U-turn in Education

Nixa Parent teacher student organization has a good analysis of the initiative on Tuesday’s election ballot.

On April 7, voters will consider a measure that would freeze property tax liabilities for primary residences in Christian County. Property tax is the single largest source of revenue for Nixa Public Schools(NPS).

It helps to understand the broader funding picture. Missouri receives less federal funding per pupil than the national average, and the state’s formula allocates less funding per pupil to Nixa than the state average. When all three sources are combined, NPS ranks among the lowest in the state in terms of Per Pupil Expenditures (around the 10th percentile or less).

And yet, Nixa Public Schools consistently performs at a very high level.

https://infograph.venngage.com/pl/uEoLxbKx4M

It’s an extremely efficient school district, which is great, but that also means it’s likely especially sensitive to changes in revenue in either direction. They’re already operating lean, and even modest constraints on revenue will likely have significant effects over time.

Local property taxes make up about 50% of the district’s funding. For some county services, like fire protection, that share is even higher. At the same time, costs continue to rise as inflation affects us all. Freezing a large portion of a primary revenue source indefinitely, while expenses grow, effectively reduces what those dollars can support year after year.

In communities like ours, school quality and property values tend to move together. Strong schools have long been a key reason families choose Nixa, and that demand has supported our home values. Changes that affect school funding can reasonably be expected to influence that dynamic over time.

Supporters of SB3 often emphasize tax stability, particularly for those on fixed incomes. That’s a valid consideration. It’s also worth noting that most fixed income residents in the area are seniors who are already eligible for a similar property tax liability freeze under SB190. Expanding that limitation more broadly raises concerns about the long term impact on school funding and other local services.

Separate from property values, there’s also a broader consideration: communities benefit when they invest in their students. Research continues to show a connection between school funding and long-term outcomes, including earnings. One example found that a 10% increase in K-12 spending is associated with roughly a 7% increase in lifetime wages.

https://www.ipr.northwestern.edu/documents/policy-briefs/school-spending-policy-research-brief-Jackson.pdf

No one is eager to pay more in taxes. But in a district already doing more with less, local funding plays a critical role in sustaining the quality of schools and services that draw people to this community in the first place.

Citizens should be INFORMED. And we encourage all to vote.

On April 7, 2026, voters in Christian County will consider a ballot measure related to property taxes titled “Senate Bill 3.” The public entities funded through property taxes, such Ozark and Nixa fire districts, schools, senior services, CC Links, and other essential community services, want voters to understand the potential impact of this measure before casting their ballot.

➡️ If approved, Senate Bill 3 would result in at least flat funding and potentially a reduction in funding for entities (like schools, fire districts, and other tax-funded groups) that rely on local property tax revenue.

➡️ Senior citizens’ property taxes are not impacted by the vote on Senate Bill 3 since they can apply to have their taxes frozen (through Senate Bill 190).

➡️ For schools and fire districts (like Ozark and Nixa), 80-85% of funds are spent on staffing.

➡️ Since around 80-85% of all money is used to pay staff for schools and Nixa & Ozark Fire Districts, when cuts are made, those cuts can directly impact people.

➡️ For schools, property taxes are used to pay staff. Building projects are paid for through voter-approved bonds that cannot be used for paying teachers and staff.

➡️ For the Christian County Senior Fund and CC Links, 100% of their funding directly impacts people living in Christian County. Any cuts that have to be made due to a change in funding will result in a reduction in services.

For additional information, go to www.sb3christiancounty.net

We are sick to our stomachs. We can’t sum it all up thoroughly. We just have to ask you to please watch and become aware of what is going on at our Christian County Library. Please watch the public comments at the beginning and starting at 35:00 watch the discussion regarding broadband (hotspots). To share a few words:
Dunning Krueger
Privilege
Mansplaining
Arrogance
Shame
Social awareness and lack thereof
Rural broadband desert
Library purpose
Disability rights
Disability services and lack thereof
Little Golden Books
Rejecting support from U-Turn in Education
Amazon wish lists
Vulnerability
Judgement
Missed the mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz8hohUcWwg

February 24, 2026 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Board of Trustees Regular Meeting February 24, 2026, Nixa community branch

Authentic selves…. We all need to be…. Let’s go see these exhibits.

Did you miss the unveiling of Authentic Selves, but still want to see the exhibit? Don't worry - we've got you!
Now through March 13th, the Authentic Selves Exhibit will be on display at these C-Street organizations and businesses. Take a stroll to see the whole exhibit in one day, or make multiple visits! Make sure to get a coffee, a sandwich, or brew along the way to thank them for hosting. You might even discover a new favorite spot!
Generous funding for this exhibit is provided by Springfield Black Tie
See the exhibit at:
Big Momma's Coffee and Espresso Bar
The GLO Center
Lindberg's Tavern
Moon City Pub
and
Van Gogh's Eeterie

If everyone would become aware that our governmental leadership is hoping we “other” anyone different so we don’t notice their attempts at destroying our democracy, that would be most helpful.

Small victories…. We will take it.

The teens of today have some great initiative in protecting the First Amendment.

"When their state tried to silence 3,400 books, three Iowa teenagers refused to stop reading.
In 2023, Iowa passed a law that would pull thousands of books from school libraries across the state. Among them were titles that generations of Americans grew up reading — ""1984,"" ""To Kill a Mockingbird,"" ""The Color Purple."" Entire shelves went dark overnight.
But at Iowa City West High School, three students decided that if the books couldn't stay on the shelves, they'd bring them to each other.
Alice Gooblar-Perovic, Aahana Gupta, and Lydia Cruce founded a Banned Book Club. They couldn't get official school recognition at first, so they met after class, borrowed challenged titles from the local public library, and started having the conversations their state seemed determined to prevent.
""People say books are like a window or like a mirror,"" Gooblar-Perovic explained. ""They help you understand yourself better.""
What began as a handful of students quietly gathering around borrowed copies of ""The Handmaid's Tale"" has grown into a thriving weekly community. They read. They discuss. They think deeply about identity, justice, and freedom — the very ideas that make literature worth fighting for.
It hasn't been easy. A federal judge blocked enforcement of the law in late 2023, but it came back in 2024 after an appeal. Another judge blocked it again in March 2025, calling it ""unconstitutionally applied in dozens, if not hundreds, of situations."" Even so, more than 2,000 books remain off school shelves statewide as the legal battle continues.
And the problem extends far beyond Iowa. According to the American Library Association, 72% of book challenges today come from organized groups or government entities — not individual parents. PEN America has tracked nearly 23,000 book bans in public schools since 2021, affecting the work of more than 2,300 authors.
""We're not seeing an individual read a book and raise a concern,"" said Deborah Caldwell-Stone of the ALA. ""We're seeing organized groups demanding the removal of dozens, if not hundreds, of books at a time.""
Through it all, the three founders remain steady. Their club is now officially recognized by their school, but Gooblar-Perovic says they're prepared to go underground again if they have to.
""It would definitely be easier than our first year,"" she said, ""because we've built this community.""
Gupta put it simply: ""Books can help bring us together. I like that our club does that for people.""
And Cruce captured the heart of what they've created: ""Banned Book Club is really a place for discussion, no judgment, where we're just talking about what we think different themes in the book mean, and why we think it's important.""
These three students understand something that every wave of censorship eventually proves: you can remove a book from a shelf, but you cannot remove the hunger to read, to question, and to understand. The next generation of readers isn't waiting for permission."

This is about growing…

Pay close attention. Talk to your parents. Make your own informed decision.

Everyone…..