Frequently Asked Questions

Prop S is a proposal for:

STRONG STAFF

Recruit and retain quality teachers and staff by providing salaries that are competitive with other local school districts and expanding health care benefits to more employees, including bus drivers, classroom assistants and secretaries.

SAFE SCHOOLS

Improve safety and security across the district by hiring additional school safety officers.

SECURE FUTURE

Rockwood has a long record of responsible financial management. Prop S continues that tradition while making needed improvements for today and tomorrow.

If approved by voters on Nov. 4, 2025, Prop S would increase the district’s operating levy by 45 cents. This would result in an additional investment of less than $29 a month for the owner of a $400,000 home in the district. It requires a simple majority vote (50% + 1) to pass.

Prop S is needed to address two key challenges: keeping quality teachers and staff in Rockwood and improving safety in our schools.

Right now, Rockwood's pay for teachers, classroom assistants, administrative assistants and other key staff members is not as competitive as we would like in St. Louis County, making it harder to attract and keep the highly qualified people who are essential to the success of our schools and ultimately our students. The district’s last operating levy increase was in 1994, more than 30 years ago, and rising costs have outpaced revenue growth. Rockwood has one of the lowest tax rates in St. Louis County.

Not all full-time school year employees currently qualify for comprehensive benefits. Prop S will allow Rockwood to expand health care coverage to more employee groups, demonstrating our commitment to the well-being of all district staff.

In addition, the district only has four full-time school safety officers to cover all 19 elementary schools. Prop S would add two more officers, enhancing safety and security across the district.

The proposal builds on Rockwood's long record of responsible financial management to help ensure strong staff, safe schools and a secure future for the community.

Approximately 66% of the school district's operating funds come from local property taxes. Another 13% come from other local sources, primarily the statewide Prop C sales tax and interest earned on the district's investments.

Less than 20% of our operating revenue is received from the state and federal governments. Funding from these sources is not expected to increase in the coming years.

Prop S will provide funding for salary increases for all Rockwood teachers and staff.

This includes teachers, administrative assistants, classroom assistants, child nutrition specialists and others. All employee groups will receive a pay raise based on local wage comparisons. Positions that currently pay much less than similar positions in nearby districts will receive a larger percentage increase to help close the gap.

Prop 3 was a no-tax-increase levy transfer from debt service to capital projects to have a dedicated annual fund for safety, technology and facility needs across the district. No additional money was requested from our patrons, and with the passing of Prop 3, Rockwood no longer needs to go to the voters for bond issues every 3-5 years to address those annual needs.

Props S would provide funding for competitive salaries and benefits. Rockwood has not asked for a levy increase for salaries or operating expenses since 1994. Over time, our salaries and benefit offerings have been unable to keep pace, and Rockwood has become less competitive with other local school districts.

Rockwood's current tax rate is $3.8816. Within the overall rate of $3.8816, there are four rates that correspond to each of the four school funds: Incidental ($1.4753), Teachers ($1.6463), Capital Projects ($0.6200) and Debt Service ($0.1400).

It is important to note that because of Missouri's Hancock Amendment, school districts cannot experience a "windfall" when assessed values increase. School districts are required to roll back, or lower, the tax rate when revenues are in excess of a percentage based upon the personal income of Missourians. Each reassessment year when the voters have not established a new tax rate ceiling, the Rockwood school board reduces the district's operating tax rate to comply with the Hancock Amendment.

It is also important to note that when setting the tax rate in September 2025, the Board of Education rolled back the district's tax rate $0.0010 to maintain the total tax rate promised to voters in their approval of Prop 3, passed in November 2023.  Rockwood's tax rate is at its lowest point in over 30 years.

We haven't had an operating tax increase in more than 30 years. The district's current residential tax rate is $3.8826, which is among the lowest in St. Louis County. We have worked tirelessly to be good stewards of our residents' tax dollars and have made them stretch as far as we can, based on future projections.

