BAKERSFILED, Mo. (KY3) – Rural school districts across Missouri, including Bakersfield, say new state changes could hit them hardest.
Bakersfield Superintendent Dr. Amy Padgett is raising concerns about the state’s new A-F ranking system, which leans heavily on test scores and student growth.
She said it was rolled out fast, with standards that still are not clear. She worries that could make the grades inaccurate, especially for rural schools with different needs than big urban districts.
State holds back school funding
The concerns come as the state holds back more than $300 million meant for public schools. Bakersfield has already cut $200,000 from its budget. Padgett fears more cuts could be coming.
“It seems like so many things are competing for the public dollars that it is not going to public ed anymore like it used to,” Padgett said. “And so when it is not coming from the state, the burden is shifting to the local taxpayers. And in rural schools, the local taxpayers are already doing more than their fair share.”
Superintendent calls for more communication
Padgett said she wants more communication between districts and the state board before any more decisions are made.
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