05/02/2026
⚠️ URGENT: Missouri SB 1002 heads to a House committee vote THIS MONDAY, May 4th — and MOCSC opposes it.
What is it? SB 1002 would move school board elections and bond/tax levy votes in St. Charles County only to November — and allow school board candidates to declare a party affiliation on the ballot.
Here’s why we’re saying NO:
🔴 It injects partisanship into local education. Party labels have no place on a school board ballot. National political identity should not determine who oversees our kids’ classrooms.
🔴 It creates a two-tiered system — and a chaotic one. This bill applies only to St. Charles County based on population thresholds. That means as counties grow or shrink, the rules could change. Missouri deserves consistent, nonpartisan school board elections statewide — not a patchwork that shifts with census numbers.
🔴 It delays urgent school funding. Moving bond and tax levy votes to November means critical funding decisions could be pushed into the middle of a fiscal year, creating budget disruptions for our schools.
🔴 It disrupts board transitions. New board members would be seated in November instead of April — mid-fiscal year — creating unnecessary instability in school leadership.
🔴 It lengthens unpaid terms. Board members already volunteer their time. Extending terms to four years could discourage good candidates from running.
Our St. Charles County reps largely support this bill — so we need to reach House members from other districts who may be open to opposing it. A quick call or email goes a long way.
📋 Three ways to act RIGHT NOW:
1️⃣ Call or email your state House rep — especially if you’re outside St. Charles County
2️⃣ Submit written testimony online before Monday’s 1PM hearing
3️⃣ Testify in person — the hearing is Monday, May 4th at 1PM in Hearing Room 1 (basement), Jefferson City. We’re looking for 2-3 constituents willing to go. Message us if you’re interested!
📖 Full toolkit with talking points here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ElqqJhWFJcSpq4xnPgRIzozoUw55DkDbSx0jZni9wkg/edit?usp=sharing
This is moving fast. The legislature wraps May 15. Share this post and make some noise this weekend.