On a home with a county-appraised value of $400,000 (assessed value of $76,000), the 45-cent levy increase would result in $28.50 more per month (or $342 annually). Here are additional examples, based on the county-appraised value of your home:

Example:

The current Rockwood tax rate is $3.8816 per $100 of assessed value. So for a home with a $400,000 county appraised value ($76,000 assessed value) currently paying $2,950.02 to Rockwood, the increase would bring the Rockwood portion of the tax bill to $3,292.02, or an increase of $342 annually.

Remember, it is $0.45 per $100 of assessed value (which is 19% of your county-appraised value). Here is the calculation:

Prop S, if passed, will impact the tax rate that is set in tax year 2026. Senior citizens who apply for the St. Louis County Senior Citizen Tax Freeze or the Jefferson County Real Property Tax Credit for Seniors prior to June 30, 2026 and are approved for the 2026 tax year would see no increase in the Rockwood tax due in 2026 (and beyond as long as they continue to meet the established eligibility guidelines) as a result of the Prop S increase.

We have not been provided any data from the counties to calculate the actual impact, but as discussed in our 2025-26 budget presentation on May 1, 2025 as well as in our tax rate hearing on September 25, 2025, we know the freeze will reduce our tax collections. As shown below, the Senior Tax Freeze does not reduce the taxes levied, it only impacts taxes paid. The district will collect the same amount in future years as it collected in the base year of the senior citizen’s qualification for the freeze.

The district historically achieves a 97% collection of taxes levied, but we are estimating that the collection rate will drop at least to 93% due to the credits on Senior Tax Freeze. This represents an estimated $7.2 million decrease in revenue in the first year of the freeze. 

Rockwood's beginning teacher salary in 2024-2025 was $44,240, ranking 17th out of 22 St. Louis metropolitan school districts. For teachers with a master's degree, the minimum salary in 2024-2025 in Rockwood was $47,478, ranking 16th out of 22 St. Louis metropolitan school districts. Please note, this is the most recent year of comparables that we have access to at this time.

Here are pay comparison examples for additional employee groups in 2024-2025.

Administrative Assistants

Teacher Assistants

Child Nutrition Cooks

No, if Prop S passes, the resulting salary increases will not be the same percentage for all employee groups. Prop S would generate approximately $27M annually and yield approximately $17M annually for salaries. That means there would be a one-time salary correction for all employees based upon the most up-to-date compensation study across St. Louis area school districts at that time, and the increased annual revenue would support those improved salaries moving forward. This does not mean there won't be raises in the future, but this is an opportunity to make all employee groups more competitive. Some groups will need more of a percentage increase while other employee groups will require less in order to do that. Employee groups that are currently paid much less than those in similar positions in nearby districts will receive a larger percentage increase than others to help close the gap and those groups that currently compare favorably to their peers in other districts will receive less of a percentage increase. 

Rockwood’s average administrator salary, according to the latest available data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, ranks 12th out of 22 area districts and is below the area median of $128,100.

Prop S will provide funding for salary increases for all Rockwood teachers and staff. All employee groups will receive a pay raise based on local wage comparisons. Some employee groups are paid well below market levels, and those employees would see a larger percentage increase. Other employee groups are already closer to the market average, so their percentage increase would be smaller.

Rockwood is the largest school district in St. Louis County and the third largest in Missouri with more than 18,000 students in 29 schools (K-12). According to the latest available data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Rockwood has 190 students per administrator, which is tied for the 6th highest ratio out of 22 area districts. Rockwood has 20 percent more students per administrator than the state average (158).

