Warren County R-III School District leaders began the school year armed with a study of key data and action plans designed to keep students in class more of the time to help them achieve.“We’re ready to roll,” R-III District Superintendent Dr. Jim Chandler told the board, noting that the district has 35 new teachers with more to come and a sizable increase in student enrollment.“We feel good about where we’re headed, and are going to have a great year.”Chandler told the board that as of that evening, district enrollment was 3,202 students, with another 13 waiting for paperwork to be completed, for a total of 3,215. That is an increase of 140 students over last year.“We are growing,” said Chandler.Setting Goals, Priorities For the School YearChandler said district administrators participated in a goal-setting meeting in July, with each building principal setting goals in support of the district’s overall student learning priorities and objectives.Chandler said the district has set specific goals for the 2013-2014 school year, including:increasing average daily attendance to 94.25 percent;decreasing discipline by 5 percent; and aligning K-12 programs to improve student achievement by 3 percent.“If kids aren’t here, they’re not learning,” Chandler said in an earlier interview in which he also noted the correlation between discipline and attendance.School leaders have established a goal of ultimately having 90 percent of students attending class 90 percent of the time. All building leaders have set specific numeric attendance and discipline targets for the year that will help them reach the “90/90” mark in the next year or two.During the board meeting each school principal outlined plans and strategies for increasing attendance, improving discipline and improving academic achievement as measured by the Missouri Assessment Program scores.AdditionalPositions ApprovedThe board approved a request for three new teaching and three new paraprofessional positions to address enrollment growth and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements regarding classroom size.“For K-two, classroom sizes are not supposed to be above 25, but at Rebecca Boone Elementary, we’re above 30 at the kindergarten level, and first-grade classes at Warrior Ridge Elementary and Daniel Boone Elementary are at 29,” Chandler told the board.“We’re not meeting the DESE minimum standards,” said Chandler, explaining that school leaders had looked at shifting teachers around, but in each scenario, class sizes would be compromised.The board approved three new teaching positions including a kindergarten teacher for Rebecca Boone, and one first-grade teacher each for Warrior Ridge and Daniel Boone. Also approved were three new paraprofessionals for Individualized Education Program students who have transferred into the district. The paraprofessional positions for IEP students fulfill state requirements.Director of Finance Tony Chance reported the new positions would collectively cost $201,200 in salaries and benefits.Tax Levy Hearing Set for August 27Chance reported that the district’s proposed tax levy increase for the year would rise from $4.1107 to $4.1284 per $100 assessed valuation, reflecting a $1,197,647 increase in assessed property valuation over last year.“The proposed levy increase would give us a 1.77-cent increase over the prior year,” Chance said. On a $100,000 home, the increase would be $3.36 for the 2014 tax year.A hearing on the tax levy will be held at the new R-III central office (Veterans Memorial Parkway) Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m.R-III School Leaders Outline Goals