W fail

Jake Collins
Contributing Writer

The expansion of the sixth grade from Steger to Hixson Middle School will cost about $18 million and the major renovations to Moss Field will cost roughly around $6 million. This will create an eight-lane track, address the safety issues and add new bathrooms and concession stands. (Photo by Cal Lanouette)
If Propsition W had passed, the expansion of the sixth grade from Steger to Hixson Middle School would have cost about $18 million, and the major renovations to Moss Field would have cost roughly around $6 million. This would have created an eight-lane track, address the safety issues and add new bathrooms and concession stands. The proposition failed with 56 percent of voters in opposition.  (Photo by Cal Lanouette)

“We spend in the three years in the black, one in the red, the we have to come back at taxpayers,” chief communications officer Cathy Vespereny said about Propositions S and W failing to pass in Tuesday’s election and how the school will be handling it.

With Prop S failing 3696 to 5122 and Prop W failing 3853  to 4983, the district’s plans for adding on have been postponed until it can pass another bond or tax issue. For now the district’s will focus on cutting back on expenses, which will include cuts to staff. Some of those cuts are set to be made at a board meeting on Monday, April, 13.

Propositions S and W were the proposed tax and bond issue that the district pushes every five years. The two combined would have raised property taxes 65 cents for every $100 of assessed value.

The bond issue (Prop. W) was to take out $28 million in bonds to build on Hixson for the influx of students the district has coming through the elementary schools. The bond issue also would have paid for the renovation of the Moss Field, an addition to Clark School, and converting Steger Sixth Grade Center to a full elementary school.

The tax issue (Prop. S) was going toward pay for teachers and other support staff members.

See also Bond Issue to be decided April 9.

See also Kimball Konception: Hixson renovation will help academics, athletics.


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The ECHO is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Avenue, Webster Groves, MO. To contact staff members, call 314-963-6400 ex. 11157. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer.

2 thoughts on “Webster schools to cut back on staff after Props S, W fail”

  1. What are the safety issues at Moss Field? Why is an eight-lane track needed? I concede the bathrooms are pretty nasty; however, the caption to your photo provides statements without supporting facts in the story. Please provide a link where I can read more about these so-called issues.

    Reply

    1. Links to the earlier stories describing the issues that would have been addressed by Proposals S and W are now available at the bottom of the page.

      Reply

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