Some employee groups get only Essential Benefits, not the full comprehensive benefits other groups receive. Essential Benefits include the health plan required by the Affordable Care Act, for which employees pay a portion of the insurance premium and are subject to high out-of-pocket costs and deductibles. The full comprehensive benefits that other groups receive includes the district’s self-insured health and dental plan, for which the district pays 100% of employee premium and 50% of the premium charged for dependents. Those who are currently not eligible for full benefits include (but are not limited to):

• Bus drivers
• Teacher aides
• Classroom/technology assistants
• Early Childhood full-day classroom aides
• Early Childhood full-day activity assistants
• Child Nutrition assistants
• Hall monitors
• Developmental Screeners
• Administrative assistants (level 1 and 2)
• Student Restore assistants
• Student support specialists
• Study Hall monitors
• Parking lot attendants

Many other area school districts provide full benefits to these employee groups. In fact, Rockwood is the only school district in St. Louis County that does not provide full benefits to bus drivers.

Prop S will allow Rockwood to expand health care coverage to more employee groups, demonstrating our commitment to the well-being of all district staff. A healthier workforce is a more productive workforce, and it will help attract more candidates for open positions.

Prop S, if passed, will result in a one-time adjustment to the district's operating tax rate. The newly authorized tax rate will be set in September 2026 and provide additional revenues beginning in January 2027. Going forward, the district's tax rate will remain the same or decrease as required by the Hancock Amendment. The district's revenues will be at a new level, with future increases limited by the same constraints that currently exist.

The estimated $27 million generated by Prop S will continue to be budgeted for salaries and benefits in future years, beginning at the new level accomplished by the newly authorized tax rate. Future increases in salaries and benefits will be dependent upon future increases in revenues, but the increase accomplished by Prop S will be already built into salary schedules and into the budget.

Yes, Prop S would allow Rockwood to expand health care coverage to all full-time school year employee groups, demonstrating our commitment to the well-being of all district staff. The cost to do so will be approximately $3.75 million of the $27 million generated by Prop S.

Rockwood and the bus drivers negotiated a new three-year contract in the spring of 2025 that included a memorandum of understanding that states if a levy increase passes (Prop S), the district and the union agree to reopen negotiations specific to salary and benefits prior to that third year (2027-2028).

In 2023, Rockwood led the state with a school safety initiative to hire its own school safety officers. These trained, armed employees work in our schools every day, focusing on crime prevention, building relationships and creating a safe learning environment. They help students and staff by monitoring school access, assisting during emergencies and working closely with principals, counselors and teachers to support student needs.

Right now, four full-time school safety officers provide coverage for all 19 Rockwood elementary schools and can respond anywhere in the district when needed. Hiring our own officers has been a huge success. Prop S would allow us to add two more safety officers, giving us greater coverage and helping us enhance safety and security across our schools.

More than 68% of every dollar received by the district goes directly to student instruction, including teacher and instructional staff salaries and benefits.

Instruction - 68¢ per dollar

Expenditures connected with the day-to-day operations of providing instruction to our students at our school sites.  These include but are not limited to the salaries and benefits for teachers, classroom assistants, nurses and social workers as well as the expenditures to support our curriculum in the classroom and extra activities in fine arts and athletics.

Facilities - 17¢ per dollar

Expenditures connected with the care and upkeep of our facilities.  These include the salaries and benefits of our custodial, grounds, maintenance and other facilities staff as well as the supplies, purchased services and capital needs of our district to keep our campuses open and safe.

School Support - 6¢ per dollar

Expenditures connected with directing and managing the operation of the district's school sites. These include the salaries and benefits for the principals, assistant and associate principals and office staff as well as supplies and purchased services to support the daily operations of the buildings.

Central Admin - 5¢ per dollar

Expenditures connected with activities establishing and administering policy for operating the district as a whole. The costs include the salaries and benefits, supplies and purchased services covering the activities of the Board of Education, superintendent and assistant superintendents, Communications, Human Resources, Finance and Technology departments.

Transportation - 4¢ per dollar

Expenditures connected with the transporting of our K-12 students to and from home and for after-school sponsored events.  These include the salaries and benefits of our bus drivers and transportation office staff as well as the supplies, purchased services and capital needs to maintain our top-rated bus fleet.

