Ash Grove assessed valuation jumps, school board OK’s unchanged tax rate

Despite a significant jump in assessed tax valuation for the district from 2018 to 2019, the Ash Grove Board of Education voted unanimously to keep the tax rate the same as last year—$3.6326, at the Aug. 26 board meeting.
The board was treated to a short presentation of the tax rate situation by Ash Grove Superintendent Dr. Aaron Gerla in a hearing prior to the meeting. The adopted and unchanged tax rate of $3.6326, is the combination $3.0396 for operating expenses and $.5930 for debt service.
The district’s assessed value in 2018 of $60,741,905, made a healthy jump in 2019 to 65,091,482, a 7 percent increase.
Also during the meeting, FFA members gave a presentation on their recent activities. The oral presentation, that included a slide show, was delivered aptly by 14 members, all in official dress.
FFA advisor Nathan Isakson was granted permission by the board to take members to National Convention at the end of October.
Season previews were also given by cross country head coach Courtney Compton, football head coach Ryan Long and volleyball head coach Diana Dreier.
In other action, the board voted 7-0 to:
- Approve the local compliance plan;
- Approve the 2019-2020 substitute teacher list;
- Approve moving to the laude honor system for graduates, and doing away with salutatorian and valedictorian, a change that has been in the works for years;
- Shorten this school year by two days, now ending May 18.