Reaction: Ladue Schools Win Tax Levy Passage

The passage of Prop 1, a .49 cent tax levy on residents of the Ladue School District touched off a wild celebration at the Frontenac Hilton Hotel Tuesday.

The question passed by a count of  4,580 "Yes" votes (52.92 percent) to 4,074 "No" votes (47.08 percent). Early tallies had the proposal going down to defeat before the final favorable numbers came in.

Passage means Ladue will have enough operational funds for four years; numerous teaching positions and key programs were saved in the process.

“We are thrilled. This is wonderful. I can’t thank all the people who worked so hard to make this happen,” said Dr. Marsha Chappelow, the district’s superintendent of schools.

Special recognition went to Diane Patershuk who headed up the parent’s campaign and recognition went to Susan Dielmann, the district’s communication director and to Dr. Jason Buckner, chief financial officer for the district.

Sheri Glantz, the Creve Coeur woman who won re-election to the school board Tuesday night, was beginning to consider the plans district officials had made in case the levy failed. After it passed, her focus shifted to the lessons left behind by opponents.

"They have voiced some very valid concerns and it would be my hope that we don’t have to come back (for another tax levy). Our goal is to use to use this 49 cent increase to get us through the next reassessment cycle and it is our hope, our sincerest hope that property values will increase again and we’ll be on firmer footing," she said. 

District patrons knew before the election that some budget cuts would happen, regardless of the outcome.

In the race for school board members, one incumbent won and one lost.

Newcomer Nancy Leve Goldstein was the top vote getter with 4,251 votes, 
Glantz, the president of the board was second with 3,968 votes and Audrey Mack was defeated with 3,482 votes. There were 165 write in votes.

"I hope that people will trust us to be fiscally responsible because nobody on the board wants to waste anybody’s money. Nobody on the board wants to increase taxes but by the same token we all want to live in a well-respected top notch school district," Glantz said.