The following chart shows total revenue from all sources per student for St. Louis County school districts for the 2023-24 fiscal year, the most recent year for which final comparative data is available for all schools:

Total revenue per student is a measure of resources showing that Rockwood ranks low among area school districts, however, it is not the best measure for showing resources available for salaries and benefits across districts because it includes significant amounts of revenue that is restricted for other uses. For example, Valley Park’s revenue includes a $16.5 million bond issue for capital improvements. 

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has defined “Current Expenditures per Pupil” as the best measure of school districts' comparative use of resources. The following table provides a reconciliation of Rockwood’s total revenue per student (above) to the amount spent per student:

School districts situated wholly within St. Louis County or Jackson County, MO establish a separate tax rate for each class of property, including residential, agricultural, commercial and personal property.  All other school districts in the state set a blended tax rate, meaning that all classes of property are taxed at the same rate. Since Rockwood spans two counties, it must charge a single tax rate on all classes of property. 

As a result, school districts within St. Louis County set higher tax rates on commercial and personal property than on residential and therefore have a commercial tax base advantage over Rockwood. Commercial properties in Rockwood pay the same rate that residents do, which is the second lowest commercial rate in the county.
 

Rockwood is committed to professional, prudent and conservative financial management, which includes the involvement of community business leaders, taxpayers, parents, teachers, staff and administrators, with oversight by the Board of Education.

The Rockwood School District is the only district in the state of Missouri to hold all four of the following financial recognitions:

• AAA rating with Standard & Poor's. Rockwood is only one of three districts in the state and less than 100 districts in the nation to hold this rating.
• Rockwood has earned the ASBO Meritorious Budget Award for 25 straight years. It is currently one of only seven school districts in the state to receive the award.
• Rockwood has earned the Certificate of Excellence (COE) in financial reporting from the ASBO for 20 straight years. It is currently one of only three districts in the state to receive the award.
• Rockwood has earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). Rockwood has received this recognition 20 straight years.

In addition, the district consistently receives a top-level (unmodified) opinion in our annual independent audits and the district's director of finance has earned certification for fiscal credibility. It is also important to note that the passing of Prop 3 in November 2023, which was a no-tax-increase levy transfer, enabled the district to have dedicated annual funds to address annual safety, technology and maintenance needs. 100% of those annual funds go to those annual projects, eliminating the need to issue bonds for annual expenses, borrow funds and incur interest. As promised to the community, the Prop 3 dashboard outlines the annual projects paid for with those funds. Prop 3 funding is unrelated to operating revenue, and did not take from or provide funds that would be available for salaries and benefits.

Here is a table that shows Rockwood's assessed value per student. It is yet another means of comparison, however, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has defined “Current Expenditures per Pupil” as the best measure of school districts' comparative use of resources.

Rockwood has not asked for a tax increase in over 30 years. The change in tax bills that occurs every two years is due to the county’s reassessment of property values as required by state statutes. 

Reassessment does not result in a commensurate increase in the district’s revenues. The district rolls back its tax rate in compliance with the Hancock Amendment unless there has been voter approval of a new tax ceiling. Hancock, a constitutional amendment passed in 1980, limits the growth in property tax revenue collected by school districts to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 5%, whichever is lower. This is why the Rockwood School District’s current tax rate is the lowest it has been in over 30 years. 

Even when assessed property values go up, Missouri school districts do not automatically collect more money. The Hancock Amendment, a state law passed in 1980, limits how much revenue a school district can receive from property taxes without voter approval. This limit is tied to the rate of inflation (the Consumer Price Index (CPI)) or 5%, whichever is lower.

When assessed values rise, the school district must lower (or "roll back") its tax rate so that the total tax revenue stays within those limits. Each reassessment year when the voters have not established a new tax rate ceiling, the Rockwood school board reduces the district's operating tax rate to comply with the Hancock Amendment.

