Duren: Choose David City for RCPS merger

Vote David City Public School District for Long-Term Educational and Financial Stability

When you receive your "straw ballot" in the mail, your vote supporting the Rising City Public School district merger with David City Public Schools is clearly the best long-term educational and financially stable opportunity for the patrons of Rising City School District.

The reasons for voting in favor of merging with David City Public Schools are very clear.

* Cash Reserves/State Aid

-David City Public Schools has a cash reserve of 3.5 million vs. Shelby Public Schools cash reserve of 2.2 million.

-David City Public Schools receives an estimated $87,000 in state aid the 09/10 school year. David City currently has 760 students in K-12.

-Shelby Public Schools is very reliant on state aid. Shelby will receive an estimate3d $488,000 in the 09/10 school year. Shelby currently has 315 students in K-12.

-We feel that the Rising City/Shelby district will not be large enough to sustain reductions of state aid, and will eventually need to look to the west to consolidate with Osceola.

*Current Levy:

-Since the mid to late 90‰Û(tm)s the message to the RCPS Board of Education has been to provide a quality education at the lowest cost possible, and to not exceed the state-mandated levy of $1.05.

-David City Public Schools current school year levy is $.92 per $100 of land valuation. This includes their building funds.

-Shelby Public Schools current school year levy is $1.05 per $100 of land valuation. This includes their building funds.

-There is a dramatic difference between the two district‰Û(tm)s levies. We ask property owners how much impact does $.13 per $100 of land valuation have on your check book over the course *Educational & Extra Curricular Opportunities

-When comparing additional course offerings between David City and Shelby (letter to district patrons dated Sept 2009), it is very obvious that David City Public Schools excels in the offering to their students, along with being financially sound enough to continue doing this without needing to raise taxes unnecessarily.

In summary, we hope that any person eligible to vote will study the facts and make an informed decision. This decision not only impacts the current students, parents and community members of Rising City, but for many people that have yet to experience the community of Rising City. We ask you to look beyond the next five-seven years and have a vision for the school district that is not only sustainable, but is financially sound and vote in favor of merging with the David City Public School district.

Jeff and Diane Duren

Rising City