Ritenour's Prop R

April's Ballot will include Proposition R for the Ritenour School District. The proposition is for a 32 million dollar bond issue to build a new Performing Arts Center, a new Early Childhood Development Center and to do some smaller improvements throughout the district. If passed it will result in a 29-cent property tax increase for each $100 of assessed value (approximately $55.00/year on a $100,000.00 home). You can see floor plans for the projects, review the ballot language, and more at Ritenour's very informative Prop R web site.

On Thursday (Jan 17th 2006) Ritenour Superintendent of Schools Dr. Cheryl Compton, along with Assistant Superintendent Cindy Gibson gave a presentation to the Overland Business Association (OBA) on the measure. Many in attendance seemed excited about the possibilities these facilities would bring to our area. One of the most interesting things we learned involved real estate. 18 homes currently stand on land needed for this proposal. Dr. Compton was proud to point out that they had openly approached the owners of those homes and each owner had already accepted the district's offer of "fair market value plus an incentive". So, if Prop R passes, there will be no land acquisition issues (like eminent domain). At the end of the meeting the members in attendance voted unanimously for the OBA to publicly support Prop R, as well as donate $500.00 to Citizen's for Ritenour's Future, a group that has formed up to support the Ritenour School District in part by promoting Prop R.

Though this is a School district program it does have the potential of adding services to, and improving our community. Dr. Compton explained at the meeting that the Performing Arts Center could be used by local organizations and businesses needing a location for events and presentations. Though revenues from this might not be high, they could help pay for the facility.

Some of those revenues already exist. For example: the Laverne Meier School of Dance on Brown Road holds their end of year recitals at Pattonville High School now. Ritenour High is much closer to the dance school so it's likely they would want to hold those recitals at the Ritenour Performing Arts Center when it becomes available (as long as the price is right of course). They are surely not the only ones.

Other opportunities exist as well. Community theater groups, choirs, and bands are all possible. Larger groups might form with members from the entire school district, or smaller groups might form for each town. The shows and concerts that could come from such groups would likely be very inexpensive (if not free), which would add a few new entertainment options in our area.

In the end it will come down to whether or not the majority of voters believe this relatively low tax increase is worth the return.

In the interest of full disclosure I want to point out that I am somewhat biased on this issue. I married into a large family that, to a member, is made up of performers and/or musicians (though I have all the talent of a chipped rock). On top of that, I have a daughter who takes dance classes. Her love of the spotlight so far suggests I will regularly be in attendance at school events for years to come.