In short, higher assessed values do not result in a "windfall" for the district. The only way the district can increase revenue beyond the Hancock limits is with voter approval.

In addition, the senior citizen tax freeze will reduce the revenues collected by the district on properties that qualify for the freeze prior to reassessment. Property owners will continue to pay on the assessed value in place in their base year, in accordance with eligibility guidelines.

In 2024, Rockwood’s cost to educate each student was among the lowest of any district in St. Louis County. (Comparison of costs for 2025 are not yet available.) Even with lower spending, Rockwood is one of the top-performing districts in Missouri. Niche.com ranked us as the fourth-best school district in the entire state.

Our students have outstanding opportunities and continue to shine:

• This past school year, 22 Rockwood students were named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
• Marquette High had 14 semifinalists, the third highest total of any school in Missouri and the second highest among public schools.
• Fourteen Rockwood students earned National Merit Scholarships, making up more than 10% of all recipients in Missouri.
• Marquette tied for the most National Merit recipients of any school in the state, public or private, and Lafayette ranked third.
• The Class of 2025 had 260 students score 30 or higher on the ACT.
• 71.2% of the Class of 2025 earned at least one college credit while still in high school.
• A Rockwood senior earned the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Innovation Scholarship this past spring for her capstone project in her PLTW course at Rockwood Summit.
• A team of Rockwood students earned a national championship in Business Management at the 2025 Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference.
• More than 80 Rockwood students are placed in hands-on internships in career fields of interest each summer through the Partners in Education (PIE) Summer Internship program. PIE also gives students the opportunity to career shadow during the school year.

Rockwood continues to invest in Career and Technical Education:

• Three of the four Rockwood high schools have metal and wood processes course offerings for students, and Eureka High just opened a new, state-of-the-art Metals room this past spring. Three of Rockwood's four high schools also offer the "Geometry in Construction" course, which allows students to apply mathematical concepts to real-world construction processes.
• Two Rockwood graduates earned "Tops at Tech" honors from South Tech High School this past school year, an annual recognition to honor the school's most exceptional career and technical education students.
• Rockwood students earned a total of nine medals - two gold, four silver and three bronze - covering a variety of categories at this year's SkillsUSA Missouri state competition.

Rockwood taxpayers are getting a great return on their investment in public education. However, without additional funding, we may not be able to keep up this level of success. Other districts in St. Louis County are offering more competitive salaries and benefits, and without the ability to match them, we risk losing the teachers and staff who are essential to these achievements.

Source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Comprehensive Data Systems for 2023-24 school year

It is also important to note that the passing of Prop 3 in November 2023, which was a no-tax-increase levy transfer, enabled the district to have dedicated annual funds to address annual safety, technology and maintenance needs. 100% of those annual funds go to those annual projects, eliminating the need to issue bonds for annual expenses, borrow funds and incur interest. As promised to the community, the Prop 3 dashboard outlines the annual projects paid for with those funds. Prop 3 funding is unrelated to operating revenue, and did not take from or provide funds that would be available for salaries and benefits.

All school districts maintain a fund balance to cover the timing gap between when bills are due and when tax revenue is received. Prop S will increase the budget and create greater cash flow needs via increased payroll. As a result, the fund balance must grow to cover payroll during the timing gaps.

As a result of the fund balance and the district's fiscal responsibility, Rockwood receives a AAA rating from Standard and Poor’s. Rockwood is one of only three districts in Missouri to receive this perfect credit score. So when Rockwood issues a bond, investors are willing to accept a lower interest rate, saving millions over the life of the bond compared to lower-rated districts. 

85% of Rockwood’s expenditures go toward salaries and benefits. Due to a healthy fund balance, Rockwood doesn’t have to borrow money to cover payroll like some districts do—saving on interest costs.

Not on a long-term basis without a plan for balancing the budget. Salaries and benefits are recurring and compounding expenses. Using reserves for ongoing payroll would risk financial insolvency. 

