By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – A St. Louis public schools committee met Tuesday to talk about the district's financial goals for next year.
The district is expected to remain financially solvent through the end of this school year.
But officials are looking for a way to fund a mandatory teacher pay raise and a possible high school textbook upgrade program next year. As lawmakers search for a more equitable solution to the school funding quandary, school board member Vince Schoemehl says the district must find its own answer.
"I don't think we can allow the debate in Jefferson City to paralyze us, "Schoemehl said. "I think we've got to look at what's available locally and see if there is a solution that we can gather a consensus around."
Among other options, the district may consider a property tax levy next year. A decision could come by mid-April.