Rockwood’s fund balance provides financial stability, creditworthiness and saves taxpayer dollars. The district has a consistent history of conservative financial management.

Here is the complete language that will appear on the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot:

Shall the Board of Education of the Rockwood R-VI School District, St. Louis County, Missouri, be authorized to increase the operating tax levy of the District by $0.45 per $100 of assessed valuation for paying general operating expenses, including salaries and benefits to attract and retain staff, including teachers, school safety officers, and other employees?  If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating levy of the District is estimated to be $4.1926 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.

Yes ▢
No ▢

"...be authorized to increase the operating tax levy of the District by $0.45 per $100 of assessed valuation..." is statutorily-required language.

"...for paying general operating expenses, including salaries and benefits to attract and retain staff, including teachers, school safety officers and other employees?" is a limitation on use of funds.

"If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating levy of the District is estimated to be $4.1926 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation" is the new operating tax ceiling.  The new operating tax ceiling will equal the 2025 operating tax rate plus the increase authorized by the voters. This is currently an estimate, because the 2025 tax rate has not yet been set.  It is estimated to remain unchanged from the 2024 tax rate.

If Prop S does not pass, we will continue to be limited in what we can pay teachers and support staff and we will fall further behind what other area districts are able to offer. 

When the Board of Education agreed to a 2-year, 10% increase with the RNEA, it shared the following in a letter dated March 3, 2025:

“The Board of Education wants to be clear that in order to make this work, we have to borrow money from year three in our initial offer. Since this structure frontloads salary increases more than originally proposed, it is important to note that without a tax levy increase, there is a high risk of a salary freeze in year three, as we are reallocating funds from that year to accommodate larger raises in year two and there are many uncertainties in state funding as previously discussed.”

Being less competitive when there is a shrinking pool of candidates for most positions compounds the issue and would make it difficult to maintain the standard of excellence our community has known and has come to expect from Rockwood schools.
 

There is always an expense associated with putting something on the ballot, regardless of the time of the year. The cost to the district is also dependent on how many other organizations are placing something on that particular ballot (in order to share the cost). For Prop S, the estimates provided by both counties are:

• Jefferson County - $11,585.27
• St. Louis County - $130,420.43

Historically, Rockwood has received 10-12% refunds from both counties after the actual costs are calculated post-election. 

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

All registered voters in the Rockwood School District are eligible to vote in this election. A person may vote in any election who:

• Is a citizen of the United States and is at least 18 years old
• Has been a resident of Missouri and the district for at least 28 days before the election
• Has registered to vote by Oct. 8, 2025
• Is not registered to vote in another jurisdiction

According to the Missouri Secretary of State website, you are now required to show one of the forms of acceptable identification and sign the poll book to obtain your ballot:

• A non-expired Missouri driver or non-driver license;
• A non-expired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;
• A non-expired United States passport; or
• Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri that is either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.

If you do not possess any of these forms of identification but are a registered voter, you may cast a provisional ballot. Your ballot will count if: (1) you return to your polling place on Election Day with a photo ID; or (2) the signature on your provisional ballot envelope is determined by your local election authority to match the signature on your voter registration record.

You must register to vote by Oct. 8 to cast a Prop S ballot. If you live in St. Louis County, visit their website or call 314-615-1800 for details. If you live in Jefferson County, visit their website or call 636-797-5486, option 2. If you live in Missouri and just need to change your address, there is no deadline to do that before the election.

You can cast an absentee ballot in person or via mail through the St. Louis County Board of Elections or Jefferson County Election Authority. If you live in St. Louis County, visit their website or call 314-615-1800 for details. If you live in Jefferson County, visit their website or call 636-797-5486, option 2.

Voters in St. Louis County may vote at any polling place in the county on Election Day. To find a polling place near you, visit their website or call 314-615-1800. In Jefferson County a voter must vote at the poll to which they have been assigned. For more information, visit their website or call 636-797-5486, option 2.